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Innovation & Investment Pre-Day: Tuesday, 2 Dec, 202510:20am
Pet 101: Future-Proof Fast
A fast-paced, insight-rich look at developing pet health and nutrition products and services, and what this means for the innovators and investors shaping the next decade. Drawing on deep product development, business development, and veterinary expertise, this session examines ways of expediting the creation and commercialization of new products and service to thereby accelerate revenue generation and create stronger market presence with greater product/ service differentiation.
Attendees will gain a clear view of how credible advisory and early-stage planning can accelerate go-to-market timelines, strengthen investment readiness, and help avoid the common pitfalls that slow commercialization. Participants will leave with a sharper understanding of the environment they are working in and the opportunities most likely to define commercial success in 2025 and beyond.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsInvestment OpportunitiesScaling SmarterSpeaker(s):
Dr. Paul Dick
PresidentPaul Dick & AssociatesSession Type:General Session (Presentation)10:40amBeyond Scarcity: Solving The Pet Funding Puzzle
A candid look at the pet industries funding gaps: why early-stage capital is scarce, where investors are placing bets, and how founders are getting creative with capital.
From tapping into angel investors and leveraging crowdfunding platforms to forging creative partnerships, this solutions-oriented session offers founders practical advice for navigating todays funding maze.
Session Topics:Investment OpportunitiesScaling SmarterSpeaker(s):Moderator
Natalie Marks
Chief Executive OfficerVANEDr. Natalie Marks is a small animal veterinarian with over twenty years of clinical experience. She owned the largest animal hospital in Chicago. More recently, she has been the founder and president of MarksDVMConsulting, an educational and strategy consulting firm working with companies of all stages nationally and internationally. She is also on the Executive Committee of VANE, the premier veterinary angel network investor group. VANE currently has 28 portfolio companies and provides direction, connection, and funding to start-ups in the animal health space.
Dace Graham
Founder & Managing Partner1731 MGMT
Gina Del Vecchio
General PartnerChicago Pacific Partners
Rachel Sheppard
Director of VenturesMars PetcareAs the Director of Ventures for Mars Petcare, I also co-Lead the Leap Venture Studio program. If you're working on a new pet care startup idea, it would be great to connect!
Talk to me about: pet care startups, innovation, new ideas, and fundraising!
Session Type:General Session (Presentation)11:10amMeet the Investors Reverse Pitch Part 2
We’re flipping the script…. again! After 2024’s sold out success it’s the return of the reverse pitch!
40+ investors, each with a dynamic two-minute pitch detailing their investment criteria, category preferences, stage of interest and what they look for in potential partners.
Following this reverse pitch the meeting scheduler will open to pre-book the afternoons 1-2-1 meetings.
Taking the guess work out of meetings so you can connect smarter and faster. Get ready, get comfortable and let the pitching begin!
Session Topics:Investment OpportunitiesScaling SmarterSpeaker(s):
Ben Jacobs
PartnerDigitalis Ventures
Justin Wong
PrincipalAlliance Consumer Growth
Jeremiah Zinn
PartnerOff Leash Capital
Clarissa Barquist
InvestorMonogram Capital Partners
Christopher Brunert
Head of Corporate VenturesAgrolimen Ventures
Aaron Avery
Operating ExecutiveAlpine Investors
Perry Leon
Vice PresidentTZP Group
Gabriel Baldinucci
Co-Founder & CEOPawsitive Holdings
David Haworth, DVM, PhD
Venture PartnerVetted Capital PartnersDavid Haworth is a highly sought-after advisor and consultant to some of the largest and smallest organizations in the animal health and wellness space. He serves on numerous boards including the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and DOG TV and Chairs the Scientific Working Group of the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). He is a venture partner for Vetted Capital Partners and Ani.vc, and serves on the Executive Committee of VANE (Veterinary Angel Network). Most recently, he was an Executive Vice-President at Embark Veterinary, responsible for Science and Business Development. Prior to Embark, he was the co-founder and president of Vidium Animal Health, a genomic diagnostics company, and helped lead it to a successful acquisition. He is also a former President of PetSmart Charities in the US and Canada as well as the former President & CEO of Morris Animal Foundation, providing millions of dollars in grants for veterinary medical research. Prior to his work in non-profits, he served in multiple positions at Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis, Inc.) for over 11 years. He and his wife, Claudia, reside with their dog Breckenridge in Montana.
Anna Skaya
Founder/ PartnerBasePaws/Ani.VC
Pria Pant
AssociateStrand EquitySession Type:General Session (Presentation)01:30pmBreak-Out SessionsPitch Perfection: Building Winning Decks
A practical session on how to craft a pitch deck that resonates with investors. This roundtable breaks down the core ingredients of a winning deck, including how to frame the problem, sharpen your value proposition, present your science clearly, and position yourself against the competition. Participants will learn how to show market opportunity, highlight meaningful traction, and make the ask with confidence.
The focus is on earning investor trust through strong logic, clean structure, and disciplined storytelling that prepares companies for diligence, partnership, and capital raising.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterSpeaker(s):Dr. Paul Dick
PresidentPaul Dick & AssociatesAgenda Track No.:Track 1Session Type:General Session (Presentation)Target Smarter: ICPs, Influencers, and Decision-Managers
Are you marketing to a myth?
Designed to give founders a cheat sheet for defining their true customer and where revenue can truly be generated.
This session decodes emotional drivers, pinpoints effective influencer channels, and helps you leverage in-clinic advocates effectively.
Sharpen your positioning, validate product–market fit, and build traction that converts.
Session Topics:Engaging Pet ParentsSpeaker(s):
Steve Kirton
CEOCirca HealthcareAgenda Track No.:Track 2Session Type:General Session (Presentation)Unleash Profit Potential: From Pilot to Partnership: Smart Scaling Strategies for a Winning Exit
A successful exit is built into business foundations from day one.
Discover how to optimize growth, strengthen your business fundamentals, and position your company to attract top buyers and maximize returns when it’s time to sell.
Session Topics:Unleashing Profit PotentialInvestment OpportunitiesAgenda Track No.:Track 3Session Type:General Session (Presentation)02:30pmPre-Scheduled 1-2-1 Meetings
All present on the pre-day will have the ability to book up to six 1-2-1 meetings with investors and/or innovators present following the reverse pitch.
• Pre-Day Meetings are 20 minutes in length
• Guests will use the Swapcard event app to schedule meetings with fellow attendees.
• Access to the app will be provided 2 weeks prior to the event for attendees and 3 weeks ahead for event partners.
1.30-1.50 – Meeting 1
1.55-2.15 – Meeting 2
2.20- 2.40 – Meeting 3
2.45-3.05 – Meeting 4
3.10-3.30 – Meeting 5
3.35-3.55 – Meeting 6
4.00-4.20 – Meeting 7
4.25-4.45 – Meeting 8
Session Topics:Networking OpportunitiesAgenda Track No.:Track 6Session Type:General Session (Presentation)
Agenda Days:
Agenda Tracks:
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Scale Smarter
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Engage Pet Parents
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Unleash Profit Potential
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Morning Plenary: Provoking Vision and Urgency
Track Description:
Structured for pet execs keen to anticipate the pet parent of tomorrow and recalibrate around next-gen expectations.
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Lunch
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Networking
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Unleash Profit Potential
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Show Company Logos in Tracks:
No
Show Company Logos in Sessions:
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Show Inline Description Hint:
No
Show Inline Summaries:
No
Use Popup Dialog for Sessions:
No
Show Day Filter:
Yes
Show Audience Filter:
Yes
Show Tracks Filter:
No
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