Speakers | Kisaco Research

New 2026 Selection Committee

The global launchpad for animal health startups is back.
Bigger, bolder and laser-focused on the disruptors changing the animal health landscape.

Daniel Kolb

Daniel Kolb

Direct Investment

Athos Service Family Office

Daniel Kolb

Daniel Kolb

Direct Investment
Athos Service Family Office

Julia Stephanus

Julia Stephanus

Partner

Borealis Ventures

Julia Stephanus

Julia Stephanus

Partner
Borealis Ventures

Julia has been a visionary entrepreneur and strategic brand builder in the veterinary industry for 30+ years. Her achievements include building and scaling two successful start-up veterinary pharmaceutical businesses and launching 28 veterinary products.  She was Founder and CEO of Summit VetPharm, which exited to Ceva Animal Health in 2010.  As Chief Commercial Officer of Aratana Therapeutics (PETX), she was instrumental in the IPO and the buildout of a fully integrated commercial organization.  Julia led the co-promotion and the licensing of Aratana’s lead osteoarthritis product, Galliprant®, to Elanco.  Aratana exited to Elanco in 2019.

Julia is Founder and President of Avviare, LLC, providing consulting services to start-ups and established players in veterinary biopharmaceuticals.  In addition to the start-up experience, Julia’s career includes senior-level positions at Ceva, Forest Laboratories (Allergan) and Pfizer Animal Health (Zoetis) and their legacy companies.

Julia presently serves on the Boards of PBI Gordon, ReduxBio, and Jenga Biosciences.  Julia is a Founding Director and Board Member of Feather in Her Cap, recognizing outstanding women in Animal Health.  

Julia received her Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with additional education at the Wharton School of Business, Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and Harvard University.

Camilla Kruse

Camilla Kruse

Strategic Partner & Tech Scouting Manager

Cargill

Camilla Kruse

Camilla Kruse

Strategic Partner & Tech Scouting Manager
Cargill

Dr Jamie Crittall

Dr Jamie Crittall

Partner

Animal Health Angels

Dr Jamie Crittall

Dr Jamie Crittall

Partner
Animal Health Angels

Jimmy Barr

Jimmy Barr

Chief Medical Officer

Mars Science & Diagnostics

Jimmy Barr

Jimmy Barr

Chief Medical Officer
Mars Science & Diagnostics

Andreas Kastenbauer

Andreas Kastenbauer

Partner

MIG Capital

Andreas Kastenbauer

Andreas Kastenbauer

Partner
MIG Capital

Alistair Cliff

Alistair Cliff

Group Head of Productivity

IVC Evidensia

Alistair Cliff

Alistair Cliff

Group Head of Productivity
IVC Evidensia

Patrick Meeus

Patrick Meeus

Managing Director – Innovation

Nutreco

Patrick Meeus

Patrick Meeus

Managing Director – Innovation
Nutreco

Paul Dick

Paul Dick

President

Paul Dick & Associates

Paul Dick

Paul Dick

President
Paul Dick & Associates

Dr Paul Dick D.V.M. M.Sc. obtained his veterinary medical degree with honours in 1984.

While working in clinical practice he completed his Masters in Immunology and Virology transitioning into the Pharmaceutical industry in 1988. Dr. Dick has over 25 years experience in the pharmaceutical space including general management and leadership roles, business development, commercialization, regulatory affairs, and product development encompassing medicinal, non-medicinal and natural health products.

His work in this sector has ranged from small “start up” companies to medium and large multi-nationals functioning in various capacities from research to COO and CEO.

Dr. Dick has worked extensively with Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on numerous regulatory submissions and on several Departmental Committees.

In addition he has been a recipient of the NSERC Synergy Award and has served as a peer reviewer of NSERC strategic grants. He is currently heading his own consulting firm ( Paul Dick and Associates Ltd.) and is the managing partner and president of a venture capital partnership (Vet Venture Capital Inc.).

Cindy Cole

Cindy Cole

Partner

Digitalis Ventures

Cindy Cole

Cindy Cole

Partner
Digitalis Ventures

Dr. Cindy Cole is a Technical Partner at Digitalis Ventures and an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Florida. Prior to joining Digitalis she was in the animal health industry for many years holding senior leadership and R&D roles at Mars Petcare, Novartis Animal Health, IDEXX, and Piedmont Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Cole completed her DVM and PhD at the University of Florida and was on the faculty of the University of California, Davis and UF.

Oliver Viner

Oliver Viner

Co-Founder & Chief Veterinary Technology Officer

Hello Vet

Oliver Viner

Oliver Viner

Co-Founder & Chief Veterinary Technology Officer
Hello Vet

Natalie Marks

Natalie Marks

Chief Executive Officer

VANE

Natalie Marks

Natalie Marks

Chief Executive Officer
VANE

Dr. 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.

Alexander Petersen

Alexander Petersen

Managing Director & Animal Health Lead

Corporate Finance Associates

Alexander Petersen

Alexander Petersen

Managing Director & Animal Health Lead
Corporate Finance Associates




Jolian Howell

Jolian Howell

Partner

Animal Health Angels

Jolian Howell

Jolian Howell

Partner
Animal Health Angels

Philippe Tramoy

Philippe Tramoy

Partner

Seventure Partners

Philippe Tramoy

Philippe Tramoy

Partner
Seventure Partners

Greg Blair

Greg Blair

Vice President of Business Development

Zomedica

Greg Blair

Greg Blair

Vice President of Business Development
Zomedica

Christina Schwab, PhD

Christina Schwab, PhD

Head of Innovation Portfolio Management | Animal Nutrition & Health

dsm-firmenich

Christina Schwab, PhD

Christina Schwab, PhD

Head of Innovation Portfolio Management | Animal Nutrition & Health
dsm-firmenich

Dain Clare

Dain Clare

Vice President

NovaQuest Capital Management

Dain Clare

Dain Clare

Vice President
NovaQuest Capital Management