Let the Reverse Pitch...BEGIN!
The Innovation & Investment Pre-Day will gather 40+ investment firms across angel, venture capital and private equity reverse-pitching, outlining what they’re looking for, and their remit to invest, alongside meetings with relevant companies.
Lots of events say they do ‘matchmaking’, but we’re the experts at it!
MEET THE INVESTORS
Key Sessions
Pet 101: Future-Proof Fast

Dr. Paul Dick
President
Paul Dick & Associates
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.

Dr. Paul Dick
President
Paul Dick & Associates
Beyond Scarcity: Solving The Pet Funding Puzzle

Moderator: Natalie Marks
Chief Executive Officer
VANE

Dace Graham
Founder & Managing Partner
1731 MGMT

Gina Del Vecchio
General Partner
Chicago Pacific Partners

Rachel Sheppard
Director of Ventures
Mars Petcare
Beyond 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.
Moderator

Natalie Marks
Chief Executive Officer
VANE


Dace Graham
Founder & Managing Partner
1731 MGMT


Gina Del Vecchio
General Partner
Chicago Pacific Partners


Rachel Sheppard
Director of Ventures
Mars Petcare

Meet the Investors Reverse Pitch Part 2

Ben Jacobs
Partner
Digitalis Ventures

Justin Wong
Principal
Alliance Consumer Growth

Jeremiah Zinn
Partner
Off Leash Capital

Clarissa Barquist
Investor
Monogram Capital Partners

Christopher Brunert
Head of Corporate Ventures
Agrolimen Ventures

Aaron Avery
Operating Executive
Alpine Investors

Perry Leon
Vice President
TZP Group

Gabriel Baldinucci
Co-Founder & CEO
Pawsitive Holdings

David Haworth, DVM, PhD
Venture Partner
Vetted Capital Partners

Anna Skaya
Founder/ Partner
BasePaws/Ani.VC

Pria Pant
Associate
Strand Equity
Meet the Investors Reverse Pitch Part 2
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!

Ben Jacobs
Partner
Digitalis Ventures


Justin Wong
Principal
Alliance Consumer Growth


Jeremiah Zinn
Partner
Off Leash Capital


Clarissa Barquist
Investor
Monogram Capital Partners


Christopher Brunert
Head of Corporate Ventures
Agrolimen Ventures


Aaron Avery
Operating Executive
Alpine Investors

Perry Leon
Vice President
TZP Group

Gabriel Baldinucci
Co-Founder & CEO
Pawsitive Holdings

David Haworth, DVM, PhD
Venture Partner
Vetted Capital Partners

Anna Skaya
Founder/ Partner
BasePaws/Ani.VC


Pria Pant
Associate
Strand Equity
Scale Smarter
Engage Pet Parents
Unleash Profit Potential
Pitch Perfection: Building Winning Decks

Pitch 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.

Dr. Paul Dick
President
Paul Dick & Associates
Target Smarter: ICPs, Influencers, and Decision-Managers

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.

Steve Kirton
CEO
Circa Healthcare

Unleash Profit Potential: From Pilot to Partnership: Smart Scaling Strategies for a Winning Exit
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.
Networking
Pre-Scheduled 1-2-1 Meetings
Pre-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





































