Leap Venture Studio pet care startup accelerator is now open for 2026 

Today, Leap Ventures Studio, the world’s first pet care startup accelerator, announced applications are open for seed-stage pet care startups to become part of its accelerator program. The 12-week accelerator program, open from now until March 29th, is designed to provide early-stage pet care startups with external expertise and funding. 

Selected startups will become part of the 10th cohort of the initiative, and benefit from strategic guidance of newly announced partner, TAW Ventures. TAW Ventures was initially founded in 2025 by Jane Lauder, granddaughter of Estée Lauder, and ex-Chief Data Officer of the Estée Lauder Companies, which provides strategic guidance and investment to founders addressing pet health and wellness.  

“TAW Ventures was founded to support the next generation of pet wellness innovators with strategic guidance, consumer sunlight, and patient, purpose-driven capital. By joining Leap Venture Studio, we can help founders translate breakthrough ideas into trusted, scalable brands—and we are excited to partner with Mars Petcare and Michelson Found Animals to accelerate that vision,” Jane Lauder, founder and managing partner at TAW Ventures said in the announcement press release. 

The news comes just after New York Lawyer Amanda Reynolds made headlines for filing a complaint to allow animals to be claimed as dependents – a reflection of just how much modern pet owners value their pets . 

What we know about the pet care startup accelerator so far 

The accelerator program aims to offer early-stage pet care startup founders a highly-customised 12-week hybrid program which includes access to resources, mentors, networking opportunities, brand, and marketing services. It also comes with $200,000 USD in funding support. 

Leap Venture Studio was initially founded in 2018 as a partnership between Mars Incorporated, veterinary hospital networks including Banfield, Bluepearl, VCA, and the Michelson Found Animals non-profit. Collectively, these entities provide access to expertise and support that smaller pet care startups wouldn’t have internally. 

Mars Incorporated, on the other hand, was founded in June 1911 in Tacoma, Washington, and has since helped build some of the biggest consumer brands in the world, with a portfolio including Royal Canin, Whiskas, Pedigree, Cesar, M&M’s, Snickers, Pringles, Cheese-It and Ben’s. 

Similarly, Michelson Found Animals, established in 2005, has committed more than $100 million USD annually to animal welfare initiatives in Los Angeles and across the United States. 

“Opening applications for Cohort 10 feels like a milestone moment for our team and the founders we hope to meet. The startup world moves fast, and we’re always looking for even better ways to support innovators improving the lives of pets and their people,” Rachel Sheppard, Director of Ventures at Mars Petcare said. 

“That’s why we’re excited to welcome TAW Ventures as a partner. Their hands-on experience in research and development, and strategy, will help Leap give founders even stronger support as they build what’s next in pet care,” she added. 

Above all, the accelerator aims to build companies that thrive in their respective pet care niches. 

“Cohort after cohort, Leap companies have continued to exceed our every expectation – not just in funding or growth, but in how they have redefined market segments, or raised the standard for what it means to have a positive social impact and create companies that truly help our pets live their fullest lives,” noted Phillip Kim, Executive Director at Michelson Philanthropies. 

Where are they now? 

The Leap Startup Accelerator has helped support a number of pet care startups including BistroCat, Buddy Bites, GekkoVet, Innovative Pet Lab, Happy Howl, James & Ella, Oh Norman!, and Otis. 

Petcademy, from Cohort 9, offers text-based pet training and community programs for dogs and cats, as well as post-adoption support. As of January 2026, Petcademy has supported over 230,000 pets. 

With 40% of global millennials reportedly seeing their pets as the most important thing in their lives, there is a high demand for pet care startups that support the health and wellbeing of pets and their owners. 

In fact, Morgan Stanley estimates that annual household spending on pets will reach $1,445 USD per animal by 2026 and $1,733 USD by 2030 — with total industry spending reaching a total of $261 billion USD by 2030.

Leap Ventures Studio’s initiative will help identify more startups that are ready to contribute to this growth, and offer insights into how to differentiate themselves in an incredibly competitive market.