Four European pet tech companies are among the eighth cohort of the Leap Venture Studio & Academy, which kicks off in London on March 4 and concludes with a Demo Day in New York City on June 13.
The accelerator program is among the most prestigious in the world for pet care startups, and is supported by the multinational Mars Petcare; Michelson Found Animals, one of the leading non-profits supporting animals, and R/GA Ventures, a venture capital firm based in New York City.
“We can’t wait for the launch of cohort eight! It’s always exciting 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 Leap Venture Studio & Academy. “We are delighted to provide this group of startups with tailored support so they can continue their missions.”
Among the seven startups that will participate in the accelerator’s eighth cohort, 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 taste or price.
Scooch: London, United Kingdom
Scooch, an AI powered holistic pet health subscription for the new generation of pet parents.
WIMBA: Krakow, Poland
WIMBA, a company revolutionizing pet orthopedics through WIMBA AI and 4D printing technology, making the path from video scanning to custom orthotics and prosthetics in minutes.
In addition to the European startups, three startups from the United States will also form the cohort, which will work together 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 that empowers 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 getting verified vaccination records the moment 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 times of crisis for their Owners.
BetsyBnB is the first impact company to be invited to participate alongside other portfolio startups in the Leap Venture Studio.
“We hope that by joining a company whose success is best measured by their impact, like BestyBnB, we can continue to expand the ways that Leap Venture Studio supports creating a better future for the industry of pet care,” 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 the vision, passion, and drive to make life better for pets is a true honor,” said Brett Yates, CEO of Michelson Found Animals. “We look 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, raising over $200M in follow-on funding. Two of the portfolio companies successfully exited (PetHospice and Lacuna Diagnostics).
