NEWS23 January 2025
The University of Surrey’s animal health innovation incubator, vHive, will be highlighting its second cohort of startups in its annual showcase event on 10th February in Greenwich London.
Building on a dynamic ecosystem aimed at advancing animal health innovation. This will be alongside an industry leading fireside discussion from Zoetis Executive Vice President Rimma Driscoll. This event will highlight the successes of the vHive Incubator, which with SETsquared Surrey’s support, leverages a blend of academic research and industry expertise to enable the growth of early-stage companies in animal health and biotech. This collaboration supports both emerging startups and industry veterans, enabling a broad range of innovative solutions across animal healthcare.
Sarah Aitchison, vHive’ s Incubator Manager, shares insights into the programme’s unique approach: “We’re creating a holistic ecosystem, bringing together cutting-edge research with industry insights, enabling companies to access the exact support they need, from early research to market entry.”
vHive Incubator Showcase
The vHive Incubator Showcase on the 10th February will not only be a chance to highlight companies from cohort 2, but also highlight some of the successes from earlier members of the programme, who have raised significant investment and engaged in exciting pilots of their technologies. This significant industry event will coincide with the largest innovation event for Animal Health in Europe and is set to attract a global audience of leaders from the industry. Sarah says, “The showcase will be an exciting opportunity to celebrate our journey so far while demonstrating the impact these startups are already making.”
The Importance of Collaboration
The partnership between vHive and SETsquared Surrey provides a distinctive structure of support for the companies on the programme. Companies in vHive receive six months of fully funded access to SETsquared’s incubator resources, including business strategy sessions, mentorship, and office space. Additionally, these companies benefit from vHive’s sector-specific expertise, which focuses on animal health innovations and the nuanced challenges of the industry. The programme is funded by global animal health company Zoetis, who also provide vital industry support, partnership and collaboration.
These collaborations facilitate a supportive and tightly knit network. Sarah notes, “Every mentor I’ve approached has been enthusiastic about what we’re doing—supporting startups in animal health is overdue, and people are eager to contribute to something this unique.”
Building Momentum in the Animal Health Sector
Since its founding, vHive has created a valuable platform for companies at all stages of their development. The first cohort saw companies ranging from pre-seed to Series A, with several notable funding rounds achieved during the incubator programme. One early-stage company successfully closed a Series A round, raising over $4 million, while another completed a pre-seed raise.
In addition to providing links to financial backing, vHive connects companies with sector-specific mentors, helping them navigate the complex terrain of animal health innovation. Sarah describes the value of non-sector-specific mentors, as well: “It’s essential to have outside perspectives that can challenge the status quo of our industry, which can be quite insular.”
The Path Ahead
With the support of SETsquared Surrey and vHive’s sector-specific focus, these startups are well-positioned to accelerate their innovations, foster industry partnerships, and drive meaningful change in animal health. As Sarah reflects, “It’s inspiring to be part of a network where we’re not just supporting companies but truly moving the needle in animal health innovation.”
If you are a startup or organisation interested in joining or supporting the vHive Incubator on their mission, sign up to join the vHive Incubator Showcase event on the 10th February here: https://tinyurl.com/zajc6xhw