INVESTMENTS THAT HELP PETS AND PEOPLE
Leap is also committed to fostering diversity in pet care and are proud that our founders are 60% diverse (female or person of color founded), which is 4x the broader venture market metrics.
Leap Venture Studio’s 2020 Cohort at the R/GA Office in Los Angeles, CA.
PROGRAMMING FOR EVERY STAGE OF STARTUPS
Leap Venture Studio
Leap Venture Studio is the first pet care-specific startup accelerator. Companies accepted to the Leap Venture Studio receive investment from MFA and Kinship, and participate in a 12-week accelerator program. The Studio is also supported by R/GA Ventures, a world-class services platform that connects our startups with award-winning strategists, technologists, designers, and consultants. The program culminates in an online pitch event where Studio companies pitch to investors, industry leaders, and the startup community.
Leap Venture Academy
The Leap Venture Academy is a series of pre-accelerator, community-building activities for early-stage pet care startups and innovators. Academy programs are always offered at no cost, and connect entrepreneurs with resources to foster innovation and development in the rapidly growing pet care industry. Academy programming often responds to the most pressing topics elevated by our community, and allows for open discussion that generates real-world solutions. Academy activities include webinars and office hours, summits and bootcamps, and pitch competitions. Events are held year-round, in person, and online.
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Learn more about our Studio and Academy Programming, and upcoming events
Summit & Bootcamp
Pitch Competitions
Our pitch competitions bring the most promising pet care startups to the stage for live contests. These events are an opportunity for startups to receive equity-free grants and industry exposure all in one place. Academy pitch competitions are right for companies at any stage in their development from idea to repeating revenue. Watch the 2020 Pitch Competition where The Bark Shoppe took top prize for their quick pivot to mobile grooming during COVID.
A SPRINGBOARD FOR INNOVATION
Pioneering Vegan Pet Food
Leap 2018 Cohort
Wild Earth is a biotech startup developing clean and sustainable gourmet pet food from fungi. Their product and food technology has helped drive a new wave of vegan pet food that delivers high quality nutrition while eliminating impact to human life and helping shrink the pet food industry’s massive carbon footprint.
Pioneering Gut Health in Pets
AnimalBiome is a female-founded, POC-led pet care start up that provides non-invasive diagnostics and at-home kits for microbiome restoration for healthier pets. They recently conducted research with Jiminy’s (also a Leap Portfolio company) which found that cricket meal, a sustainable protein source, is prebiotic and supports a healthy gut microbiome in dogs.
Cleaning Oceans Worldwide
Project Blu is Welsh pet retail company on a mission to revolutionize the pet accessories market and become the global leader for sustainable pet products. Their line of premium dog beds were among the initial set of products available on Amazon Launchpad. They’ve also developed a new vegan leather option made from apple skins, releasing in 2021.
Making Cat Mainstream
A PROGRAM WITH PROVEN SUCCESS
PetHospice is the first exit in our Leap Venture Studio portfolio. They were acquired by BluePearl Veterinary Partners to expand the scope of their veterinary services to make the end of life experience more comfortable and meaningful for pets and their people. Shea Cox, CEO, participated in our Leap Venture Academy Bootcamp for Female Founders in 2019 and went on to join our 3rd Leap Venture Studio cohort.
Dr. Shea Cox
Founder, Pet Hospice
“Without the support and steadfast advocacy of Leap, PetHospice would not be BluePearl Pet Hospice. The studio was instrumental in helping shape our vision and making crucial introductions. Leap – and more importantly, it’s people – has been hands-down the best part of my startup journey. I didn’t just make friends, I made family, and I’m forever grateful for this experience that led me to this life-changing opportunity.”
BUILDING DIVERSITY IN PET CARE
ROI of Diversity Panel
Leap is deeply committed to offering thoughtful conversations, learning opportunities, and open knowledge sharing to progress diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the pet care industry. Starting in July 2020, Leap Venture Academy hosted a series of “Diversity in Pet Care Roundtables” with leaders in DEI, pet care, startup founding, and more.
$90k Awarded to 15 Diverse Startup Founders
Wild Earth is a biotech startup developing clean and sustainable gourmet pet food from fungi. Their product and food technology has helped drive a new wave of vegan pet food that delivers high quality nutrition while eliminating impact to human life and helping shrink the pet food industry’s massive carbon footprint.
Leap Hosts All-Female Founder Bootcamp
