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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
Alex Chieng
PartnerPawsible VC
Rachel Sheppard
Director of VenturesMars PetcareSession Type:General Session (Presentation)11:10amMeet the Investors Reverse Pitch
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):
Andrew Poley
Vice PresidentSan Francisco Equity Partners
Anna Skaya
Founder/ PartnerBasePaws/Ani.VC
Chuck Johnson
Angel InvestorVANEDace Graham
Founder & Managing Partner1731 MGMTNatalie 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.
Robert Diamond
CEOIdenticareRobert is a successful entrepreneur with a track record of creating value from customer data.
Robert is the co-owner and CEO of identicare, the UK’s largest pet microchip registration and pet protection services provider. Identi offers recurring-revenue subscription services to over 4 Million pet owners. In Feb 2024 Robert bought out his joint venture partner (Animalcare PLC) with backing from Bridgepoint Group, one of the UK’s leading private asset investors, in a transaction valued at £30 Million.
At the same time Robert continues to oversee Fernbrook Partners, a private portfolio covering early-stage technology and lifestyle investments and commercial property acquisition, development and leasing.
From 2011 - 2017 Robert helped the acquisition, turnaround and successful sale of RAC, the world’s oldest motoring organisation. In his executive role as Managing Director Motoring Services, he oversaw the data assets of RAC’s 8.2 Million members and also ran six data / digital businesses. He was actively involved in the post-acquisition integration of RAC by Carlyle Private Equity and subsequent exit to GIC Singapore in 2014 and CVC Partners in 2015.
Prior to this, in 2001 Robert founded what became emnos - the leading provider of ‘customer centric’ services and decision-support tools. Clients included top retailers (Target, Walgreens, Morrisons, Waitrose, Boots, Co-operative Group) and their FMCG suppliers. The business was sold to Palamon Private Equity in 2007 and sold on to American Express in 2011.
Robert spent the previous 13 years in marketing and sales roles in the consumer and retail industries.
Robert is an elected member and former board director of the Young Presidents Organisation and regular media contributor (and TED talker) on the use of customer data. He lives in the UK with his wife and four children.
Max Pluss
PrincipalRhea Capital Management
George Song
PrincipalStrand Equity
Linda Block
InvestorImpactology Partners
Jay DeLong
Co-FounderActive Capital
Charles Tapp
Founder & Managing PartnerVetted Capital
Jared Jacobs
PartnerCAVU Consumer Partners
Leszek Wolany
Venture PartnerSmok Ventures
Ben Jacobs
PartnerDigitalis Ventures
Justin Wong
Vice PresidentAlliance Consumer Growth
Jeremiah Zinn
PartnerOff Leash Capital
Irena Blind
Managing DirectorTSG Consumer Partners
Gina Del Vecchio
General PartnerChicago Pacific Partners
Clarissa Barquist
InvestorMonogram Capital Partners
Christopher Brunert
Head of Corporate VenturesAgrolimen Ventures
Jane Lauder
FounderTAW VenturesJane Lauder is an entrepreneur, investor, and longtime board member of The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC). She is the founder of TAW Ventures, a firm dedicated to advancing pet wellness, health and longevity through strategic investments in groundbreaking products and solutions.
Jane’s dedication to the pet sector builds on her nearly three-decade career at The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), where she served in senior leadership roles across marketing, product innovation, and global brand management. Most recently, as Chief Data Officer and Executive Vice President of Enterprise Marketing, she led the company’s integration of AI and advanced technology tools, driving growth and transformation at one of the world’s most iconic beauty companies.
Now, Jane is channeling the same creativity, rigor, and growth mindset that defined her beauty career into shaping the future of pet health. She believes that the principles of building global beauty brands—deep consumer connection, innovation rooted in science, and a relentless focus on quality—are equally powerful in creating the next generation of pet wellness companies.
Aaron Avery
Operating ExecutiveAlpine InvestorsRachel Sheppard
Director of VenturesMars PetcareSession 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
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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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