Three Pet Food Startups Have Been Selected for Program
The 2026 cohort features companies developing alternative proteins from coffee, spent grains, and silkworms.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Vegetarian
Live Poll
Would you buy pet food made from recycled brewing and coffee industry leftovers?
Big Idea Ventures and Mars Petcare have selected three startups for their 2026 Next Generation Pet Food Program. These companies will each receive a $15,000 cash prize to further their work in developing innovative, sustainable ingredients for pet nutrition.
Why it matters
Organizers tightened entry requirements this year to prioritize commercial maturity, reflecting a broader trend toward scaling alternative pet food proteins. This development highlights ongoing industry efforts to source diverse, non-traditional ingredients that offer sustainable nutritional alternatives to conventional options.
The program received 83 applications from 33 countries for its 2026 edition, compared to 165 applications from 39 countries in 2025. This selection represents three chosen startups from the applicant pool, though the clinical success of their respective ingredients remains under investigation.
The players
Big Idea Ventures
An investment firm focused on early-stage companies working in the plant-based and alternative protein sectors.
Mars Petcare
A global company providing pet nutrition, veterinary services, and technology to support pet health.
EcoBean
A Poland-based startup focused on developing functional ingredients from spent coffee grounds.
Space Ark Biomedical
A Taiwan-based startup specializing in upcycling agricultural waste like okara into nutritional ingredients.
Loopworm
An India-based startup utilizing insect protein derived from silkworms for various feed applications.
The details
The selected startups include EcoBean, which produces ingredients from spent coffee grounds, and Space Ark Biomedical, which processes okara and spent brewer's grain. The third participant, Loopworm, utilizes silkworms to create protein ingredients. These companies were chosen based on requirements for commercial maturity, supported by partners including AAK, Bühler, Givaudan, and Ingredion.
Timeline
Recruitment applications for the program opened in May 2026.
The 2026 Next Generation Pet Food Program took place throughout the year.
The startups are scheduled to pitch at the summit in Singapore from October 27-29, 2026.
Health Landscape
This program functions as a formal pipeline for startups to present their innovations at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit. It highlights the industry's shift toward testing diverse, alternative protein sources to supplement standard pet diets.
As new protein sources emerge in the pet food market, consult your veterinarian before making significant changes to your pet's diet. It is worth asking your provider about the nutritional profile of novel ingredients, especially if your pet has specific dietary sensitivities or existing health conditions.
The takeaway
The pet food industry is increasingly looking toward upcycled agricultural waste and insect protein as viable nutritional solutions. Stay informed about ingredient labels on pet products and discuss any potential shifts in your pet's feeding regimen with your veterinarian.
What happens next
The selected startups will participate in an investor pitch at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit, scheduled for October 27-29, 2026, in Singapore.
Further reading
Explore more about plant-based and alternative nutrition trends in the Vegetarian section.
Live Poll
Would you buy pet food made from recycled brewing and coffee industry leftovers?
