Incubator Members
The vHive Incubator is the UK’s first companion animal and livestock focused Incubator to support start-ups with the challenges they face in this market. We are excited to let you know more about the companies taking part:
AITEM is a startup based in Turin, a spinoff from the Dumarey group, specializing in the development of AI solutions in the veterinary field. The AITEM team brings more than a decade of experience in AI development in complex environments. AITEM’s Vision is LAIKA: LAIKA is a veterinary AI co-pilot, based on patented technology, that assists veterinarians in their daily practice by reducing costs and increasing diagnostic accuracy. LAIKA is the vehicle that will enable AITEM to achieve its vision: TOWARDS VET PERFECTION.
AGA2tech LTD. was established from foundations in GAMA Healthcare LTD, the leading innovator and provider of infection control solutions to the NHS and several overseas markets. AGA2tech provides novel technologies replacing the need for antibiotics in animal husbandry. In 2019 it was estimated 4.95 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR, including 1.27 million deaths directly attributable to bacterial AMR. Animal husbandry has become an important reservoir for antibiotic resistance. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics not only as antibacterial agents but as growth promotors has led to increased resistance. AGA2tech’s IP protected technology is simple to apply with holistic benefits to both the animal and the environment.
AGA2tech started with a simple hypothesis, that if the problem was resistance, then use antimicrobials that do not give rise to resistance. After extensive testing AGA2tech found a promising solution in precursor generated PAA/H2O2. Precise control of PAA concentration and pH system offer a wide range of tailored antimicrobial solutions without the use of antibiotics and without environmental contamination.
Astratus is developing the new standard in customizable, high-throughput rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) to tackle the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our mission is to accelerate personalised antimicrobial prescribing through the power of rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing to help reduce the global burden of antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals.
Smart lighting and monitoring technology for chicken barns. The poultry sector is grappling with a number of pain points including rising raw material and energy costs, reduced availability of skilled labour and pressure to raise welfare standards. Through addressing animal welfare through precision farming technologies, we are making farming more efficient, and therefore, more profitable.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in dogs, with between 30-50% of animals developing it in their lifetime. We developed a cell-free DNA next generation sequencing-based liquid biopsy panel for screening, early diagnosis and monitoring of canine cancer. We are aiming at revolutionising how canine cancer patients are diagnosed and monitored.
Caravel Bio is developing vaccines for bacterial infections in livestock and companion animals. With our novel platform, our vaccines will be lower cost and have higher efficacy than current alternatives.
Dyneval’s patented platform technology, built by physicists, provides dynamic insights into the world of the nano- and micro-scale. Dyneval’s first product, the Dynescan semen analyser, offers unmatched precision, measuring sperm swimming behaviour (motility) across a wide concentration range from 1–550 million cells/mL. This makes Dynescan ideal for analysing diluted fresh semen and any concentration of straws used in artificial insemination. Unlike traditional methods, Dynescan’s results are unaffected by the level of dilution, and its reproducibility, less than 5% variability between user, sets a new gold standard for semen quality assessment. Whether for fresh collections, processing, or on-farm straw evaluation prior to insemination, Dynescan delivers reliable results every time.
FlockFinder builds technology and tools to help farmers manage their livestock. Their latest innovation is a AI-powered diagnostic tool thats helps farmers, and vets, diagnose and treat livestock disease. With early identification and treatment being a key element to reduce the impact of livestock disease, which costs the industry hundreds of millions of pounds in the UK alone.
FluoretiQ makes fast and accurate point of care tests for illnesses caused by bacteria, so that the first antibiotic prescription is the right prescription. They believe that the true solution to antimicrobial resistance is antibiotic stewardship, that means getting the right drug, for the right bug at the right time. However, effective stewardship is impossible to implement when the required testing currently takes 3-5 days.
FluoretiQ has developed Veri-5® and SCFI™ in response to this need. Veri-5® harnesses growth-free techniques and machine learning (ML) to diagnose infections in just 15 minutes, and SCFI™ is also powered by ML and can determine in just 30 minutes, which antibiotic is most likely to work.
Innovent Technology is a high-tech SME focused on developing innovative and ground-breaking new systems to understand the growth, behaviour and yield of pigs and beef cattle. The company has, for the last 20 years, led the field in blending optical sensor technologies with machine learning data science to create producer and industry relevant modelling and reporting. Our mission remains to deliver the best precision livestock technologies with the aim to improve customers’ efficiency and profitability, and to enhance the health and welfare of animals.
IntelliVet is a clinical decision support system providing small animal vets with patient-specific decision recommendations at the point of care. Individual patient information is combined with relevant literature and specialist opinion to give users rapid access to contextualised decision support. This support is given alongside patient-specific clinical rationale, facilitating vets to approach a wide variety of complex cases with a reasoned, readily available second opinion. IntelliVet has been shown to significantly improve both diagnostic and management decision making by small animal vets, helping to optimise appropriate further diagnostics and ongoing care.
IQ SENSE are pioneers in transforming animal health monitoring through cutting-edge Quantum Biosensing technology. Their innovative solutions serve a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including veterinary pharmaceutical companies, animal nutrition providers, biosecurity organizations, veterinarians, livestock farmers, and pet owners.
Their flagship system features an implantable Quantum biosensor paired with a self-sustaining, energy-harvesting wearable and an intuitive mobile app. This fully integrated platform enables real-time, multi-biomarker monitoring, facilitating the early detection of health issues across multiple species.
By delivering actionable insights and empowering proactive care, IQ SENSE is setting a new standard for animal health, enhancing productivity, improving welfare, and aligning with global advancements in sustainability and innovation.
At Kyrexa we want to make cancer care kinder for our pets and we believe that our lead drug will make this a reality. Kyrexa was co-founded by Clare Knottenbelt, a clinical veterinary oncologist and Barbara Spruce a physician scientist with experience in translational oncology at Dundee University and medicines regulation with the MHRA. Within its first year, the Company has sponsored a pilot clinical efficacy and safety evaluation of its lead drug, a novel oral immunotherapy, in pet dogs with cancer. With 1 in 4 dogs expected to get cancer during their lives, there is a large global market for an oral, owner administered cancer medication with no adverse events. An oral immunotherapy for canine cancer is the holy grail of cancer treatment and our innovative lead drug KYR-101 has already showing evidence of efficacy, including quality of life benefit even in elderly patients with advanced disease. Our treatment has the ability to change the face of veterinary cancer care; allowing elderly patients with comorbidities to have an oral treatment that can be delivered safely at home and without side effects. There is a huge need for kinder cancer treatments which are safe to administer to enable our pets to have the best quality of life as they reach the end.
MEDEA, a German biotechnology company, is developing a new generation of sustainable and environmentally friendly antibacterial solutions based on bacteriophages (phages) to solve the global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Phages are natural bacteria killers that are highly specific and have no side effects. These innovative alternatives are designed to replace conventional chemical antibiotics and offer effective and environmentally friendly ways to combat harmful bacteria in animals.
MI:RNA is a high traction, high growth, innovative veterinary company with a strong first mover advantage in the microRNA space. They are a female led, gender balanced team of leading experts with an entrepreneurial mindset and a diverse range of skills, set to bring this technology to the global market.
The technology that MI:RNA have created works in the epigenetic space, using nucleotides and AI to, not only diagnose disease accurately, but, vitally, to predict disease progression. They are the only company, in the world, to bring microRNA epigenetic tests to market, that’s either in veterinary or in human health.
Moggie is a pet tech data company dedicated to improving feline wellbeing and longevity throughout each life stage. Our technology monitors and analyzes cats’ movements and behaviors via a wearable device and AI. It provides cat caregivers and veterinarians with valuable insights that enhance earlier detection of health issues, allowing for more efficient interventions that improve patient outcomes.
Scooch is a one-stop personalised healthcare platform to take the guesswork out of pet care. With our treatment plans, pet parents select from a range of vet recommended products. Subsequently unlocking their very own 24/7 video vet, expert advice & personalised AI powered health dashboard.
Sylvester.ai is transforming feline healthcare by giving cats a voice through groundbreaking AI technology. With 89% precision in pain assessment using validated veterinary pain scales, our smartphone-enabled solution allows cat caregivers to understand their pet’s wellbeing through a simple photo. This revolutionary technology addresses a critical gap in feline care, where 1 in 3 US households have a cat; but less than half receive regular veterinary care. Operating throughout North America and Europe, and with over 350,000 images assessed, Sylvester.ai is helping cat caregivers make informed decisions about their pet’s health, catch potential issues early when treatment is most effective, and helping more cats receive care worldwide. Cat caregivers, clinics, and pet health organizations can learn more and sign up for free scans at www.sylvester.ai.
In 2022, testblu started with a primary research focus on early detection of multiple tumors in pets. Built around [The Founder] Shahab’s passion for oncology and animals, testblu created an AI blood test, CaniSense, to screen dogs for multiple cancers in the early stages of the disease. As current tools mostly find cancers, individually, and too late to treat, testblu ‘s solution is critical. CaniSense applies AI / machine learning to classify and detect tumors based on specific genetic markers, targeting a huge gap in veterinary care.
VAROLIS GmbH is a biotech startup dedicated to honey bee health by combating the greatest threats to apiculture, the parasitic Varroa mite. The company has developed LIMITEX, a novel, lithium-based veterinary treatment that achieves over 95% efficacy in field conditions—vastly outperforming existing acaricides. LIMITEX is residue-free, easy to apply, safe for bees and consumers, and shows no signs of resistance formation, addressing a critical gap in current bee health management.
With a global market potential of over €2 billion, VAROLIS is initially targeting the European and North American markets, aiming for a €50 million obtainable market within three years post-launch. The company holds IP rights in the US and EU, and its scientific work has been published in peer-reviewed journals.
Having successfully completed the preclinical phase, including dosing, formulation, toxicology, and analytics, VAROLIS now enters the regulatory execution phase, preparing for EMA approval
Vidiia is transforming assay development and on-site diagnostics with innovative AI technology. By 2029, we aim to accelerate 100 assays through our Assay Accelerator. Our platform leverages AI to turn academic research into impactful, cost-effective diagnostics, identifying and unlocking dormant or unknown assays. We are committed to democratising diagnostic testing with low-cost, portable, AI-powered solutions that can be used anywhere, by anyone.
Vidivet is an application that gives pet owners instant access to a vet for any question they have about their part as part of a joined up system between digital and physical vet services. Allowing veterinary practices to offer true 24/7 support to their clients without adding additional burden ot the team. We utilise an army of experienced vets dotted globally who work flexibly to support all of our partners and those they serve.
Zonova has developed antimicrobial technology that can be easily embedded into standard, commercially available, medical devices (like sutures, catheters, drains, etc). Once embedded with Zonova technology, these devices actively fight infections at the source and reduce the risk of infection. Our mission is to help address the global antimicrobial resistance crisis, by reducing the overall overuse of antibiotics within animal health, by providing an alternative solution with Zonova technology.
Founded in 2022 by a multidisciplinary team of Oxford University scientists, ZYTCA is pioneering transformative diagnostics to advance global health through the integration of animal, human, and environmental well-being—a commitment rooted in the One Health approach.
Launching in 2025, our inaugural product portfolio includes:
- UlfaQ™: A rapid in-clinic qPCR platform delivering sample-to-result diagnostics in 30 minutes, redefining efficiency for veterinary and clinical settings.
- Ulfa™: A handheld point-of-care testing (POCT) device enabling real-time disease screening on farms, empowering veterinarians and farmers to make data-driven decisions.
- AniPath™: AI-driven software that enhances accuracy and speed in pathological analysis, transforming pet cancer diagnosis with machine learning precision.
Our mission is to bridge gaps in diagnostics through cutting-edge science, fostering resilience across healthcare, agriculture, and environmental ecosystems