Four European pet tech companies are among Leap Venture Studio & Academy‘s eighth cohort, which kicks off in London on 4 March and culminates with a Demo Day in New York City on 13 June.
The accelerator program is among the most prestigious in the world for pet care startups, and is backed by multinational Mars Petcare; Michelson Found Animals, one of the leading non-profits supporting animals, and R/GA Ventures, a New York City-based venture capital firm.
“We can’t wait for the launch of cohort eight! It’s always so energizing to see innovative technology being used to make life better for pets, pet parents, and the planet,” said Rachel Sheppard, Director of Ventures at Mars Petcare and co-lead of the Leap Venture Studio & Academy. “We’re thrilled to give this group of startups tailored support so they can pursue their missions.”
Among the seven startups that will take part in the eighth cohort of the accelerator, four European pet techs stand out:
GekkoVet: Helsinki, Finland
GekkoVet, an online diagnostic and treatment tool for veterinary professionals by veterinarians.
Omni: London, United Kingdom
Omni, a company founded by veterinarians on a mission to create healthier and more sustainable pet food that doesn’t compromise on flavor or price.
Scooch: London, United Kingdom
Scooch, an AI powered holistic pet health subscription for the new generation of pet parents.
WIMBA: Kraków, Poland
WIMBA, a company transforming pet orthopedics through WIMBA AI & 4D printing technology, making the path from video scan to custom orthotics and prosthetics in minutes.
In addition to European startups, three startups from the United States will also make up the cohort, which will collaborate in a hybrid model (both online and in person) during the program:
Innovative Pet Lab: Atlanta, Georgia (United States)
Innovative Pet Lab, a science-driven pet wellness company empowering the pet community with at-home tests and personalized solutions.
VetVerifi: Nashville, Tennessee (United States)
VetVerifi, a platform that better connects the pet economy by fetching verified vaccination records at the moments they are needed.
BestyBnB: Kansas City, Missouri (United States)
BetsyBnB helps Animal Welfare, Domestic Violence, Mental Health, Veteran Affairs, and Houseless Service Agencies secure safe, temporary homes for Pets during their Owners’ time of crisis.
BetsyBnB is the first company of impact has been invited to participate alongside other portfolio startups at Leap Venture Studio.
“We hope that by including a company whose success is best measured by their impact, such as BestyBnB, we can continue to expand the ways that Leap Venture Studio supports the creation of a better future for the pet care industry,” the accelerator said in a statement.
The studio offers pet care startup founders a highly customized, hybrid program tailored to support and provide resources to early-stage startups, in addition to $200,000 in funding. The program also provides access to resources, mentors, networking opportunities and brand and marketing services. Founders will also have access to a network of industry experts and investors from Mars Petcare, Michelson Found Animals and R/GA Ventures.
“Welcoming new founders to the program who demonstrate vision, passion, and drive to make life better for pets is a real honor,” said Brett Yates, CEO of Michelson Found Animals. “We’re looking forward to what the next four months will bring for each of the startups.”
Since its founding in 2018, Leap Venture Studio has invested in a portfolio of 45 companies, spanning 15 countries, which have raised over $200M in follow-on funding. Two of the portfolio companies have made successful exits (PetHospice and Lacuna Diagnostics).
