Saturday Trendspotting: Litter-robots and creatine gummies

Welcome back, Superhuman

Let’s face it—being a pet parent is a full-time job. From endless treats to cleaning up messes that seem to appear out of thin air, the to-do list never ends. But it doesn’t have to be this way. AI automation is the next big trend in pet care, as people are emptying their wallets to get their hands on self-cleaning litter boxes, pet wearables, and everything in between.

It’s time to find your next big idea!

PET-CARE

AI automation is the next big opportunity in the pet-care space

The Trend: Each week, the team and I spend a few hours scouting new tech gadgets; lately we’ve seen many new AI-powered devices for pets. From self-cleaning litter robots and automated snack dispensers to playtime bots that keep your furry friend busy while you’re away, these are consistently some of our most-clicked finds—and it’s easy to see why.

If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know the drill: late-night play sessions, snack refills, 6 a.m. walks, and litter box duty start to feel like an endless loop of chores after a few months. With pet sitters out of reach for some people, AI-powered pet-care products are flying off the shelves to help pet owners save time on these chores.

The Opportunity: The demand for automated pet care isn’t fading anytime soon, with the 'AI in pet care' space expected to hit $8.23B by 2034, according to Precedence Research. Since millennials make up the biggest chunk of this market in the US, there’s already a lucrative, AI-educated market for these products.

The increase in demand is creating new niches that are ripe with opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and side hustlers. From consumer products like smart pet wearables and grooming tools to AI-powered apps that track everything from your pet’s feeding and treat schedule to their sleep cycles and mood, the possibilities are endless. Example: Whisker, the maker of self-cleaning cat litter boxes, among other products, is reportedly exploring a valuation of around $1B.

There is also a growing opportunity in digital media, where ventures like Crown and Paw and The Regal Pet are using AI to create personalized online content for pet owners, such as custom pet portraits, stories, or social media posts to enhance the pet parenting experience.

Where to start: Besides taking a look at all the products we’ve mentioned above, a great place to start is your own pet problems. What are the tasks and chores related to your pet that you find most frustrating and time-consuming? Those are problems that could be fixed by AI-powered hardware or software. And if you don’t have a pet, asking friends or relatives with pets is a close substitute for finding new ideas. Frequent Amazon searches in the pet niche are also a great way to find new products that are gaining traction.

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HEALTH

Creatine is the next big health trend that’s taking off

The Trend: America’s health crisis isn’t exactly breaking news. With obesity widely considered a public health crisis, the issue is flooding headlines and social feeds—and rightly so. Justin Mares’ substack, 'The Great American Poisoning', recently blew up on X. It dives into the crisis and highlights a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs in the consumer health space, particularly in obesity and fitness products.

Once a staple in every fitness geek’s supplement stack, creatine is now riding a new wave of popularity, particularly among segments that are not usually associated with purchasing muscle supplements. Creatine traditionally comes in powder or pill form, but a new generation of companies is reintroducing it in more convenient and consumable formats, such as gummies. This shift caters to consumers who want convenience and enjoyable consumption experiences.

The Opportunity: With more people hitting the weights, the outlook on the creatine market in the aftermath of the pandemic has been positive. It is projected to hit $2.83B by 2030. The creatine gummies segment is expected to do especially well, making up nearly $168.2M. This surging growth is driven by increasing consumer awareness of fitness benefits, the rising popularity of sports nutrition, and a preference for convenient supplement formats. 

One of the brands leading the charge in this space is Create. Last year, the company announced a $5M Series A funding round led by Unilever Venture. Create has been able to capitalize on social media virality thanks to posts like this, in addition to other marketing channels like paid ads.

Create’s success shows that there’s an opportunity to build creatine-focused products for people who fall outside the typical fitness enthusiast segment. Many brands have done well in the adjacent protein powder segment by creating products catered towards new audiences like middle-aged folks and people with dietary restrictions.

Considerations: The consumer healthcare space is one of the most regulated in the country. Sticking to stringent quality standards and getting the necessary approvals are crucial to ensure product safety and consumer trust. While creatine is generally considered safe, it can come with some mild side effects like stomach aches, water retention, and hair loss. It's a good idea to team up with professionals to make sure you’re meeting the necessary regulations.

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WHAT’S NEXT

The big events prediction markets are forecasting

Here are some of the top predictions we found this week:

• Despite all the noise, only 12% of the market thinks Trump will actually be able to acquire Greenland in 2025.

• 50% of the market bets that there will be more than 100 bird flu cases this year.

• With Trump inches away from the White House, 54% of the market is expecting federal crypto regulation this year.

• 54% of predictors are betting on AI to win the IMO gold medal in 2025.

• 66% of the market is expecting the fintech company Circle to go public in 2025.

In case you’re not familiar with prediction markets, think of them like a stock market for guessing future events. People buy and sell shares (basically bets) based on what they think will happen. While not 100% accurate (no one can tell the future for certain), they offer a glimpse into what the market thinks will unfold in the coming weeks and months.

Your opinion matters!

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Until next time,

Zain and the Superhuman AI team