SAIC Introduces: the vHive Incubator

In the latest 'SAIC Introduces' instalment, we find out about the vHive Incubator; a strategic alliance between the University of Surrey and Zoetis, the world’s largest animal health pharmaceutical company. The goal of the incubator is to help start-ups with new ideas to bring innovative animal health products and technologies to market faster and more efficiently.

vHive was more generally set up in 2014 as an research organisation to pursue the advancements of research into novel animal health products across a range of areas, including parasitic infections, advancing commercial processes and machine learning based for improved animal health, ageing in companion animals, and sustainability. The vHive Incubator launched as another arm of vHive to be able to support translating this knowledge into industry as well as supporting the wider ecosystem of animal health startups to grow and access the market, including aquaculture.

The incubator offers a range of services, such as office space, mentorship and guidance from industry experts, and access to funding and investment opportunities. The vHive Incubator specifically provides specialist mentors and workshops from the animal health sector, who understand the specific nuances and challenges in this industry. Startups on the programme gain access to Zoetis and their wealth of expertise in different geographies and species, as well as pilot funding for projects to get to the next TRL. On top of this specialist expertise, the vHive Incubator is partnered with the existing business incubator at the University of Surrey, SETsquared Surrey, a sector-agnostic, deep-tech business incubator. Through this partnership, companies on the vHive Incubator gain access to their entrepreneurs-in-residence, who have supported hundreds of startups, workshops in critical business areas, and specialist support in raising investment.

The vHive incubator is open to any startup who has an MVP or a level of lab validation in the animal health space across biotech and software/digital-based startups. Companies accepted to join get six months' funded access to all benefits, with no IP or equity taken to take part. Although based in Guildford, Surrey, the programme is run in a hybrid approach, so companies across the UK and the rest of the world are able to access the expertise. The vHive Incubator launched in April 2024, and so far has been supporting 11 cutting-edge companies in animal health, who can be seen here.

If you would like to learn more about the Incubator and whether you would be eligible, you can contact Sarah Aitchison, Incubator Manager.

If you are interested in a 'SAIC Introduces' feature for your business or organisation, get in touch with Benedikte.

Find out more about vHive