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January 21, 2021

2 min read

Leap Venture Studio Alum, Lacuna Diagnostics, Acquired by Heska

The Leap Venture Studio is proud to share that Lacuna Diagnostics, a pet care startup from our 1st cohort, has been acquired by the Heska Corporation to expand their point-of-care diagnostics digital cytology technology and telemedicine services. Michelson Found Animals and Kinship, a division of Mars Petcare, partnered to launch the Leap Venture Studio in 2018 to springboard innovation in the growing pet ecosystem.

Lacuna Diagnostics was founded in 2016 in Fort Collins, Colorado with the goal of improving the veterinary standard of care by enabling real-time diagnostics for pets. The company works with over 25 board-certified clinical pathologists from around the world to quickly and accurately assess samples taken at point-of-care. This innovative process increases the confidence of veterinarians and improves treatment plans by minimizing wait times and decreasing pollution from traditional lab pathology services.

Brett Yates, the CEO of Michelson Found Animals, stated: “The first time I saw Lacuna, I knew it was a unique opportunity as they were the only company pursuing their approach. This has only proven true over time as the company has grown and now been acquired.”

The acquisition by Heska Corporation, a leader in veterinary diagnostic and specialty healthcare, will allow an expansion of Lacuna’s life-saving telemedicine services and improved technology.

The Leap Venture Studio was formed to support the growing innovation and entrepreneurship in the pet industry. In the US alone, $95.7 billion was spent on pets in 2019 with $29.3 billion of that total spent on veterinary care. As an animal welfare organization, Michelson Found Animals wants to support early stage companies that improve the lives of pets and those who love them. Companies like Lacuna Diagnostics significantly improves the veterinary care of pets and expands access to all pet owners. Similarly, the company supports Mars Petcare’s mission to “create a better world for pets.”

This is the second acquisition in our Leap Venture Studio portfolio and it is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.

BY Isabel Havens

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