Leap Venture Studio announces global applications for seventh studio program

Leap Venture Studio announces applications for the latest cohort of its seed-stage accelerator program for pet care start-ups. Up to seven early-stage pet care companies will be selected to participate in the 12-week program, running from March 6 until Demo Day on June 9. The hybrid program will take place online, as well as inperson sessions in Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee in the US.

Leap Venture Studio & Academy was started as a partnership between Mars Petcare (the largest pet care organisation in the world) and Michelson Found Animals, a leading animal welfare organisation. The Studio program is supported by achieve their goals, from top industry leaders and award-winning strategists, technologists, designers, and consultants from the Leap Venture Studio team. All founders receive US$200,000, custom mentorship, and support in preparing for future fundraising. The program consolidates with a Demo Day, where founders pitch their companies to top investors from the Mars, Michelson Found Animals, and R/GA networks.

Essential selection criteria for entrants into the program include: a unique business plan, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a drive to elevate the lives of pets and their people. Proudly, 70 percent of past program founders inclusion.

Former accelerator graduates are driving forward innovation in sustainability, care for senior pets, digitising pet services, pet and vet mental health, cat healthcare, premium nutrition, and ending pet homelessness. Since launching in 2018, the 40 companies who have gone through the accelerator have gone on to raise US$170 million in follow-on capital – US$100 million in 2021 alone, and two exits.

“As a pet care industry, we have the wonderful opportunity to make pet parenting more accessible and joyful for all; to achieve this we are looking for mission-driven founders all around the world with diverse,