The Veterinary industry is experiencing a surge of innovation, driven by a new wave of startups redefining animal healthcare. From cutting-edge diagnostics to telemedicine and AI-powered platforms, these emerging companies are leveraging technology to enhance the quality of care for pets and livestock, as well as offering solutions that streamline operations for Veterinary professionals. This article highlights two trailblazing companies at the forefront of innovation—AgBoost and VEA. Each brings fresh ideas, groundbreaking technologies, and visionary approaches to their respective fields. From revolutionizing sustainability to advancing AI-driven services, these companies set new standards for what’s possible.
Let’s first talk about our stomachs – this may sound odd, but humor me and ask yourself, “What does it take to make the perfect steak or a nutritious glass of milk?” While some may describe cooking techniques, others will discuss feeding programs, and some will go back even further to the genetics of the livestock. That is precisely what Sean Akadiri, MBA did – he saw a problem cattle producers face all the time – How to evaluate animals for the most successful breeding matchups to produce a calf that delivers its “best” – best beef, best steak, best milk production, best herd replacement, etc. Best is hard to achieve when all you go by are looks, and analyzing genetic data can lead to, well, you know, the saying, “analysis paralysis.” Sean’s solution is the innovative company called AgBoost.
Sean did not start out in the livestock industry. He was a 19-year-old pre-med student from Nigeria working on a white-tail deer project to earn money for college expenses. He saw how buyers in the ranch hunting industry paid high amounts for deer with spectacular antlers and great genetics, and the value of a strong breeding program in garnering bids (sometimes in excess of 1 million dollars) got him thinking. What other animal industries could benefit from an interactive, accessible database that improved the genetic results from proper breeding? Sean had to look no further than his desire to have quality food on his kitchen table, and AgBoost was “born.”
AgBoost’s algorithms take large datasets on genetics, performance, health, and nutrition and organize them into an easy-to-visualize format for breeding, management, and marketing decisions (see image below). For the cattle producer, instead of waiting years to see if a breeding program is working, AgBoost reduces the development costs/calf/year (which can run upwards of $2,000/calf) and cuts down the time for the selection process from 3-4 years to weeks. In addition, the platform also enables the cattle producer to create virtual markets and sell their cattle online. One platform user, Jorgenson Cattle, has experienced a 20% increase in production.
Not all AgBoost users are large operations. Small and mid-sized operations also benefit because the platform saves them time and money in their breeding and production programs. And the benefit continues after the cattle producer. Consumers also win because they get the “best” from the cattle producers when they shop for quality food for their table.
This innovative startup is not stopping with cattle producers. AgBoost’s platform is agnostic, meaning it doesn’t matter where the data comes from, nor is it specific to only one animal species. Equine and canine breeders can also enjoy the benefits of AgBoost’s analytics and technology due to its ability to streamline breeding decisions, provide predictive pairing for desired traits, and automate data interpretation to save time and money. Sean’s entrepreneurial effort is making information and data more interactive to empower AgBoost users to capitalize on the data and produce their best for their clientele.
Investor Insight: AgBoost’s lead investors are current customers, which validates the platform’s power. They are currently closing an investment round. If you love what they’re doing in cattle genetics, wait to see what they can do to aid in canine genetics and mate matching and help simplify the current manual process that canine genetics companies endure.
Veterinarian Electronic Assistant
Another innovative company empowering Veterinary practices to provide the best care for their patients is VEA—a comprehensive tool that does far more than just AI scribing. VEA not only automates SOAP note documentation but also handles diagnostic requisitions, suggests differentials, manages administrative and billing tasks, and integrates seamlessly with existing medical records and prescriptions.
The inspiration for VEA came from Patricia Porter, who wasn’t even looking to get involved in Veterinary medicine. Her adopted Shiba Inu, Taki, changed that. After experiencing firsthand the struggle of dealing with incomplete medical histories and the frustration of not knowing what Taki had been through, Patricia put her expertise in healthcare AI and process improvement to work, creating a solution for pets like Taki—and the vets who care for them.
So, what makes VEA stand out? It’s not just about fancy technology. VEA’s features help Veterinary teams save time and work smarter, from automating SOAP notes to suggesting diagnostics and treatments based on patient data. It even takes care of billing and integrates seamlessly into existing systems. Imagine having more time during your day to focus on patient care and your team’s well-being, without the stress of endless paperwork and administrative tasks.
VEA helps practices see more patients (up to 7-10 more per day) by making workflows 20% more efficient. That doesn’t mean cramming your schedule—it means working efficiently so you can be more present and engaged with each patient. And while some may fear “more patients” means more stress, VEA’s goal is the opposite: to reduce burnout by cutting down on admin work.
It’s no wonder VEA is getting major industry recognition. The platform has won awards like Purina’s “Best in Show” and Best New Virginia Startup from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation. VEA has also made a name for itself at events like the Animal Health, Nutrition, & Technology Innovation Conference, SuperZoo Mars Venture, UC Berkeley’s prestigious Skydeck Pad-13 Program, and the VMX Startup Circle.
But VEA isn’t stopping there. They’re continually enhancing their platform, adding features like Fear Free templates, integrating genetic insights for more precise care, and working with thought leaders to make the tool even more valuable. Bottom line: VEA is transforming how vets work, making practices more efficient and improving patient outcomes, all while giving the Veterinary team more time to do what they love—caring for animals.