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What is the Leap Venture Studio and what does it provide?

Leap Venture Studio is a flagship 12-week hybrid accelerator program which includes a $200K USD venture capital investment, an opportunity to get expert feedback on pressing business roadblocks, reach milestones with the help of industry experts, and network and learn from other pet care founders and leaders. So far, there have been 9 Cohorts of the Leap Venture Studio program, and we’ve opened applications for Cohort 10.

What’s the Academy?

Leap Venture Academy is designed to support earlier-stage startups in the pet care industry through non-equity funding programs. The Leap Venture Academy includes a one-week fellowship program and pitch competitions. Several companies, who go through Leap Venture Academy have gone on to apply for the Leap Venture Studio program.

Does Leap Venture Studio include an investment, does the program take equity?

Leap Venture Studio cohort companies receive a $200K USD venture capital investment, equity varies and is dependent upon several factors including stage and type of business. As of 2023, Leap offers an impact seat within a cohort as well.

What is an investment seat and what is an impact seat?

An investment seat is a funded place in the Leap Venture Studio, where selected pet care startups receive a $200K venture capital investment. It’s designed for companies that already have some traction and early in-market learnings.

An impact seat is reserved for a company that is best measured by their positive impact on the pet care ecosystem. This opportunity is open to various business models, including non-profits and for-profits that are impact-focused. Available as of 2023, the impact seat was dedicated to BestyBnB in Cohort 8 and Petcademy in Cohort 9.

What criteria does Leap require for Leap Venture Studio candidates?

Leap Venture Studio is focused on supporting and investing in seed-stage startups that have some traction and in-market learnings. So far, there have been 9 Cohorts of the Leap Venture Studio program and the application is open for Cohort 10.

What does the selection process look like for the Leap Venture Studio program

Applications go through review among the Leap Venture Studio team. Top candidates are invited to pitch to the selection committee. Following pitches, final diligence and review are completed and offers are extended to selected companies.

Can I connect with the Leap team about the program?

Due to the large volume of interest we receive during open application season, we host live Q&A sessions. If your question is not answered here in our FAQ, you can email us at leapventurestudio@gmail.com

What is the Leap team looking for during the selection process?

For the investment seat:
  • A clear pitch: Effectively communicate the value, uniqueness, and market demand of your product, even if it’s pre-revenue.
  • A strong team: Highlight diverse skills, relevant experience, and a shared vision to execute your plan and overcome challenges.
  • Traction: Demonstrate consumer interest with metrics like user engagement, partnerships, or milestones validating your market potential.
  • A solid business model: Outline a clear, scalable path to profitability with distinct revenue streams and differentiation from competitors.
For the impact seat:
  • A clear pitch: Effectively communicate the value, uniqueness, and market demand of your product, even if it’s pre-revenue.
  • A strong team: Highlight diverse skills, relevant experience, and a shared vision to execute your plan and overcome challenges.
  • A measurable impact: How your solution will create meaningful, evidence-based change across the pet care landscape.
  • A business model: Outline a clear and scalable path to profitability (or long-term sustainability), with distinct revenue streams and strong differentiation from competitors. This can include a range of structures, from non-profits to for-profit models, as long as they are impact focused.
Addressing these elements ensures a compelling pitch for Leap Venture Studio investors.

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