When Victor Carpio rescued a tiny kitten from a sewer in Peru, he had no idea it would lead to him inventing a product that would help thousands of cats all over the world live healthier lives.
Victor is the founder of Inventorcat and the creator of the Dental Wand - which is a toothbrush and fun play toy for cats.
The inspiration came from his own cat, Lilo, who he’d adopted after rescuing him that night in Peru.
Victor wanted to be the best cat dad, and it was when he learned that he should have been brushing Lilo’s teeth and hadn’t that he decided he wanted to change.
And when he tried to find something so he could brush his cat’s teeth and struggled, he decided he’d try to find a solution himself.
What came next was years of research, prototypes, testing, and feedback - and ultimately to the product he pitched to the Dragons on BBC’s Dragon’s Den.
In this episode, Victor talks about that eureka moment to launching his business, facing resistance in the industry, navigating burnout and personal challenges, and growing Inventorcat into a brand that will improve the lives of cats all over the world.
We also chat about what it’s like to go against the grain, build something new in an industry that doesn’t always welcome change, and why he’s so passionate about making life better for cats - and the people who love them.
Topics and timings in this episode:
0.20 - What to expect from this episode.
2.01 - Victor on his role in the pet industry.
4.35 - The story of rescuing Lilo in Peru.
8.24 - Discovering the challenges of brushing cats’ teeth.
11.55 - Victor’s background in business and innovation.
15.02 - Turning an idea into a real product.
20.30 - From bristle glove to Dental Wand.
24.40 - Market research and the reality of cat dental care.
28.51 - Educating cat owners and working with other people in the pet industry.
30.25 - What it was like to be on Dragon’s Den and how he thought he was going to faint before they opened the ‘lift doors.’
35.02 - How speaking about the why and values behind his product meant that Deborah and Peter became his cheerleaders live on the show.
38.04 - What it’s meant for Victor, moving from DTC to B2B thanks to the exposure from being on TV.
41.43 - Shifting to working with large retailers, shows and exporters.
43.10 - Being taken seriously with industry experts and bodies like the British Veterinary Dental Association.
44.05 - How awards help with credibility.
46.14 - Why 2025 is the year of the cat and how the industry is now seeing that cats have different needs and products.
49.03 - How pet professionals can support change.
53.07 - How pet pros can use their own community when they want to carry out research as well as local community groups.
55.13 - The things Victor has done which have been against the grain, and how it worked for him.
59.16 - What’s next for Inventorcat and how to connect with Victor.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Find out more about Inventorcat on their website: https://www.inventorcat.co.uk/
Connect with Victor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorcarpio/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inventorcatcare
Find Inventorcat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inventor_cat
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inventorcat
Join the Clubhouse: inventorcat.co.uk/clubhouse
Work with Inventorcat: meow@inventorcat.co.uk
