MentorVet Wins Fifth Annual VMX Pet Pitch Competition
https://navc.com/mentorvet-wins-fifth-annual-vmx-pet-pitch-competition/
By North American Veterinary Community (NAVC)
Mentorship program provides support to young veterinarians through early stages of practice.
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 20, 2022 – A program to help recent veterinary school graduates thrive within their field has won a shark tank-style competition at VMX 2022, the world’s largest veterinary education conference.
Lexington-based MentorVet won the fifth annual VMX Startup Pet Pitch Competition, a highlight of the North American Veterinary Community’s (NAVC) veterinary conference and expo. More than 35 companies applied to the VMX Startup Circle which highlights young and innovative startups offering products and solutions to the veterinary industry. Five finalists were invited to pitch their new products in front of a panel of judges at the Pet Pitch Competition held Sunday, January 16 on the VMX Expo Floor.
MentorVet is an evidence-based program that provides resources to new veterinarians through a combination of peer group meetings, online learning modules and mental health coaching to promote wellbeing within the veterinary profession.
“I am so pleased that MentorVet has won this competition. Their program is very timely and important,” said Gene O’Neill, NAVC CEO. “By being at VMX, MentorVet, and all of the Pet Pitch Competition finalists, get to put their innovative products, services and solutions in front of thousands of veterinarians and practice decision-makers who are always seeking new tools to help them provide the very best animal healthcare.”
Dr. Addie Reinhard explains MentorVet to judges at the 5th Annual VMX Pet Pitch Competition.
Dr. Addie Reinhard explains MentorVet to judges at the 5th Annual VMX Pet Pitch Competition.
As the Grand Pet Pitch Competition winner, MentorVet will receive a complimentary exhibitor booth at the Veterinary Innovation (VIS) Summit in Portland, Oregon and an invitation to attend Purina’s Invite-Only Pet Care annual Innovation Summit — an invitation-only event held at Nestle-Purina headquarters in St. Louis, MO.
“VMX is such a huge conference with so many industry leaders here. It’s an honor to win this award at VMX because this is one of the best conferences there is in veterinary medicine,” said Addie Reinhard, DVM, MS and MentorVet founder. “We’re working to scale up the program. I would love to see every new veterinary graduate be a part of this program upon graduation.”
The judges for this year’s VMX Pet Pitch Competition included:
Harold Davis, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC), NAVC Board of Directors President-elect
Jay Delong, Co-Founder, Active Capital
Cheryl Good, DVM, NAVC Board of Directors Immediate Past President
Aaron Wallace, Director, HeskaView Telecytology, previous Founder & CEO, Lacuna Diagnostics
Marcie Whichard, VP, Professional & Community Relations at NAVC and Executive Director, Veterinary Innovation Council
VMX is the largest and most comprehensive veterinary conference in the world and has held the VMX Pet Pitch competition since 2018. The NAVC has welcomed over 100 startup companies and awarded over $100K in monetary prizes thanks to the various industry sponsors who have supported this program since its inception.
About MentorVet
MentorVet is an evidence-based mentorship and professional development program for early-career veterinarians. MentorVet provides holistic support to veterinarians through a combination of mentorship, mental health and financial coaching, and online training in professional skills to promote wellbeing in the transition to practice.
About the NAVC
The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world’s leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX, the world’s largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry’s largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC’s products and brands, visit https://navc.com/. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit https://navc.com/calendar/.