VEVEY, SWITZERLAND — Global pet care company Purina has officially opened applications for the sixth cohort of Unleashed, an accelerator program for pet care startups. Powered by the Purina Accelerator Lab, Unleashed aims to identify, support and “champion” disruptive pet industry startups that are leveraging technology to enhance the lives of pets and their owners.
For the sixth cohort, which is set to take place in 2025, Unleashed will be accepting 10 startups. Purina is seeking companies from around the world that are using technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), and that are also scalable and sustainable.
Participating startups will have access to dedicated coaches and expert Unleashed Champions from Purina. These experts will help guide and mentor startups through their growth, providing valuable expertise and support. Selected startups will also have access to the Unleashed and Purina network.
Since its inception, Unleashed has received more than 1,400 startup entries from 50 countries. The program has successfully accelerated 33 startups to date and provided significant solutions to pet owners, according to Unleashed. Additionally, Purina has also collaborated with a selection of these startups, transitioning them from the accelerator to a commercial agreement or incubator.
“The pet industry has always been very innovation-driven and remains growth-oriented. Startups are leading the way when it comes to leveraging consumer technology in the pet industry,” said Kim Bill, head of the Purina Accelerator Lab. “As we see the rise of AI technologies, startups will be at the forefront of shaping that technology to improve the lives of pets. Working with startups all over the world helps the entire cohort think about our challenges in a diverse manner. We have tested and learned with our startups and every party has benefited from the journey, and it gets better each year, and I’m truly excited by our future cohort six and the continued growth of our Unleashed network.”
Many pet nutrition-focused startups have participated in previous cohorts of Unleashed. Arbiom, a Parisian sustainable protein producer, was selected for the 2024 program. And alternative protein startups MOA Foodtech and eniferBio were selected for the 2022 program.
Applications for Unleashed 2025 close on Sept. 30 and winners will be announced in February 2025. Learn more about Purina Unleashed and apply here.
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