Innovation & Investment Day - December 2 | Kisaco Research

Let the Reverse Pitch...BEGIN!

The Innovation & Investment Pre-Day will gather 40+ investment firms across angel, venture capital and private equity reverse-pitching, outlining what they’re looking for, and their remit to invest, alongside meetings with relevant companies.

Lots of events say they do ‘matchmaking’, but we’re the experts at it! 

MEET THE INVESTORS

Key Sessions:

  • Tuesday, 2 Dec, 2025
    10:20am

    Pet 101: Future-Proof Fast

    A practical crash course on where the pet industry is headed — and how to play it, tailored for start-ups and investors ready to win.

    Cut through the noise with key trends, quirks, risks, and opportunities shaping success in 2030 and ensure understanding of the environment you’re scaling in.

    The essential guide for building or backing tomorrow’s pet businesses.

    Session Topics: 
    Trends & Industry Overviews
    Investment Opportunities
    Scaling Smarter
    Speaker(s): 
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    10:40am

    Beyond Scarcity: Solving The Pet Funding Puzzle

    A candid look at the pet industries funding gaps: why early-stage capital is scarce, where investors are placing bets, and how founders are getting creative with capital.

    From tapping into angel investors and leveraging crowdfunding platforms to forging creative partnerships, this solutions-oriented session offers founders practical advice for navigating todays funding maze.

    Session Topics: 
    Investment Opportunities
    Scaling Smarter
    Speaker(s): 
    Moderator

    Author:

    Natalie Marks

    Chief Executive Officer
    VANE

    Dr. Natalie Marks is a small animal veterinarian with over twenty years of clinical experience. She owned the largest animal hospital in Chicago. More recently, she has been the founder and president of MarksDVMConsulting, an educational and strategy consulting firm working with companies of all stages nationally and internationally. She is also on the Executive Committee of VANE, the premier veterinary angel network investor group. VANE currently has 28 portfolio companies and provides direction, connection, and funding to start-ups in the animal health space.

    Natalie Marks

    Chief Executive Officer
    VANE

    Dr. Natalie Marks is a small animal veterinarian with over twenty years of clinical experience. She owned the largest animal hospital in Chicago. More recently, she has been the founder and president of MarksDVMConsulting, an educational and strategy consulting firm working with companies of all stages nationally and internationally. She is also on the Executive Committee of VANE, the premier veterinary angel network investor group. VANE currently has 28 portfolio companies and provides direction, connection, and funding to start-ups in the animal health space.

    Panelists

    Author:

    Dace Graham

    Founder Managing Partner
    1731MGMT

    Dace Graham

    Founder Managing Partner
    1731MGMT
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    11:10am

    Meet the Investors Reverse Pitch

    We’re flipping the script…. again! After 2024’s sold out success it’s the return of the reverse pitch!

    40+ investors, each with a dynamic two-minute pitch detailing their investment criteria, category preferences, stage of interest and what they look for in potential partners.

    Following this reverse pitch the meeting scheduler will open to pre-book the afternoons 1-2-1 meetings.

    Taking the guess work out of meetings so you can connect smarter and faster. Get ready, get comfortable and let the pitching begin!

    Session Topics: 
    Investment Opportunities
    Scaling Smarter
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Andrew Poley

    Vice President
    San Francisco Equity Partners

    Andrew Poley

    Vice President
    San Francisco Equity Partners

    Author:

    Anna Skya

    Founder & CEO/Partner
    BasePaws/Ani.VC

    Anna Skya

    Founder & CEO/Partner
    BasePaws/Ani.VC

    Author:

    Buff Greebe

    Executive Director
    SKU

    Buff Greebe

    Executive Director
    SKU

    Author:

    Chuck Johnson

    Angel Investor
    VANE

    Chuck Johnson

    Angel Investor
    VANE

    Author:

    Dace Graham

    Founder Managing Partner
    1731MGMT

    Dace Graham

    Founder Managing Partner
    1731MGMT

    Author:

    Natalie Marks

    Chief Executive Officer
    VANE

    Dr. Natalie Marks is a small animal veterinarian with over twenty years of clinical experience. She owned the largest animal hospital in Chicago. More recently, she has been the founder and president of MarksDVMConsulting, an educational and strategy consulting firm working with companies of all stages nationally and internationally. She is also on the Executive Committee of VANE, the premier veterinary angel network investor group. VANE currently has 28 portfolio companies and provides direction, connection, and funding to start-ups in the animal health space.

    Natalie Marks

    Chief Executive Officer
    VANE

    Dr. Natalie Marks is a small animal veterinarian with over twenty years of clinical experience. She owned the largest animal hospital in Chicago. More recently, she has been the founder and president of MarksDVMConsulting, an educational and strategy consulting firm working with companies of all stages nationally and internationally. She is also on the Executive Committee of VANE, the premier veterinary angel network investor group. VANE currently has 28 portfolio companies and provides direction, connection, and funding to start-ups in the animal health space.

    Author:

    Robert Diamond

    Limited Partner
    Venrex Investment Management

     

    Robert is a successful entrepreneur with a track record of creating value from customer data.

     

     

    Robert is the co-owner and CEO of identicare, the UK’s largest pet microchip registration and pet protection services provider.  Identi offers recurring-revenue subscription services to over 4 Million pet owners.  In Feb 2024 Robert bought out his joint venture partner (Animalcare PLC) with backing from Bridgepoint Group, one of the UK’s leading private asset investors, in a transaction valued at £30 Million. 

     

    At the same time Robert continues to oversee Fernbrook Partners, a private portfolio covering early-stage technology and lifestyle investments and commercial property acquisition, development and leasing.

     

    From 2011 - 2017 Robert helped the acquisition, turnaround and successful sale of RAC, the world’s oldest motoring organisation.  In his executive role as Managing Director Motoring Services, he oversaw the data assets of RAC’s 8.2 Million members and also ran six data / digital businesses.  He was actively involved in the post-acquisition integration of RAC by Carlyle Private Equity and subsequent exit to GIC Singapore in 2014 and CVC Partners in 2015.

     

    Prior to this, in 2001 Robert founded what became emnos - the leading provider of ‘customer centric’ services and decision-support tools.  Clients included top retailers (Target, Walgreens, Morrisons, Waitrose, Boots, Co-operative Group) and their FMCG suppliers.  The business was sold to Palamon Private Equity in 2007 and sold on to American Express in 2011.

     

    Robert spent the previous 13 years in marketing and sales roles in the consumer and retail industries.

     

    Robert is an elected member and former board director of the Young Presidents Organisation and regular media contributor (and TED talker) on the use of customer data.  He lives in the UK with his wife and four children.

    Robert Diamond

    Limited Partner
    Venrex Investment Management

     

    Robert is a successful entrepreneur with a track record of creating value from customer data.

     

     

    Robert is the co-owner and CEO of identicare, the UK’s largest pet microchip registration and pet protection services provider.  Identi offers recurring-revenue subscription services to over 4 Million pet owners.  In Feb 2024 Robert bought out his joint venture partner (Animalcare PLC) with backing from Bridgepoint Group, one of the UK’s leading private asset investors, in a transaction valued at £30 Million. 

     

    At the same time Robert continues to oversee Fernbrook Partners, a private portfolio covering early-stage technology and lifestyle investments and commercial property acquisition, development and leasing.

     

    From 2011 - 2017 Robert helped the acquisition, turnaround and successful sale of RAC, the world’s oldest motoring organisation.  In his executive role as Managing Director Motoring Services, he oversaw the data assets of RAC’s 8.2 Million members and also ran six data / digital businesses.  He was actively involved in the post-acquisition integration of RAC by Carlyle Private Equity and subsequent exit to GIC Singapore in 2014 and CVC Partners in 2015.

     

    Prior to this, in 2001 Robert founded what became emnos - the leading provider of ‘customer centric’ services and decision-support tools.  Clients included top retailers (Target, Walgreens, Morrisons, Waitrose, Boots, Co-operative Group) and their FMCG suppliers.  The business was sold to Palamon Private Equity in 2007 and sold on to American Express in 2011.

     

    Robert spent the previous 13 years in marketing and sales roles in the consumer and retail industries.

     

    Robert is an elected member and former board director of the Young Presidents Organisation and regular media contributor (and TED talker) on the use of customer data.  He lives in the UK with his wife and four children.

    Author:

    Max Pluss

    Principal
    Rhea Capital Management

    Max Pluss

    Principal
    Rhea Capital Management
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    1:30pm

    Pitch Perfection: Building Winning Decks

    Nail your pitch, protect your ideas, and win investor confidence.

    This session breaks down what today’s investors want to see—from deck structure to storytelling flow—so you can command attention, communicate traction, and raise capital with clarity and conviction.

    Session Topics: 
    Scaling Smarter
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Mark Florence

    CEO & Founder
    Brisby

    Mark Florence

    CEO & Founder
    Brisby
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 1
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)

    Target Smarter: ICPs, Influencers, and Decision-Managers

    Are you marketing to a myth?

    Designed to give founders a cheat sheet for defining their true customer and where revenue can truly be generated.

    This session decodes emotional drivers, pinpoints effective influencer channels, and helps you leverage in-clinic advocates effectively.

    Sharpen your positioning, validate product–market fit, and build traction that converts.

    Session Topics: 
    Engaging Pet Parents
    Speaker(s): 

    Author:

    Steve Kirton

    President
    Circa Healthcare

    Steve Kirton

    President
    Circa Healthcare
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 2
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)
    2:30pm

    Pre-Scheduled 1-2-1 Meetings

    All present on the pre-day will have the ability to book up to six 1-2-1 meetings with investors and/or innovators present following the reverse pitch.

    • Pre-Day Meetings are 20 minutes in length

    • Guests will use the Swapcard event app to schedule meetings with fellow attendees.

    • Access to the app will be provided 2 weeks prior to the event for attendees and 3 weeks ahead for event partners.

    2.30-2.50 – Meeting 1

    2.55-3.15 – Meeting 2

    3.20-3.40 – Meeting 3

    3.45-4.05 – Meeting 4

    4.10-4.30 – Meeting 5

    4.35-4.55 – Meeting 6 

    Session Topics: 
    Networking Opportunities
    Agenda Track No.: 
    Track 6
    Session Type: 
    General Session (Presentation)