NEWS26 February 2025
The University of Surrey’s vHive programme – the UK’s first and only startup incubator dedicated to animal health and veterinary technology – is proving to be a magnet for high-growth animal health and veterinary technology businesses, providing more than 130 hours of tailored support to companies since it launched last year.
vHive is the result of a strategic alliance between the university and Zoetis, the world’s leading animal health company. The programme fosters innovation by supporting startups researching and developing products and services to improve health outcomes for pets and livestock.
Since launching in April 2024 with five startups, today the programme supports 11 early-stage companies in bringing their products or services to market.
Participating companies benefit from six months of fully funded membership at Surrey Research Park’s award-winning SETsquared business incubator, the UK’s leading university-led accelerator.
Based at the heart of the Surrey Innovation District ecosystem, companies gain access to bespoke business strategy mentoring, investor-readiness training, and office space alongside some of the UK’s most pioneering science and technology businesses.
To date, companies have received more than 130 hours of support from SETsquared and Zoetis to develop products ranging from groundbreaking antibacterial and antiviral coatings for veterinary medical equipment through to activity tracker wearables for pet cats.
Three to Watch
From early-stage startups to venture-funded scale-ups, vHive is nurturing some of the UK’s most exciting businesses in the animal health and VetTech sectors. Here are four to watch:
- MI:RNA Diagnostics (Venture stage startup raised £4.4m in 2024) – Advancing molecular insights diagnostics for veterinary care.
- Zonova (Women in Innovation Award Winner) – Pioneering antibacterial and antiviral coatings for veterinary medical equipment. Co-Founder and CEO Dr Georgia Fleet was recently recognised for her achievements with the UKRI Women in Innovation Award.
- Vidivet (Venture stage startup raised over £2m in 2023) – Redefining a cutting-edge TeleHealth consultation platform specifically for vets and pet owners.
vHive Business Showcase
The milestone figure of 130 hours of support was announced at a special vHive showcase in London earlier this month, where industry professionals, entrepreneurs and academics gathered to hear the startups’ pitches, network and explore advancements in animal diagnostics, AI and veterinary solutions.
Caroline Fleming, Director of Surrey Innovation District ecosystem at the University of Surrey, said:
“We’re thrilled to see how vHive is attracting so many high-quality animal health tech pioneers, representing all funding stages. We are delighted to support these 11 pioneering startups, equipping them with mentorship, investment training, and industry connections to help them scale their businesses and disrupt the animal health technology market.”
Prof Tony Whetton, Director of vHive at the University of Surrey said:
“We at vHive are proud to be at the forefront of innovation in animal health, bringing together cutting-edge research, industry expertise, and entrepreneurial drive. The success of our startups is a testament to the strength of our collaboration with Zoetis and the University of Surrey’s strengths in this area. By fostering the next generation of veterinary technology companies, we are not only advancing scientific discovery through our research but supporting the entire ecosystem to make a real impact on the future of animal health.”
