Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare have launched the third edition of the Next Generation Pet Food Program, adding Ingredion to an existing roster of partners that includes AAK, Bühler, and Givaudan. Applications are open to companies worldwide, with a stated preference for scalable solutions based in or targeting the Asia-Pacific region.
Asia-Pacific takes center stage
The 2026 program places greater emphasis on the APAC region than previous editions. Selected startups will have the opportunity to present at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit in Singapore, alongside receiving $15,000 in funding and access to expert guidance and potential commercial partnerships.
The program targets companies working on alternative proteins, novel fats and oils, and other low-carbon ingredients with applications in pet food. It also draws from the human food sector, connecting innovators there with pet food industry expertise and routes to market.
“The priority now is not just discovery, but accelerating adoption and creating a more efficient path to commercial reality”
Andrew Ive, founder of Big Idea Ventures, said the program’s focus has shifted toward commercialization: “Our work with Mars Petcare and our partners has evolved into a focused engine for identifying and scaling the next generation of pet food ingredients.
“We are connecting high-quality startups with the corporations that can actually support these innovations to market, particularly across alternative proteins, fats, and novel ingredients. The priority now is not just discovery, but accelerating adoption and creating a more efficient path to commercial reality.”
Building on two years of results
Now in its third year, the program has produced early-stage results, with several alumni companies testing concepts in sustainable pet food formulation. Mars Petcare’s involvement runs through its Raws4Paws Accelerator, which focuses on sourcing next-generation ingredients to address sustainability, supply security, and shifting consumer expectations in the pet sector.
Elisabetta Pierangelo, VP R&D at Mars Pet Nutrition, said: “We are committed to exploring new technologies and scaling innovation that could reduce the environmental impact of pet food. Through previous cohorts, we’ve uncovered promising new solutions and seen transformative technological developments. I’m eager to build on that momentum and witness the breakthroughs this year’s program will unlock.”
Applications for the 2026 cohort are open via the Big Idea Ventures website.
