AO VET

What AO VET does

AO VET is a global non-profit specialty division within the AO Foundation (a Swiss Stiftung headquartered in Davos) dedicated to veterinary surgery of the musculoskeletal system. It operates a membership-based network of 1,800+ veterinary surgeons, scientists, and other professionals worldwide, supported by 270+ active faculty and 38 sponsored fellowship positions. The organization delivers competency-based curriculum courses, 45+ in-person and online events per year reaching 5,500+ course participants, and runs research and innovation grant programs under AAALAC International accreditation.

Its core product portfolio centers on an integrated digital ecosystem: AO Surgery Reference (a web-based surgical knowledge hub with newly launched exclusive veterinary modules), myAO (a verified peer networking platform for trauma and musculoskeletal professionals, recently upgraded to myAO 2.0), and OSapp (a surgical planning application integrated with Surgery Reference). Supporting offerings include a video and webinar library, online journals and publications, structured Principles / Advanced / Masters / online courses (e.g., AO VET Masters Course—Ortopedia Felina in Santiago de Chile), and fellowship host-center training. The technical differentiator is interoperability across these platforms rather than any single standalone tool.

Commercially, AO VET runs a community-led, event-driven go-to-market model. Revenue is generated through individual membership fees (free for students, 50%-discounted for residents, full dues for practicing surgeons), paid course and event registrations, and fellowship sponsorship, with a freemium tier designed to capture early-career veterinarians into the pipeline. Marketing is conducted through social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), an email newsletter, the parent AO Foundation's brand and cross-divisional promotion, and peer referral via regional boards such as the Latin America Board. No revenue, headcount growth, funding rounds, or M&A activity are disclosed, and the entity operates with a small core team of approximately 10 employees, relying on its faculty network and parent foundation infrastructure for execution.

Name

AO VET

Legal name

AO Foundation

Website

https://aovet.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AO VET is a non-profit division of the AO Foundation that runs a global membership network of 1,800+ veterinary surgeons specializing in musculoskeletal surgery, delivering courses, fellowships, and digital tools (AO Surgery Reference, myAO, OSapp) to veterinary professionals worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Medical Education

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary EMR/EHR & Clinical Workflow (HLAMAMAB)

Keywords

• Veterinary orthopedic surgery
• Veterinary surgical education
• Professional medical networks
• Clinical reference tools
• Veterinary training fellowships

Headquarters

HQ city

Davos

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: AO VET generates revenue through membership fees. Student membership is free, while residents receive a 50% discount on one-year AO Trauma membership. Full membership provides access to exclusive resources, privileges, and member-only content.
2. Course and Event Fees: Revenue generated from educational courses and events worldwide. The organization conducts 45+ events annually with 5500+ course participants. Course fees vary by program type including Principles courses, Advanced Techniques, Masters courses, and online courses.
3. Fellowship Sponsorship: The organization sponsors 38 fellowships through various funding mechanisms, which may include industry sponsorships and partnerships for veterinary surgical training programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AO VET is a global nonprofit network of veterinary surgeons, scientists, and professionals specializing in veterinary surgery of the musculoskeletal system. It delivers competency-based educational courses, in-person events, digital surgical reference platforms, professional networking tools, sponsored fellowships, and research grants to advance veterinary orthopedic practice worldwide.

Product overview

AO VET is a global network platform for veterinary surgeons specializing in musculoskeletal surgery, offering a unified ecosystem of educational, reference, and community tools. The core portfolio centers on AO Surgery Reference (digital surgical knowledge hub with veterinary modules), myAO (professional networking and peer connection platform), and OSapp (integrated surgical planning tool). Supporting offerings include AO VET Videos (expert presentations), Online Resources (journals and publications), Courses and Events (global educational activities), Competency-Based Curriculum Courses (structured learning paths), Fellowships (host center training programs), and Research Grants (innovation funding). The platform serves 1,800+ worldwide members across 270+ faculty members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• myAO: The leading network of health care professionals specialized in the treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders, including Surgery Reference. Platform for verified peers to connect by location, clinical interests, and career stage.
• AO Surgery Reference
• OSapp

Products and services

• AO Surgery Reference

Quantifiable outcome

• 1800+ members worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AO Foundation (Parent Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAO VET is a division of the AO Foundation, which drives development, innovation, and research across multiple specialties including trauma, spine, CMF, recon, and sports. AO Foundation provides the overarching organizational structure, research divisions, innovation translation capabilities, and educational infrastructure that supports AO VET's operations globally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NAVC (North American Veterinary Community): NAVC runs the VMX conference and a broad veterinary CE/media platform serving practitioners across North America. It is comparable to AO VET as a large, conference-driven veterinary education organization with membership and digital content offerings.
• VetPD (Veterinary Professional Development): VetPD organizes continuing education courses, workshops, and conferences for veterinary practitioners, particularly in surgery and internal medicine. It overlaps with AO VET's course-based, in-person CE model for veterinary specialists.
• Western Veterinary Conference (WVC): WVC hosts one of the largest annual veterinary conferences in the U.S. alongside year-round CE programming. It mirrors AO VET's event-centric CE model for practicing veterinarians, though at a broader specialty scope.
• Improve International: Improve International provides structured postgraduate veterinary training programs and certifications across multiple specialties. It is comparable to AO VET in offering tiered, curriculum-based veterinary professional education and credentials for practicing clinicians.
• Vetstream: Vetstream provides online clinical reference content (Vetlexicon) and digital tools for veterinary practices. It is comparable to AO VET's AO Surgery Reference and OSapp as a digital clinical knowledge platform for veterinary professionals.
• Veterinary Information Network (VIN): VIN is the largest online community and continuing-education platform for veterinarians globally, offering clinical references, message boards, and CE courses. It is directly comparable to AO VET as a digital, member-based professional network serving practicing veterinarians with educational content and peer connection.

Emerging players

• LafeberVet: LafeberVet offers free and subscription-based veterinary CE across multiple species and disciplines. It is comparable to AO VET in delivering digital veterinary continuing education, though with a wider, less specialized content mix.
• LifeLearn: LifeLearn provides veterinary CE, client education, and practice tools. It is comparable to AO VET in offering CE content and digital tools to veterinary professionals, though it spans general practice rather than surgical specialization.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Veterinary College (RVC): RVC is a leading veterinary school offering degree programs, residency training, and CE. It is comparable to AO VET as an established institution producing veterinary orthopedic expertise, though at broader academic and specialty scope.

Regional players

• AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners): AAEP is a membership-based association providing equine veterinary CE, events, and research. It is structurally comparable to AO VET's specialty-association model with membership, courses, and a global event footprint, though focused on equine rather than companion animal orthopedics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aovet_global
• Facebookfacebook.com/aovetglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aovet
• Instagraminstagram.com/aovet_global

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AO VET