Innovative scale takes first place in the 2026 Pet Pitch Competition

Utah-based start-up Fearless Paws was named the first-place winner of the 2026 Pet Pitch Competition at this year’s Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida. The company presented its Split Up Scale product to judges and VMX attendees.¹

“Fearless Paws is a company dedicated to creating innovative and low-stress solutions to help improve the lives of pets and the people [who] care for them,” Katie Gray, DVM, founder of Fearless Paws, said in a dvm360 interview. “The Split Up Scale is our very first product launch. It is a size-adjustable, portable, low-profile weight scale.”

The VMX Pet Pitch Competition is a Shark Tank–style program in its’ ninth year. Five finalists were invited to present their pitches to judges this year at the VMX conference hosted by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC). The competition aims to provide new companies with the opportunity to introduce their products, services, and solutions to thousands of veterinary professionals and practice decision-makers.²

Competition front-runners were showcased in the VMX Startup Circle, a dedicated area in the exposition hall that gave emerging businesses a platform to present their products and solutions directly to veterinary professionals and practice decision-makers, according to NAVC.¹ Finalists are also receiving mentorship, networking opportunities, and critical feedback to help accelerate their idea into a thriving business.²

At the VMX Startup Circle, Gray said she designed the Split Up Scale to help relieve stress for animals in using scales. “I spent a lot of time designing this product for the animals, but also to be really useful to [veterinarians] because we need good equipment. We need equipment that helps us. And patients deserve a good experience when they're in the clinic, and that was really the inspiration behind all of this,” she said.

Gray also explained how the Split Up Scale is unique. “There's nothing on the market that's currently like our product. Traditional veterinary scales tend to be either…baby scales for cats or the really large dog scales, and none of them are size adjustable, portable, or low profile” she said.

And what’s next for Fearless Paws? Although Gray said she was “still processing” the Pet Pitch Competition win, plans are underway to market the winning product, possibly in 2026. ”We do have a patent on it, because this is new technology that no one [else] is doing right now,” she said.

“I'm just so thankful for everyone's help along the way. [I’m] thankful for the judges, the organizers, [and] everyone in the veterinary community. It's such a big deal to us as a small start-up, to have people really believing in our product and in our company,” Gray said.

References

1. Live from VMX 2026: innovation, energy and breakthrough diagnostics take over Orlando. News release. North American Veterinary Community. January 20, 2026. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/live-from-vmx-2026-innovation-energy-and-breakthrough-diagnostics-take-over-orlando-302665693.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Attention veterinary startups: apply for the VMX 2026 Startup Circle & Pet Pitch Competition! North American Veterinary Community. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://navc.com/%20vmx-event/startup-circle-pet-pitch/