Join this free online conference for pet care founders sponsored by Nestlé Purina’s 2027 Pet Care Innovation Prize. It’s a multi-session event, leading with a keynote before breaking off into tracks addressing animal health and pet care product issues in two panels and multiple break-out groups.
Animal Health & Pet Care Founders Conference
A Free Online Conference for Pet Care Founders
September 17, 2026 • 12–1:30pm CT
Session 1
Welcome & Keynote
12pm CT • 30 minutes
Welcome & Remarks
Keynote Fireside Chat with Anna Skaya: From Startup to Exit, No Stone Unturned!
Anna Skaya built and sold a pet company from the ground up. The founder and former CEO of Basepaws (the pet genetics company acquired by Zoetis) and now a partner at AniVC, Anna sits down with Patrick Mullen (VP, Strategic Planning, Nestlé Purina) for a candid, fast-paced conversation about what it really takes to start, fund, scale, and exit a pet-care company today. Expect the unfiltered version: cofounder dynamics, fundraising, Shark Tank, the acquisition, and life after the exit, + all your FAQ!
Session 2
Customers
12:30pm CT • 30 minutes
Track 1
Consumer Focused Pet Products
DTC
Being omnichannel shouldn’t require being omniscient. Hear panelists’ straight talk about the most vibrant platforms for online brands succeeding with DTC — the good, bad and ugly, with online hacks to best reach pet parents.
Moderator
Samantha McConnell
Co-Founder, RYERCAT
Panelists
Stephen Gary
Founder & CEO, Accelerazone
Michelle Huie
Founder & CEO, ShopDot Pet
Shawn Pate
Ecommerce Lead, Pets-on-Q
Track 2
Animal Health
The Vet Channel
Selling into the vet channel isn’t accomplished by bringing the clinic staff a lunch anymore. What are the considerations in play for today’s vet office purchasing decisions, and how can new products break in?
Moderator
Patricia Porter
Founder/CEO, VEA
Panelists
Patrick Mullen
VP, Strategic Planning, Nestlé Purina
Peter Glassman, DVM
Chief Veterinary Officer, BVH and Co-Founder, VANE
Session 3
Capital
1pm CT • 30 minutes
Track 1
Consumer Focused Pet Products – Raising Capital
Financing Growth with Outside Investment
A seasoned entrepreneur extracts what’s working from some active growth capital investors.
Moderator
Carlton Osbourne
Co-Founder & CEO, AnimalBiome
Panelists
Paul Rivenburgh
Managing Director, Encore Consumer Capital
Shannon Karches
CFO, TAW Ventures
Track 2
Animal Health — Raising Capital
Attracting & Closing Investor Interest
A practical discussion about generating investor interest and moving promising conversations toward a close.
Moderator
Aaron Massacar, PhD
Head of Partnerships, CoVet
Panelists
Natalie L. Marks, DVM
CEO, VANE
Gina Del Vecchio
Partner, OffLeash Capital
Track 3
Founders’ Circles & Breakouts
Founders’ Circles and other breakouts are a chance for face-to-face introductions, catching up, bragging and talking shop with other founders in their sub-sector. Feel free to bounce around!
Founders Circle
IOT / Tech for Pets
Ambassador: Scott Eller, Artie
Founders Circle
Pet Enrichment
Ambassador: Meghan Wolfgram, Swift Paws
Founders Circle
Alternative & Sustainable Food
Ambassador: James Bello, Shameless Pet
Founders Circle
FemaleFounders.Pet
Ambassador: Jamie Smith, Innovative Pet Labs
Platform Session
ShopDot Implementation Q&A
Host: Michelle Huie, Founder, ShopDot Pet
How brands get recommended by the people pet owners already ask for advice — groomers, trainers, vet clinics.
Platform Session
Maximizing the Chewy Q&A
Hosts: Chewy New Brand Launch’s Sri Ramarao & Rob May
Platform Session
TikTok Shop Implementation Q&A
Host: TikTok Shop Pet’s Jason Lan & Jesse Mendelsohn
Q&A Apply for $25,000
2027 PetCare Innovation Prize Q&A
Host: Dustin McAdams, EIR, Active Capital
Closing Remarks
1:30pm CT
Post-Event
We’ll re-open the Founders’ Circles and other breakouts. As before, feel free to bounce around!
Founders Circle
IOT / Tech for Pets
Ambassador: Scott Eller, Artie
Founders Circle
Pet Enrichment
Ambassador: Meghan Wolfgram, Swift Paws
Founders Circle
Alternative & Sustainable Food
Ambassador: James Bello, Shameless Pet
Founders Circle
FemaleFounders.Pet
Ambassador: Jamie Smith, Innovative Pet Labs
Platform Session
ShopDot Implementation Q&A
Host: Michelle Huie, Founder, ShopDot Pet
How brands get recommended by the people pet owners already ask for advice — groomers, trainers, vet clinics.
Platform Session
Maximizing the Chewy Q&A
Hosts: Chewy New Brand Launch’s Sri Ramarao & Rob May
Platform Session
TikTok Shop Implementation Q&A
Host: TikTok Shop Pet’s Jason Lan & Jesse Mendelsohn
Q&A Apply for $25,000
2027 PetCare Innovation Prize Q&A
Host: Dustin McAdams, EIR, Active Capital