A 27-year-old woman is on a mission to transform corporate mental health, and she’s bringing along a few furry friends: puppies.
Francesca Albo, a Toronto-based CEO and co-founder of Puppysphere, is leading the charge with her innovative startup that offers unique puppy therapy experiences, from office happy hours to puppy yoga. Her leap from a traditional biotech job to entrepreneurship has captured the spotlight, particularly when a video of her wheeling in a cart of puppies to an office garnered over 5.5 million views.
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As a dedicated dog owner, Albo always wanted to spend more quality time with her beloved puppy, known for its “love and happiness.” However, the demands of her 9-5 job made this nearly impossible, leading her to realize that many fellow dog lovers felt the same way.
The advantages of having dogs around at work are numerous, from reducing stress to boosting motivation. Albo created Puppysphere to share the uplifting effects of puppy therapy with office workers who often need a morale lift.
Starting off by sending out countless cold emails to corporate clients, her startup has quickly scaled to a multinational brand with over 200 employees and locations across the U.S. and Canada. Puppysphere offers a variety of events, including puppy pilates and “puppy yoga and bubbly,” where participants enjoy yoga in the company of puppies followed by bottomless mimosas.
Her services have resonated particularly well with Millennial and Gen X professionals, who are eager to weave puppy events into their employee wellness initiatives. As a result, Puppysphere has made a significant mark on workplace culture.
“Puppy therapy can elevate oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine levels—essential components of happiness,” Albo shared.
Puppysphere now sees over 100 weekly requests for private events, predominantly from corporate leaders looking for fresh ways to enhance employee well-being.
While animal therapy in the workplace isn’t a novel concept, Albo has crafted it into a robust business model that merges wellness with relatable, engaging content for a social media-driven audience.
Her social media prowess has led to a burgeoning following on TikTok and Instagram, further fueled by the adorable ’employees’—the puppies.
“I’m truly touched by the joyful response to my viral video,” Albo said about her post that hit 5 million views last August. “These viral moments changed my life, enabling me to leave my day job and create a startup that benefits so many.”
Puppysphere is dedicated to making puppy therapy accessible while adhering to ethical practices beneficial for both humans and animals. Albo emphasizes that their mission stretches beyond social media buzz.
“More people need puppy love—whether through a video, a corporate event, or yoga class. It’s a mental health boost I endorse for all,” she stated.
The company’s next goal? To make its footprint global. Albo and her team aim to expand their offerings and are already catering to thousands across North America, with no plans of slowing down.
“Coming home to a pup daily is a joy, yet not everyone can experience that due to life’s pressures,” she explained. “We’re determined to grow and bring Puppysphere to every major city around the world.”