BERLIN — Kisaco Research has announced the agenda for its fifth-annual PetCare Innovation Summit Europe event, which will be held May 3 to 4, 2023, in Berlin. The summit is expected to gather more than 300 senior-level pet care leaders and feature more than 100 startups representing over 15 countries.

The 2023 PetCare Innovation Summit Europe will feature several new facets, including a market spotlight on Germany, the United Kingdom, France and other key European pet care arenas, as well as an investment-stage roundtable to provide funding advice. Additionally, the 2023 summit will highlight four main topics: industry trends, pet nutrition, pet technology and vet technology.

There will be a focus on startup and investment opportunities, wherein the summit will cover challenges and opportunities, different business models, as well as a forum for company leaders and founders.

Best in Show finalists for the Petcare Innovation Summit Europe were selected in March. Read more about the startups that were selected to participate here.

Event organizers are now taking applications for a Best in Show Spotlight, which will highlight the “most innovative emerging companies” in several categories, including pet food and supplements. Finalists will be chosen by the summit’s Selection Committee and will gain the opportunity to present a three-minute pitch during the event followed by a Q&A with a judging panel. Best in Show Spotlight finalists will also be featured in a “startup unboxing” experience, in which brands can showcase their products and services to potential investors and partners. Applications for the Best in Show Spotlight close on March 17.

The two-day event will begin on Wednesday, May 3, running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The agenda for Wednesday will include opening remarks, followed by a panel on “The Future of Investment Within the Petcare Market” and a presentation on “Premium Versus Mass Market — Where will purchasing power go during a recession?”

Morning sessions on Wednesday precede a networking break, three-minute pitch presentations from Best in Show Spotlight finalists, and time for pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. In the afternoon, breakout groups for the vet technology and pet technology content tracks will discuss challenges and opportunities in the consumer and veterinary markets, with networking, meeting and startup unboxing time scheduled intermittently throughout the rest of the day.

Day two will kick off on Thursday, May 4, with a presentation on “The Future of Pet Insurance,” followed by discussions on choosing the right business model and how to increase profitability through subscription-based models. Networking and pre-scheduled meetings will occur late that morning, followed by breakout groups segmented by various levels of investment needs.

Thursday afternoon will be focused on pet nutrition. At 2 p.m., Suzanne Brock of Voff Pet Food will discuss humanization, sustainability and wellness in her presentation, “Trends that are Dominating the Pet Food Market.” At 2:30 p.m., three pet nutrition experts will discuss emerging and innovative ingredients that are advancing pet health and sustainability. Later in the day, another group of pet nutrition experts will speak on “The Role of Pet Supplements and Functional Feeds in Improving Pet Wellness,” followed by a presentation on “Enabling Personalization and Improving Pet Wellness Through the Microbiome.”

Read more about the 2023 PetCare Innovation Summit Europe and access the full agenda on the event website.

Read more about pet food and treat industry events.