Last week, our Leap Venture Studio team gathered in London for an incredible milestone: the conclusion of our 9th accelerator program and an inspiring Portfolio Summit that brought together founders, investors, and pet care innovators from across the globe. This gathering marked the culmination of months of hard work, creativity, and vision—showcasing the future of pet care and the passionate people building it.
Since its launch in February in NashvilleCohort 9 has been one of our most dynamic yet. Each of the six startups in the program embodies innovation, impact, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of pets and their people:
- BistroCat: The world’s first fully automated wet cat food feeder using smart tech to track preferences.
- Buddy Bites: A mission-driven pet food brand that donates meals to shelters with every order.
- Happy Howl: Providing human-grade, premium dog meals that combine nutrition and convenience.
- James & Ella: A wellbeing company delivering freeze-dried raw and raw-hybrid food for dogs.
- Oh Norman!: Crafting joyful, all-natural, vet-reviewed pet products that give back to rescues.
- Otis: Revolutionizing access to pet prescriptions for chronic conditions affecting millions of animals.
This year also welcomed Petcademyour second-ever Impact Seat company. With a mission to keep rescue pets in homes, Petcademy offers expert training, post-adoption support, and accessible behavior resources for pet parents navigating their new life with a companion animal.
We’re proud that Michelson Found Animals continues to co-lead this effort, providing funding, mentorship, and support to emerging leaders in the pet care space. Since 2018, Leap Venture Studio has supported 51 companies across 16 countrieshelping raise more than $200M in follow-on fundingand we’re just getting started.
Missed Demo Day? Click below to watch!
We’re so proud of this incredible cohort and can’t wait to see what they accomplish next. Here’s to a future where innovation, compassion, and impact drive the pet care industry forward.