Nestlé Purina PetCare’s UNLEASHED Accelerator Launches 4th global search for most innovative start-ups
Unleashed – a program powered by the Purina Accelerator Lab that helps grow disruptive pet care start-ups – has launched its fourth edition calling for the next generation of pet-care businesses to apply by November 30th.
Innovative new pet-care products
Open to new entries from the Middle East and North Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and across Europe, the 2023 program is designed to drive the growth of participants, supporting the development of innovative new pet-care products, in particular data enabled pet owner and vet services, sustainable novel nutrition and well-being technologies. It aims to bring relevant and new products and services to the forefront of the industry, providing an enriching life for pets and their owners.
By the end of the 2023 application process, up to nine chosen start-ups will be accelerated for 20 weeks by Unleashed Champions and industry experts. This will include a thorough and structured, fully funded mutually agreed project of up to CHF 50,000 which will help to drive growth.
The best-in-class pet specific accelerator
“Unleashed is seen as the best-in-class pet specific accelerator and trusted partner of choice for start-ups. And this is because we have a unique methodology with a team, as well as a whole network of passionate pet-care and pet-tech industry experts to help nurture, support and guide our start-ups towards their business objectives,” said Sergej Pracević, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Purina in the Middle East and North Africa. “We look forward to welcoming more candidates from our region in this upcoming cohort and hope regional start-ups will be among the winners once again.”
From its inception in 2019, Unleashed has been the driver of pet-care innovation and has helped to grow and connect the pet start-up ecosystem, providing impactful solutions for pet owners. Unleashed has had over 600 applications from 50 countries, accelerated 18 start-ups and has a roster of success stories. Previously backed entrepreneurs from the MENA region include: PawPots, a Lebanon-based subscription service provider of fresh gently-cooked meals for dogs and cats and Vetwork, a Cairo-based pet care at home veterinary platform operating in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Responsible pet care
Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.
Pet ownership
Purina Accelerator Lab helps to grow the pet-care start-ups that will bring disruptive new technologies to make pet ownership an enjoyable and seamless journey.
The Lab offers resources to start-ups that are integrating technology into pet-care products and services in innovative ways. These resources include the Unleashed Accelerator Programme, the Unleashed Pet Tech Newsletter and community events to facilitate networking between investors and start-ups.
Being R&D powered, they are also able to offer deep pet, nutrition and category understanding, experience and capabilities to support the development of the selected start-ups.
The first Infant Cereals in Egypt
Nestlé’s heritage in the Middle East and North Africa goes back over 100 years with the sale of the first Infant Cereals in Egypt. Today, Nestlé operates 24 Food & Beverage factories across the 19 countries of the MENA region; and provides direct employment to more than 15,000 people who are all committed to Nestlé’s purpose of Enhancing Quality of Life and Contributing to a Healthier Future. Nestlé MENA also provides indirect employment across the region to several thousand more.
The Nestlé portfolio in the region currently exceeds 60 innovative product brands in a wide range of categories: Dairy, Infant Nutrition, Coffee and Creamers, Confectionery, Bottled Water, Breakfast Cereals, Culinary products, Health Science, and Pet Care, among others. Nestlé Nido, Nestlé Cerelac, Nestlé NAN, S-26, Progress, Nescafé, Nespresso, Bonjorno Café, Coffee-mate, KitKat, Maggi, Nestlé Fitness, Nestlé Pure Life, Optifast, and Purina Friskies are just some of the brands available in the Middle East and North Africa.
