Leap Venture Studio, the world’s first and largest pet care startup accelerator, announced it will be accepting applications for its tenth Studio program, designed to help founders scale their impact in 2026 and in years ahead.
The startup accelerator and community for pet care companies supports pet tech, wellness and service startups through VC investment, mentorship, customized programming and access to a network of industry leaders, including Mars Petcare, Michelson Found Animals, and now, TAW Ventures.
Originally founded in 2018, Leap Venture Studio began as a partnership between Mars, Inc., a global pet care leader behind brands like Royal Canin, Whiskas and Pedigree, veterinary hospital networks including Banfield, Bluepearl and VCA, and the California-based Michelson Found Animals non-profit. And, while it is designed to fuel impactful growth for pet care startups, the joint venture has been guided by its stakeholders’ mission to make the world a better place for pets and their guardians.
The tenth edition of the Studio program will offer early-stage pet care startup founders a highly-customized 12-week hybrid program, including access to resources, mentors, networking opportunities and brand and marketing services – in addition to $200,000 USD in funding.
“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,” said Rachel Sheppard, Director of Ventures at Mars Petcare.
“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.”
Cohort 10 startups will indeed benefit from the expertise of new partner TAW Ventures – founded in January 2025 by Jane Lauder and named after her furry companion Thaddeus Alistair Warsh – which strategically invests in innovative brands led by passionate founders who are redefining pet health, wellness and longevity.
“TAW Ventures was founded to support the next generation of pet wellness innovators with strategic guidance, consumer insight, 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,” Lauder noted.
At a time when spending growth in the pet care industry could reach 7% annually through 2030 – with predicted household spending surging from $1,445 USD per animal in 2026 to $1,733 USD by the end of the decade – the sector is set to remain fertile ground for both innovators and investors.
In this, market forces of supply and demand will be reinforced by both generational shifts and law. A 2025 study by telemedicine platform Vetster, for instance, found that 48% of Gen Z see no difference between their pet and a human child, while 67% of those aged 18 to 45 would rather have a dog than a child.
On the other hand, New York lawyer Amanda Reynolds made headlines in December 2025, as she sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) American tax administrator and enforcer, seeking for the agency to recognize her dog as a dependent for tax purposes. Meanwhile, European nations like Spain are poised to enforce its animal sentience law in 2026, and France made pet abandonment a criminal offense – with penalties of up to three years in prison and €45,000 ($52,608 USD) fines.
The momentum is thus tangible for those innovators applying to Cohort 10 of the Studio program. To date, Leap Venture Studio has invested in a portfolio of 57 companies across 9 Cohorts that span 17 markets globally, and set up the impact seat – an extension of the accelerator experience to various business models – in 2023.
For Cohort 10, the accelerator’s focus will be on funding startups that advance pet longevity and wellness, with particular interest in initiatives that improve accessibility of care, support senior pets and promote pet wellbeing through innovative and science-backed solutions.
“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. As we approach this landmark tenth cohort, it was only fitting to continue to push Leap even further forward with the addition of TAW Ventures,” concluded Phillip Kim, Executive Director at Michelson Philanthropies.
Startups interested in joining Cohort 10 from August 24 to November 12, 2026, can find more information at the Leap Venture Studio & Academy website and its social media channels. Applications are open until March 29.
Disclosure: This article mentions clients of an Espacio portfolio company.