NEW YORK / US, 5 June 2025: After a successful inaugural edition, Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare are back with the 2025 Global Pet Food Innovation Program, this time joined by Givaudan, alongside returning collaborators AAK and Bühler. The initiative invites startups worldwide to revolutionize the pet food industry with sustainable, science-driven innovations.
Designed to foster next-gen pet nutrition, the program aims to discover and scale novel ingredients, alternative proteins, sustainable fats, and advanced food processing technologies that align with eco-conscious consumer preferences.
Selected startups will gain mentorship, access to state-of-the-art R&D, and the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore, November 4–6, 2025.
A United Front for Sustainable Pet Nutrition
Mars Petcare continues its commitment to making pet food more sustainable and climate-resilient, aligning its product pipeline with future-facing alternatives. With consumer demand shifting toward sustainability, the brand is working to reduce its carbon footprint while offering pet parents more responsible choices.
Andrew D. Ive, Founder of Big Idea Ventures, noted:
“Working with Mars last year was fantastic. The insights from Mars, Bühler, and AAK were invaluable to our startups. This year, with Givaudan joining the mix, we’re ready to scale even greater impact in the pet food ecosystem.”
Paul Gardner, Commercial VP at Mars Pet Nutrition, added:
“We must invest in innovation to source the best ingredients and build a future where both people and pets thrive on a healthy planet.”
Industry Titans Rally Behind Pet Food Startups
Bühler’s CTO, Dr. Ian Roberts, highlighted the success of 2024’s cohort and stressed the importance of empowering visionary entrepreneurs.
AAK’s President, Niall Sands, expressed enthusiasm about exploring new nutrition and functionality trends that support pet wellness.
Fabio Campanile of Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing said the partnership offers a “unique opportunity” to explore next-gen ingredient technologies in the pet space.
Global Call for Startups
The program encourages early- to growth-stage startups from around the globe to apply, with a focus on scalable, sustainability-focused solutions. While APAC-based companies are preferred, global innovators with high-impact potential are equally welcome.
Participants will benefit from:
Access to global pet food and CPG leaders
Tailored mentorship and product development support
Commercial partnership opportunities
A spotlight at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit
Building on 2024's Momentum
Last year’s winners — BiomeMega, Anomaly Bio, KIDEMIS, String Bio, and MiAlgae — were mentored by Big Idea Ventures, Mars, AAK, and Bühler. These startups collaborated with ingredient and technology leaders, gaining critical insights and laying the groundwork for long-term industry partnerships.
Applications are now open, and the organizers are encouraging startups with bold ideas and a passion for transforming the pet nutrition landscape to apply and shape a more sustainable future for pets and the planet.
Image credit: buhlergroup.com
