Leap Venture Studio has launched its 10th pet care accelerator cohort, selecting six startups and one impact organization from over 300 applications across 40 countries. The program provides $200,000 in funding and mentorship to early-stage pet care companies focused on advancing pet longevity and wellness.
- Six startups selected for Cohort 10, including companies focused on fresh pet nutrition, dental care, tick testing, and cognitive health supplements
- $200,000 in funding provided to portfolio companies along with hybrid mentorship and access to industry experts from Mars Petcare, TAW Ventures, and Michelson Found Animals
- Program timeline: Cohort 10 runs from August 24 in Nashville through November 9 in London
- Impact track record: Since 2018, Leap has invested in 57 companies across 17 markets that have raised over $200 million in follow-on funding
Leap Venture Studio & Academy, a pet care startup accelerator, has launched its 10th cohort, adding six startups and one impact-seat organization to its portfolio.
The program offers early-stage pet care founders a hybrid mentorship experience along with $200,000 in funding for portfolio seats. The new cohort began Aug. 24 in Nashville and will conclude the week of Nov. 9 in London.
“Cohort 10 drew over 300 applications from more than 40 countries – the highest number we’ve ever seen," said Rachel Sheppard, director of ventures at Mars Petcare. "The selected companies stood out by tackling meaningful, real-world challenges for pets and the people who care for them. We’re excited to support them throughout the Leap Venture Studio program and in their journey ahead.”
Advancing pet longevity and wellness
In selecting Cohort 10, the Leap team focused on startups working to advance pet longevity and wellness.
"What stood out across this cohort was how many founders are thinking about the full health span of a pet’s life, not just a single need," said Jane Lauder, founder and managing director of TAW Ventures. "That kind of long-term thinking is key to building brands pet parents will trust for the long term. I’m looking forward to working alongside them.”
The six startups joining the portfolio are:
- Wynwood, which offers fresh whole-food nutrition for dogs, prescribed and recommended by veterinarians.
- Grub Club, which develops nutrition for sensitive dogs using novel proteins and ingredients as an alternative to conventional sensitive diets.
- Luna the Dental Vets, a U.K. vet-tech business that operates dental-only veterinary clinics.
- LymeAlert, which offers a kit that tests ticks for Lyme disease and delivers results within 15 minutes.
- NanosVet, which uses nanofiber technology in pet medicine.
- SoluPet, maker of Neuronal Defense, a supplement the company says is formulated to support cognition and brain health in aging dogs.
myBalto Foundation has been selected for the cohort's Impact Seat, a position reserved for an organization measured by its impact on the pet care ecosystem rather than by traditional startup metrics. The foundation creates Angel Funds for veterinary hospitals to help fund care for pets in need in their communities and will take part in select programming alongside the portfolio companies.
The accelerator program provides access to resources, mentors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, networking opportunities and operational support. Founders also have access to a network of industry experts and investors from Mars Petcare, TAW Ventures and Michelson Found Animals.
Since its founding in 2018, Leap Venture Studio has invested in 57 companies, including two impact-seat companies, across 17 markets. Those companies have raised more than $200 million in follow-on funding.
