Leap Venture Studio, the pet care accelerator run by Mars Petcare and Michelson Found Animals, launched its tenth cohort on August 24 in Nashville, working from its largest application pool yet: over 300 companies from more than 40 countries.
The program runs through a close-out event in London the week of November 9, with each of the six selected startups receiving $200,000 in funding and a hybrid mentorship track designed for early-stage founders.
The structural news is who’s backing it. TAW Ventures, founded by Jane Lauder, joins as Leap’s first new institutional partner since the program started in 2018. TAW invests specifically around pet longevity and health span rather than any single category, and that focus shows up across almost the entire cohort.
“What stood out across this cohort was how many founders are thinking about the full health span of a pet’s life, not just a single need. That kind of long-term thinking is key to building brands pet parents will trust for the long term. I’m looking forward to working alongside them,” Lauder said in a statement.
Pet care startups pulled in $660 million in venture funding through 2025, and within that, pet tech specifically raised $346 million across 37 rounds, more than double the $170 million raised the year before, according to a funding database compiled by Growth List.
Leap’s tenth cohort is landing in the middle of the VC and corporate investment buildup. Elanco Animal Health announced in June 2026 that it’s launching its own venture arm, and Mars Petcare’s separate accelerator work with Big Idea Ventures pulled in 165 applications from 39 countries for a single specialty cohort in October 2025.
Three of the six startups Leap picked line up directly with TAW’s longevity thesis. SoluPet, for one, makes a cognition supplement for older dogs, arriving as veterinary guidance shifts toward catching decline earlier. New clinical guidelines from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association now recommend routine cognitive screening for every dog starting at age seven, done every six to twelve months, rather than waiting for owners to notice something’s wrong.
LymeAlert is working the same angle on infectious disease, with a kit that tests a tick directly for infection instead of waiting on a dog’s antibody response, and returns a result in 15 minutes.
And Luna the Dental Vets runs dental-only clinics built around a diagnostic gap the industry has flagged itself: a February survey of 462 veterinary practitioners across five countries found periodontal disease is routinely underdiagnosed because confirming it typically requires anesthesia and imaging that many owners never book.
The other three are building around delivery and formulation rather than diagnosis. Grub Club makes food and treats for dogs with sensitivities, using novel proteins that include insects, a niche category still finding its commercial footing. The global insect-protein pet food market was worth an estimated $142.6 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $614.8 million by 2036, according to Future Market Insights.
Meanwhile, NanosVet is applying nanofiber technology to make treatment delivery less stressful for pets, and Wynwood offers fresh, vet-prescribed nutrition.
Leap also filled its Impact Seat this round, a slot reserved for a company judged on what it contributes to the pet care system rather than growth metrics. It went to myBalto Foundation, which builds dedicated fundraising accounts for veterinary hospitals to help cover treatment costs for owners who can’t.
A survey of 1,000 pet owners conducted by Fractl for MetLife in October 2025, found 70% had delayed or skipped a vet visit specifically because of cost, a reminder that capital flowing into the sector doesn’t automatically translate into care people can afford.
“Cohort 10 drew over 300 applications from more than 40 countries – the highest number we’ve ever seen! The selected companies stood out by tackling meaningful, real-world challenges for pets and the people who care for them,” said Rachel Sheppard, director of ventures at Mars Petcare.
“We’re excited to support them throughout the Leap Venture Studio program and in their journey ahead.”
Since 2018, Leap has backed 57 companies across 17 markets, which have gone on to raise more than $200 million USD in follow-on funding.
Featured image: Diana Light via Unsplash+
Disclosure: This article mentions a client of an Espacio portfolio company.
