Purina announces its 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize winners

Purina disclosed the 4 winning pet care startup companies from the United States and Canada that won its 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize. Ranging from at-home age estimations for cats and dogs to an app that uses artificial intelligence to measure pets’ feelings, each winner represents the latest technology in the pet care industry.

"Enriching the lives of pets and the people who love them is our purpose and our passion at Purina. Working with startups who share our passion for pets and the tireless pursuit of innovation allows us to inspire and help each other on this journey," said Blair Morgan, co-lead of Purina's 9 Square Ventures group, and vice president, of strategy and innovation for Purina, in an organizational release.¹ "This year's class of winners showcases the breadth of opportunities that exist in the pet industry, and our team is excited to help mentor and support them as they grow."

The winners are¹:

• Artie: A countertop appliance that creates home-cooked meals for dogs. This Phoenix, Arizona-based company provides highly nutritious meals featuring essential vitamins, fruits, grains, vegetables, and whole proteins in its Artie Harvest Bowls.
• Epipaws: This company based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, created a pet age testing kit that pet owners can use to estimate their pet’s birthday. By using an oral swab, the pet's age can be determined, and the company will also offer nutrition, behavior insights, and other information based on the stage of life the pet is in to create a proactive healthcare management plan.
• Happy Bond: Based out of Los Angeles, California, this company makes dog food free of preservatives, fillers, and additives. The food contains premium, human-grade ingredients and does not require refrigeration until opened.
• PDX Biotech: The creators of OraStripdx, the Huntsville, Alabama-based company launched a rapid screen test that veterinary professionals can use to detect periodontal disease in dogs and cats while it remains unseen by the naked eye. The results are available within 10 seconds so proper care can be quickly recommended.
• Sylvester.ai: This Calgary, Alberta Canada-based company launched a predictive visual healthcare product using artificial intelligence. Tably, the company’s first app, uses AI-trained veterinarian-approved pain scales and sees how cats are feeling based on facial cues.

Almost 140 companies in the United States and Canada applied for this prize. According to the release, the 5 winners will receive mentorship from the Pet Care Innovation team, an accelerator boot camp at Purina’s headquarters in St Louis, Missouri that features pet experts from Purina and the pet care industry, and $25,000.¹ The 5 finalists will also compete in a pitch competition at Global Pet Expo in March 2023, where they will present their businesses to an audience of both investors and industry influencers. The winner of this pitch competition will receive an additional $25,000 in cash.

Reference

Purina announces 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize winners. News release. Nestle Purina PetCare. January 31, 2023. Accessed January 31,2023. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purina-announces-2023-pet-care-innovation-prize-winners-301734083.html