Pawseum was created this year and is a space that brings together dogs and cats from associations and kennels across the country to make the adoption process easier and faster.
Guilherme Pinto, a Master’s student in Computer Science at FCUP, developed Pawseum, a kind of “marketplace" for animals – an online platform that brings together dogs and cats from associations and shelters across the country, making the adoption process easier.
“My interest in digital started very early, always driven by curiosity about technology. It was only after joining FCUP that I truly realized the power I had in my hands when combining a computer with the ability to turn ideas into reality through code. That’s when my passion for programming really grew,” the student explains.
To this passion and curiosity, he added the desire to help animals and, more specifically, the need to help future owners find the ideal dog or cat.
“We want the relationship between adopter and animal to be as human and close as possible. We focus on cheerful communication, a colorful website, and a positive presentation of the animals,” says Guilherme.
Pawseum was born after the difficulties that cofounder Jéssica Padrão, a designer, faced when trying to adopt a dog: it took her almost a month to find the right “paw friend.” “Between Facebook groups, Instagram pages, websites, and even selling apps, the information was confusing. Either there weren’t enough details about the animals, or there was no response and often, when it finally came, the animal had already been adopted,” the founders explain.
So they created an organized platform where anyone can find their four-legged companion based on the characteristics they are looking for and the area where they live.
“We put the animals at the center of everything.”
Alongside the website work, the creators visit associations, talk to the staff, and produce social media content to help increase visibility for the many dogs and cats available for adoption. “We’re not just an adoption catalog – we put the animals at the center of everything,” Guilherme emphasizes.
But there’s more: using artificial intelligence, they create personalized descriptions for each animal based only on their data: name, age, characteristics, and a few adjectives. “This allows us to present each pet in a more human, joyful, and approachable way, without resorting to negative narratives,” they highlight.
Any animal association can join the platform and automatically publish listings on the website. Live for about a month, the platform already works with four partner shelters and, in this short time, has helped four animals find a new home.
Soon, Guilherme and Jéssica plan to launch Pawmatch – a feature inspired by the “Tinder” model, where adopters will be able to find the animals most compatible with them based on shared characteristics, giving a “match” with the ideal pet. The goal is to bring people and animals closer in an intuitive and modern way.