- PetPax Co. won the grand prize at the 2026 Pet Care Innovation Prize competition.
- The company received an additional $25,000 in funding along with mentorship from Purina and Active Capital.
- PetPax develops SupplaMelts, fast-dissolving oral thin-film supplements designed for dogs.
- The competition was held during Global Pet Expo and included five startup finalists.
- The Pet Care Innovation Prize program supports early-stage companies developing new pet health and technology solutions.
PetPax Co., a Boston-based pet wellness startup, has been named the grand prize winner of the 2026 Pet Care Innovation Prize following a live pitch competition held at Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida.
The competition brought together five pet care startups from across North America to present their businesses to industry executives and investors. PetPax was selected as the grand prize winner and received an additional $25,000 cash award along with mentorship support from Purina and Active Capital.
Focus on New Supplement Delivery Technology
PetPax was founded by two entrepreneurs focused on developing easier ways for pet owners to administer wellness supplements to dogs.
The company’s flagship product line, SupplaMelts, uses a fast-dissolving oral thin-film delivery system designed to deliver supplements directly through the mouth rather than the digestive tract. According to the company, the delivery method aims to improve absorption while reducing the stress often associated with administering pills or chews to dogs.
The product lineup includes targeted supplements such as ZenMelts for calming support and DentalMelts for oral health.
Company leaders say the products were developed to improve compliance and make everyday wellness products easier for pet owners to administer.
Additional Startups Recognized
Earlier in the program, four other startups were selected as winners of the 2026 Pet Care Innovation Prize and received funding, mentorship, and participation in an accelerator experience at Purina’s headquarters in St. Louis.
The additional winners include ChefPaw, which develops automated systems for preparing personalized homemade pet food; CoVetAI, an artificial intelligence platform designed to assist veterinary professionals with clinical documentation; Innovative Pet Lab, a company focused on at-home pet health testing; and Pawsitive, a technology company developing wearable devices designed to monitor and influence canine behavior.
Supporting Innovation in the Pet Industry
The Pet Care Innovation Prize was created by Purina’s 9Square Ventures group in partnership with Active Capital to support early-stage companies developing new products and services in pet health, nutrition, technology, and care.
Now in its tenth year, the program provides participating startups with funding, mentorship, and access to industry expertise intended to help emerging companies grow and expand their impact in the pet care sector.
About Purina
Nestlé Purina PetCare develops pet nutrition and care products for dogs and cats worldwide and is part of Nestlé, a global company focused on nutrition, health, and wellness.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
