NAVC names 3 finalists in VMX 2023 Pet Pitch Competition

GekkoVet International, PDX BIOTECH (OraStripdx), and TEEF For Life have been named finalists by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) in the VMX 2023 Pet Pitch Competition. In its sixth year, the shark-tank-style pitch event will award a $5000 prize and additional brand exposure and recognition to the winner.^1,2

Selected from a pool of 50 applicants, the 3 finalists will compete and present their new products in the Pet Pitch Competition during the NAVC’s veterinary meeting and expo (VMX), January 14-18, 2023, in Orlando, Florida. Their products will also be showcased in the VMX Startup Circle, where they will have visibility to the thousands of veterinary professionals attending the conference. One of the finalists will be named the winner on Sunday at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.¹

“All of us in the veterinary industry recognize the importance of new innovations. We are dedicated to supporting these entrepreneurs by providing mentorship and critical feedback to help accelerate their ideas into a thriving business,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill, in an organizational release.¹

GekkoVet International is a digital diagnostic and treatment tool for veterinarians that is based on over 50,000 pages of clinical source material. The platform matches with over 28,000 different symptom-diagnosis combinations to help veterinary professionals make a correct diagnosis and select the correct treatments with faster and more reliable processes. GekkoVet is software as a service and can be used with any device with an internet connection.^1,2

"We're incredibly honored to have been selected as finalists! GekkoVet has been gaining traction with both veterinary students and seasoned veterinarians in the US and we're looking forward to increasing our exposure during the pitch competition," said Johanna Majamaa, DVM, CEO of GekkoVet, in a company release.²

OraStripdx, by PDX BIOTECH is a rapid test that can detect active periodontal disease in dogs and cats in 10 seconds, with no anesthesia or sedation required. Each easy-to-use test strip changes color based on the concentration of thiols in the patient’s oral fluid. When a veterinarian or technician glides OraStripdx along the gumline of a dog or cat, thiols in the oral fluid will cause the test strip to change color, with the concentration of thiols reflecting periodontal disease activity.¹

TEEF is a biotechnology company that leverages expertise in microbiology and immunology to create ground-breaking dental technology. Their flagship product, Protektin42™, is a prebiotic water supplement for daily dental hygiene for canines that is also safe for cats. Rather than trying to eliminate all bacteria, its technology starves out dangerous bacteria while strengthening beneficial bacteria^.1

Twenty applicants were initially selected by the judges to exhibit their products in the VMX Startup Circle, a space that gives new companies the opportunity to introduce their products, services, and solutions to veterinary professionals and practice decision-makers. From those 20 applicants, 6 were chosen as semifinalists and then a final 3 were selected as finalists to present at the VMX 2023 Pet Pitch Competition.¹

The 2023 competition’s judges are Ainsley Bone, DVM, director, veterinary communications, Nestlé Purina North America; Shea Cox, DVM, founder, BluePearl Pet Hospice; Ira Gordon, chief veterinary officer, VetCelerator; Karen Kline, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), CVA, medical director, VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists; and Robert Trimble, DVM, vice president, Harbor.vet by Suveto^.1

The VMX 2023 Pitch Competition will be hosted live from the VMX expo floor in the VMX Central Learning Theater, Sunday at 4:45 p.m. The competition will be live-streamed and available afterward on the VMX Virtual Expo year-round platform^.1

References

1. NAVC announces finalists in the sixth annual veterinary meeting & expo (VMX) Pet Pitch Competition. News release. NAVC. January 13, 2023. [email]
2. GekkoVet is selected for the VMX Pitch Competition finals. News release. GekkoVet. January 3, 2023. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gekkovet-is-selected-for-the-vmx-pitch-competition-finals-301711961.html