(PRESS RELEASE) WENATCHEE, WA – PetHub, Inc., the first networked database and subscription membership service for pets and pet parents in the United States, announced it’s one of six pet care companies selected to join the fifth cohort of the Leap Venture Studio. The program is the first pet care-specific startup accelerator. It was created by Kinship (Mars Petcare), Michelson Found Animals Foundation and R/GA Ventures to nurture innovation in the fast-growing pet industry and support companies who share their commitment to improving the lives of pets and their people.
“We are honored to be chosen from hundreds of companies from more than 20 countries to be part of the Leap Venture Studio’s prestigious and innovative program,” said Lorien Clemens, co-founder and CEO of PetHub. “The growth opportunities available through Leap are invaluable. The collaboration within the cohort, the Leap community and beyond are the most exciting for us. We look forward to exploring those potential strategic partnerships, as well as the knowledge and insights we will gain from the program, to expand our business and help keep every family’s pets happy, safe and home for the rest of their lives.”
Each company involved in the 12-week program will receive an investment of up to $200,000. All participating companies will work closely with executive mentors from Kinship and Michelson Found Animals Foundation, as well as a curated team of experts from R/GA Ventures, to enhance their business plans, reach fundraising milestones, develop investor pitch decks, improve user experience and prepare for expansion. All of the companies in the cohort will also join the online Demo Day on April 28, 2022, to present to investors, industry leaders and the startup community.
- The other pet care companies in Leap’s fifth cohort include:
- Bright Planet Pet (Minneapolis, MN): Bright Planet Pet makes 100% plant-based dog treats that taste and smell like real meat.
- Dog Child (Toronto, Canada): Dog Child is remastering what it means to give our pets a home cooked meal by launching a suite of products and an online community to empower pet parents to cook nutrient rich meals at home.
- Hound (Denver, CO): Hound is making the employee journey awesome with their veterinary employee experience platform.
- Mella (Chicago, IL): Mella is an ecosystem of connected wellness monitoring products for both veterinarians and parents.
- Vetsie (Calgary, Canada): Vetsie is an all-in-one ecosystem and virtual care platform that uniquely serves veterinary clinics, as well as pet parents through a marketplace.
“We are thrilled to be working with founders who are tackling key issues for pet parents and vets alike, including improved access to veterinary care and pet wellness, support for veterinarians, sustainable food options including vegan treats and at-home cooking, and making sure pets are happy and safe at every point of their life,” said Rachel Sheppard, director of Ventures at Mars Petcare.
PetHub serves 800+ communities in the United States with digital pet licenses and rabies tags and its online platform is home to more than 850,000 pet profiles. For more information about PetHub, visit www.pethub.com. Learn more about Leap Venture Studio at www.leapventurestudio.com.
