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Innovation & Investment Pre-Day: Tuesday, 2 Dec, 202509:00am
Arrival & Welcome
Collect your credentials. It’s time to shape the future of pet business.
Summary:RegistrationSession Type:Registration10:10amLet’s Get Started
A welcome from our team to yours.
Speaker(s):
Poppy Howard-Wall
Event ProducerPet ConnectSession Type:General Session (Presentation)10:20amPet 101: Future-Proof Fast
A practical crash course on where the pet industry is headed — and how to play it, tailored for start-ups and investors ready to win.
Cut through the noise with key trends, quirks, risks, and opportunities shaping success in 2030 and ensure understanding of the environment you’re scaling in.
The essential guide for building or backing tomorrow’s pet businesses.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsInvestment OpportunitiesScaling SmarterSpeaker(s):Session Type:General Session (Presentation)10:40amBeyond 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.
Session Topics:Investment OpportunitiesScaling SmarterSpeaker(s):ModeratorPanelistsSession Type:General Session (Presentation)11:10amMeet the Investors Reverse Pitch
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!
Session Topics:Investment OpportunitiesScaling SmarterSession Type:General Session (Presentation)12:40pmBox Lunch & Pre-scheduled 1-2-1 Meetings
Agenda Track No.:Track 5Summary:LunchSession Type:Break / Networking01:30pmBreak-Out SessionsPitch Perfection: Building Winning Decks
Nail your pitch, protect your ideas, and win investor confidence.
This session breaks down what today’s investors want to see—from deck structure to storytelling flow—so you can command attention, communicate traction, and raise capital with clarity and conviction.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterAgenda Track No.:Track 1Session Type:General Session (Presentation)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.
Session Topics:Engaging Pet ParentsAgenda Track No.:Track 2Session Type:General Session (Presentation)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.
Session Topics:Unleashing Profit PotentialInvestment OpportunitiesAgenda Track No.:Track 3Session Type:General Session (Presentation)02:30pmPre-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.
2.30-2.50 – Meeting 1
2.55-3.15 – Meeting 2
3.20-3.40 – Meeting 3
3.45-4.05 – Meeting 4
4.10-4.30 – Meeting 5
4.35-4.55 – Meeting 6
Session Topics:Networking OpportunitiesAgenda Track No.:Track 6Session Type:General Session (Presentation)07:00pmPet Connect Next 25 Dinner - Invite Only
Selected by the insights team at Pet Connect the Next 25 is comprised of the start and scale up founders to know and watch as they begin to put their print on the pet industry.
This high-promise group poised to disrupt have that special something that breaks through the noise and gains commercial traction.
We celebrate them on the eve of the summit.
Session Topics:Networking OpportunitiesAgenda Track No.:Track 6Session Type:General Session (Presentation) -
Day One: Wed, December 3: Wednesday, 3 Dec, 202508:00am
Registration Opens
Session Type:General Session (Presentation)08:30amWelcome to Pet Connect 2025
Morning Plenary: Provoking Vision and Urgency
Structured for pet execs keen to anticipate the pet parent of tomorrow and recalibrate around next-gen expectations.
Speaker(s):Poppy Howard-Wall
Event ProducerPet ConnectSession Type:General Session (Presentation)08:40amFrom Category to Culture Pet Business in 2045
Kicking off, a strategic look at the next 20 years of pet business evolution. Not crystal-ball futurism, a data-backed vision of pet care as lifestyle.
As wellness, tech, and retail merge into emotional ecosystems, discover how future brands will shape how pet parents live, feel, and connect. Unlock key growth vectors—and why today’s choices matter.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsUnleashing Profit PotentialInvestment OpportunitiesTime:08:40amAgenda Track No.:Track 4Summary:KeynoteSession Type:Keynote9:00amRethinking Customer Ownership in the AI Era
In a world of smart feeders, personalized health plans, and AI-driven recommendations—who really owns the pet parent relationship?
This panel explores the shifting balance of trust, data, and influence between clinics, platforms, and brands—and what it takes to stay essential in an AI-shaped pet care ecosystem.
Session Topics:Engaging Pet ParentsUnleashing Profit PotentialSpeaker(s):ModeratorTime:09:00amSession Type:Panel9:30am52/48 Retail: Designing Pet Retail for a Split-Channel Future
With 52% of pet products bought online and 48% in-store, the future isn’t digital or physical—it’s both.
In this fireside chat, discover how leaders are redesigning the pet retail experience to meet evolving consumer expectations.
Session Topics:Engaging Pet ParentsUnleashing Profit PotentialTime:09:30amSession Type:General Session (Presentation)10:00amMorning Break // Pop-Up Shop Opens
Coffee in one hand, discovery in the other. The Pet Connect Pop-Up Shop is open—your first look at the freshest ideas in pet care. From smart tech to bold treats see what everyone will be talking about before it hits the shelves.
Session Topics:Networking OpportunitiesSession Type:Break / Networking10:30amThe Nutrition Playbook: Winning on Claims, Trust & Scale
Nutrition remains top priority for pet parents. As attention has increased, so to have expectations. In a market crowded with premium promises and functional claims, leaders face rising pressure to scale trust, margin, and scientific credibility.
Explore what truly drives differentiation on packed shelves and leave with actionable strategies to future-proof portfolios, validate claims, and lead in this high-growth, high-stakes landscape.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterUnleashing Profit PotentialInvestment OpportunitiesSession Type:General Session (Presentation)11:00amRewriting the Bond: Pets, People, and the New Rules of Connection
The pet-human bond isn’t news - it’s the foundation. What matters now is how we design around it.
Join us as we unpack the ripple effects: how generational shifts, urban living, and rising expectations are redefining care delivery, access, and brand loyalty.
From care team communication to emotionally intelligent design this is your blueprint for building systems that truly serve the modern pet parent.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsEngaging Pet ParentsScaling SmarterSpeaker(s):Session Type:General Session (Presentation)11:20amMore Than Coverage: Designing Access for Expanded Reach
Pet insurance is no longer just about reimbursement—it’s a gateway to care, trust, and retention.
This panel explores how modern models—wellness plans, embedded coverage, and flexible financing—are reshaping access for underserved pet owners and unlocking new revenue.
Learn where insurance is headed, how it partners with retail, tech, and financial services and who’s still being left behind.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsEngaging Pet ParentsUnleashing Profit PotentialSpeaker(s):Session Type:Panel11:40amBuilt, Backed, Bought: The Journey of a Breakthrough Pet Brand
What does it really take to go from idea to acquisition in the pet industry? In this founder case study, we unpack the journey from first product to earned trust, investor backing, and strategic exit.
Honest lessons on traction, pivots, partnerships—and how to scale when the path isn't straight.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterUnleashing Profit PotentialInvestment OpportunitiesSession Type:General Session (Presentation)12.00pmThe Cat is Out of the Bag: Tapping the Feline Growth Frontier
Cats now outnumber dogs in many urban households—but products, care models, and marketing still lag. This panel dives into the overlooked feline opportunity, exploring how DTC brands, veterinary services, and retailers are innovating for the modern cat parent.
Discover what it takes to win feline loyalty, from behaviour-based design to telehealth, nutrition, and the rise of cat-first ecosystems.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsInvestment OpportunitiesSpeaker(s):Session Type:General Session (Presentation)12.30Lunch12:45 - 1.30pmLunch & Learn - How to Show Up: Going to Market in a Changing Landscape
Harness the opportunity of a rapidly evolving pet market. From choosing the right channels—distribution vs. retail—to real-world marketing wins and customer education strategies, this session delivers sharp insights and actionable focus points for presenting new offerings to today’s pet parents.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterUnleashing Profit PotentialSpeaker(s):Time:12:45 - 01:30pmSummary:Lunch & LearnSession Type:General Session (Presentation)1.15-2.50pm3:00pm - 4:25pmSupply Storm Strategies: Building Operational Resilience That Lasts
From rising shipping costs to sourcing volatility, pet brands are under pressure. This breakout reveals how to build true operational resilience—through smarter supply chain diversification, logistics optimization, and leveraging data to mitigate risk.
Walk away with actionable strategies to protect margin, reduce disruption, and scale confidently in uncertain times.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterSpeaker(s):Time:02:10 - 02:50pmAgenda Track No.:Track 1Session Type:General Session (Presentation)Brand Matters: Leveraging Your Brand Story & Finding Your Whitespace
According to Salesforce, 62% of customers feel emotionally attached to the brands they love. Creating a lasting, positive impression can build long-term loyalty—but earning that place in your customer’s heart isn’t easy. This interactive roundtable will guide you through exercises to identify your white space and share practical tips to craft a compelling brand story that helps your brand truly stand out.
Session Topics:Engaging Pet ParentsSpeaker(s):Time:02:10 - 02:50pmAgenda Track No.:Track 2Session Type:General Session (Presentation)Exit Strategy: Positioning for Maximum Value in Pet M&A
Successful exits start long before the deal. In this breakout, M&A insiders reveal how to position for acquisition—from shaping financials and forecasting performance to managing risk, brand narrative, and buyer alignment.
Learn what truly drives valuation and how run a process that protects your upside and delivers results.
Session Topics:Unleashing Profit PotentialInvestment OpportunitiesTime:02:10 - 02:50pmAgenda Track No.:Track 3Session Type:General Session (Presentation)No copy-cats! Proprietary Innovation & the Value of IP in Pet
In today’s pet industry, brand isn’t enough. This session explores how proprietary innovation—whether product science, tech platforms, or service protocols—can drive valuation and strategic interest.
Learn what acquirers are really looking for, how to protect your edge, and how to position IP as a core asset, not an afterthought.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterTime:02:50 - 03:30pmAgenda Track No.:Track 1Session Type:General Session (Presentation)Tuned In, Switched On: Social Listening and Creator Strategy That Converts
The best campaigns don’t guess—they adapt.
Discover how leading pet brands use real-time consumer insight to guide creator strategy, stretch budgets, and break through the noise. across Instagram, YouTube, and beyond.
Listen better, spend smarter, and turn scrolls into serious traction.
Session Topics:Engaging Pet ParentsTime:02:50 - 03:30pmAgenda Track No.:Track 2Session Type:General Session (Presentation)Performance-Driven Practice: The New Code for Vet Clinics
Veterinary leaders are facing a triple bind: talent recruitment, declining footfall, and tech growing pains. In this interactive session, hear how top-performing practices are solving for scale—redesigning workflows, rethinking roles, and leveraging technology to boost revenue per DVM, reduce churn, and build more resilient, high-performing operations from the inside out.
Session Topics:Unleashing Profit PotentialTime:02:50 - 03:30pmAgenda Track No.:Track 3Session Type:General Session (Presentation)4:25pmAfternoon Break
Session Type:Break / Networking4:30pmPrescheduled 1-2-1 Meeting Slots
3.55-4.10 – Meeting Slot 6
4.15-4.30 – Meeting Slot 7
4.35-4.50 – Meeting Slot 8
Session Topics:Networking OpportunitiesAgenda Track No.:Track 6Session Type:General Session (Presentation)5:40pmPet Connect Awards & Drinks Reception
Session Type:General Session (Presentation) -
Day Two: Thurs, December 4: Thursday, 4 Dec, 202508:00am
Breakfast Briefing - Lead, Buy, or Build: The Strategic Outlook for Pet Care - Invite Only
Closed-door breakfast for senior leaders shaping the future of pet care offering a fast-paced strategic overview of the forces transforming the global pet economy.
Insights drawn from cross-sector investment patterns, supply chain volatility, and emerging health and wellness demand curves, explore where value will concentrate next and who’s set to lead.
Session Topics:Unleashing Profit PotentialTrends & Industry OverviewsInvestment & ScalingSession Type:General Session (Presentation)08:30amRegistration Opens
Session Type:General Session (Presentation)08:50amWelcome back! Day 2 Opening Remarks
Speaker(s):Poppy Howard-Wall
Event ProducerPet ConnectSession Type:General Session (Presentation)09:00amNot If, But Now: The Personalized Pet Health Revolution
A revolution in personalised pet health is underway powered by smarter diagnostics, real-time data, and rising consumer demand. With the benefit of hindsight from human health, the pet industry has a unique opportunity to leapfrog old barriers and define the next growth frontier. Discover what it takes to lead the charge.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsSession Type:General Session (Presentation)09:30amFrom Test Kit to Trusted Platform: Building a D2C Ecosystem for the Next Era of Pet Care
What happens when a one-time DNA test becomes the gateway to an entire pet parent journey? This case study unpacks a bold pivot to D2C—why it was made, what it takes to win, and how content, curation, and community can turn data into daily engagement, recurring revenue, and lasting brand loyalty.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsSession Type:General Session (Presentation)09:50amOnboard to Grow: Pet Acquisition and the Education Opportunity
Pet acquisition is more than a moment—it’s a market maker. From shelters to retail to clinics, this panel explores how embedding early education can combat the misinformation that’s widening the gap between pet parent intention and outcomes.
From TikTok tips to treatment hesitancy, hear from leaders leveraging triage tools, connected platforms, and retail-embedded education to rebuild trust, reassert expert guidance, and drive better compliance and care outcomes in a digital-first world, creating life time customers along the way.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsUnleashing Profit PotentialEngaging Pet ParentsInvestment OpportunitiesSession Type:General Session (Presentation)10:20amEastward Expansion: Capturing Asia’s Pet Market Boom
Asia is home to some of the fastest-growing, most digitally advanced pet economies in the world. For U.S. pet brands eyeing global growth, the opportunity is enormous.
We unpack how success demands a hyper-local strategy, what it takes to win in markets like China, Japan and South Korea, from regulatory navigation and platform preference to pricing nuance and cultural fit.
Learn how to localize, partner smartly, and build lasting traction in the region.
Session Topics:Trends & Industry OverviewsEngaging Pet ParentsUnleashing Profit PotentialInvestment OpportunitiesSession Type:General Session (Presentation)10:50amMorning Break
Agenda Track No.:Track 6Session Type:General Session (Presentation)11:00amBest in Show – Winner’s Check In
Pet Connects Best in Show Alumni join us back on the main stage to showcase how far they've come and provide insight for this year's finalists.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterSession Type:General Session (Presentation)11:20amBest in Show
8 Finalists
7 minutes presenting
Session Topics:Investment OpportunitiesExposure OpportunitiesSession Type:General Session (Presentation)12.30LunchPrescheduled 1-2-1 Meetings
Prescheduled 1-2-1 Meeting Slots
12.50-1.05 – Meeting Slot 9
1.10-1.35 – Meeting Slot 10
1.40-2.00 – Meeting Slot 11
Session Topics:Networking OpportunitiesAgenda Track No.:Track 6Session Type:General Session (Presentation)From Hindrance to Help - Aligning Industry & Veterinarians for Better Collaboration
From retail to tech, every corner of the pet industry wants to support vets—but best efforts often unintentionally increase workloads. This breakout tackles the disconnects between intent and impact.
Explore best practice to become a true partner in veterinary delivery and what clinics actually need.
Session Topics:Unleashing Profit PotentialTrends & Industry OverviewsTime:12.50-2.00Agenda Track No.:Track 3Session Type:General Session (Presentation)02:00pmDisruptors Hour Interviews
Three disruptors share what they’re changing—across care delivery, commerce, and connection—and why now is the time. From bold pivots to new models, discover how they’re unlocking growth, challenging legacy thinking, and reshaping the pet industry from the inside out.
Session Topics:Exposure OpportunitiesScaling SmarterEngaging Pet ParentsInvestment OpportunitiesSession Type:General Session (Presentation)02:45pmPrescheduled 1-2-1 Meetings
2.45-3.00 – Meeting 12
3.05-3.20 – Meeting 13
3.25-3.40 – Meeting 14
Session Topics:Networking OpportunitiesAgenda Track No.:Track 6Session Type:General Session (Presentation)03:45pmRetail-Ready? Need to Know Before Hitting the Shelf
Getting into retail is a milestone—but one with serious cost, complexity, and risk. This breakout dives into what early-stage pet brands must know before pursuing retail: from pitching buyers and funding shelf strategy to navigating distributor relationships and demand planning. Understand what retailers look for, how to build leverage, and whether the shelf is really your next best move.
Session Topics:Scaling SmarterEngaging Pet ParentsAgenda Track No.:Track 1Session Type:General Session (Presentation)Go Fetch…More Sales: Winning E-Commerce & Retention Strategies for Pet Business
Unleash your profit potential and dominate online sales with savvy digital marketing moves & retention focused planning. From pinpoint targeting to data-driven magic, learn how to captivate pet parents, boost engagement, and turn clicks into loyal customers in a bustling e-commerce pack.
Session Topics:Engaging Pet ParentsAgenda Track No.:Track 2Session Type:General Session (Presentation)Go or Hold: Launching into New Markets Without Losing Focus
Expanding into new markets can boost scale—or dilute impact.
This breakout explores how market entry affects valuation, resource allocation, and investor confidence. From timing and team readiness to regulatory friction and brand stretch, discover what early-stage pet companies must weigh before going global. Understand when expansion creates value—and when it puts it at risk.
Session Topics:Unleashing Profit PotentialAgenda Track No.:Track 3Session Type:General Session (Presentation)04:20pmBest In Show Winners Announcement
Session Topics:Exposure OpportunitiesInvestment OpportunitiesSession Type:General Session (Presentation)04:30pmChairperson’s Closing Address
Session Type:General Session (Presentation)04:40pmEnd of Event
Session Type:General Session (Presentation)
Jump to: Tuesday, 2 Dec | Wednesday, 3 Dec | Thursday, 4 Dec