VitusVet relocates to Howard County Innovation Center at Gateway, expands veterinary platform

By Brian Sheavly | Dec 12, 2017

Columbia, MD (12/12/2017) – VitusVet, is relocating from the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (MCE) into the future location of the Howard County Innovation Center, inside the Columbia Gateway Innovation District. The company has resided in the MCE since May 2015 and expanded into a new space following a period of rapid growth.

“Our county is home to many out-of-the-box thinkers like VitusVet. This company shows how one idea can transform an entire industry,” said Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman. “With this new space at our Innovation Center, this company can continue its success and positively impact people’s lives.”

VitusVet was founded by CEO Mark Olcott, a certified veterinarian who has practiced for 20 years. He was continually frustrated by the archaic technology used to document pet health records and history of treatment.  He met his business partner Kalpesh Raval during business school who helped develop the technology. VitusVet offers 24/7 access for pet owner documents, and provides full service capabilities for veterinary practices to book appointments, make insurance claims, and contact pet owners.

“The great thing about the MCE is the excellent mentorship they offer. It’s not the sort of place you go to get subsidized real estate, they really want you to succeed,” said Olcott. “Even if you start with a half-baked idea, they will bring you to the drawing board and help you evaluate your business plan and help you grow it.”

The MCE is a 26,000-square foot business incubator run by the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) in Columbia, MD. It is home to 23 resident companies and gives support by providing a menu of client services for small businesses in the community.

“Mark and his team have shown exceptional drive and dedication to their business,” said HCEDA’s CEO, Lawrence Twele. “Like all of our residents at the MCE, VitusVet utilized all the resources we had to offer. This contributed to the rate in which they were able to expand, and we’re excited to have them as early tenants in the Innovation Center.”

Their recent move from the MCE highlights the growing population of companies that move beyond the parameters of startups. These early stage companies reflect a need for larger spaces and a modified menu of services. The Howard County Innovation Center in Columbia Gateway will be the conduit for such services, providing early stage companies a way to continue to develop and advance their offerings.

The additional space in The Innovation Center will also permit VitusVet to expand their workforce. Over the past two years the company has employed a team of 15 workers, and aims to add four to six new employees in the next few months. Olcott will be hiring new employees from the Howard County region.

About HCEDA: The Howard County Economic Development Authority is a public-private partnership whose primary goal is to promote economic growth and stability by supporting existing businesses, targeting new businesses, and attracting corporate/regional headquarters. The Authority also maintains several programs aimed at the special needs of small and agricultural businesses. Additionally, the Authority strives to preserve the distinctive quality of life in Howard County. The Authority can be reached at www.hceda.org. 

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