Three Pet Food Startups Have Been Selected
Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare chose three companies for their 2026 Next Generation Pet Food Program.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Vegetarian
Live Poll
Would you buy pet food made from recycled brewing and coffee industry leftovers?
Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare have selected three startups for their 2026 Next Generation Pet Food Program. Each chosen startup will receive a $15,000 cash prize.
Why it matters
Organizers tightened entry requirements this year to prioritize greater commercial maturity in the pet food industry. This focus reflects an ongoing push for sustainable protein alternatives in the global market.
The 2026 cohort received 83 applications from 33 countries, compared to 165 applications from 39 countries in 2025. Each of the three winning startups receives $15,000.
The players
Big Idea Ventures
This is a global venture firm that focuses on investing in the plant-based and alternative protein sectors.
Mars Petcare
This is a major global manufacturer of pet food and veterinary services that is a division of Mars, Incorporated.
EcoBean
This startup is based in Poland and creates ingredient solutions from recycled spent coffee grounds.
Space Ark Biomedical
This company is based in Taiwan and utilizes okara and spent brewer's grain for ingredient production.
Loopworm
This startup is based in India and specializes in the production of insect-based ingredients from silkworms.
The details
EcoBean, Space Ark Biomedical, and Loopworm were selected for the cohort, focusing on ingredients derived from spent coffee grounds, okara and spent brewer's grain, and silkworms respectively. The program is supported by partners including AAK, Bühler, Givaudan, and Ingredion.
Timeline
Recruitment for the program opened in May 2026.
The startup cohort will pitch at a summit in Singapore from October 27-29, 2026.
Culture Shift
This program continues the trend of integrating alternative proteins into pet food, following the precedent established by the 2025 Next Generation Pet Food Program. It marks a shift toward higher commercial readiness as the industry moves away from experimental concepts.
These developments signal that owners may soon see more sustainable, insect or waste-derived proteins appearing on pet store shelves. The program's focus on commercial maturity suggests these ingredients will be scaled for mass retail production shortly.
The takeaway
The increased focus on commercial maturity suggests that the pet food industry is moving past the pilot stage for alternative proteins. Consumers should expect to see more innovative ingredient labels as these startups move toward market entry.
What happens next
The selected startups will participate in an investor pitch event at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore from October 27-29, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in sustainable food by visiting the Vegetarian section.
Live Poll
Would you buy pet food made from recycled brewing and coffee industry leftovers?
