TLDR: The pet care startup D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food has participated in SKU’s first-ever accelerator track for pet care startups. The brand, founded by Jaime Cooper and Paul Paige, combines the nostalgia of 80s-era hip-hop with high-quality pet treats. Cooper and Buff Greebe, executive director of SKU, discuss how the accelerator program provides mentorship and exposure for startups in the pet care industry.
SKU, a resource for accelerating early-stage brand growth, offered its first-ever accelerator track for pet care startups in 2023. One of the participants in the program was D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food, a brand founded by Jaime Cooper and Paul Paige that combines hip-hop and pet treats. Cooper and Buff Greebe of SKU discuss the vision behind D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food and the importance of mentorship for startups in the pet care industry.
In the podcast episode, Cooper talks about the representation she and Paige wanted to bring to the pet industry. They noticed a lack of diversity in the industry and wanted to create a brand that represented their culture and the music they grew up loving. Through SKU’s accelerator program, they were able to receive mentorship and exposure that helped take their business to the next level.
Greebe highlights the role of mentorship in the program, emphasizing how it benefits startups like D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food. He also discusses how SKU finds experts to mentor its startup partners and the significance of Showcase Day, where startups get the opportunity to present their products to potential investors and industry professionals.
Cooper discusses the planned improvements for D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food’s branding and how the experience with SKU will fuel the brand’s future growth. She also encourages other pet industry brands to get involved in SKU’s accelerator program for the mentorship and exposure it offers.
This podcast episode showcases the importance of resources like SKU’s accelerator program for startups in the pet care industry. It emphasizes the value of mentorship, diversity in representation, and strategic branding in achieving success in a saturated market.