What Veterinary Innovation Council does

The Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) is a non-profit innovation program operated under the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 2016, VIC functions as an industry convener rather than a commercial vendor: it produces the annual Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS) and curates the Innovation Track within NAVC's flagship VMX conference, bringing together veterinary practitioners, corporate sponsors, and startups around themes of AI in veterinary medicine, access to care, and clinical team optimization.

VIC does not develop or sell proprietary technology, software, or clinical products. Its deliverables are events, editorial content, and a board-level forum that connects large pet-care, nutrition, pharmaceutical, insurance, and retail sponsors (Mars Veterinary Health, Hill's, Purina, Zoetis, Royal Canin, Chewy Health, Nationwide, PetSmart Charities, ASPCA, Bitwerx) with the veterinary innovation community. Governance is provided by a volunteer board; in December 2025 the board was refreshed to eight new members under incoming Chair Dr. Jules Benson.

VIC's economic model is sponsorship-funded non-profit operation rather than a revenue-generating business. It runs with a lean staff of 1–10 employees, drawing on NAVC infrastructure for distribution and production. There is no disclosed pricing model, subscription product, or equity-style instrument; sponsor contributions and NAVC subsidy underwrite the program.

Name

Veterinary Innovation Council

Legal name

Eastern States Veterinary Association, Inc.

Website

https://veterinaryinnovationcouncil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Veterinary Innovation Council is a non-profit innovation program of NAVC that convenes veterinary practitioners, sponsors, and startups through its Veterinary Innovation Summit and VMX Innovation Track, funded by corporate sponsors across pet care, nutrition, and pharma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) is a non-profit advisory body that convenes veterinary industry stakeholders through flagship in-person events (Veterinary Innovation Summit and VMX Innovation Track), runs professional initiatives (Breaking Barriers, Building Better Teams, Access to Care), and publishes guidance content on emerging topics such as AI in veterinary practice. It operates as a catalyst organization uniting veterinarians, veterinary nurses/technicians, and industry leaders to drive transformational change in the veterinary profession rather than selling discrete commercial products.

Product overview

The Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) operates as a convening organization and initiative incubator rather than a product company. VIC's portfolio consists of industry events (Veterinary Innovation Summit and VMX Innovation Track), professional initiatives (Breaking Barriers, Building Better Teams, Access to Care Resources), and educational content (AI guidance documents and veterinary AI research coverage). These offerings work together to unite industry leaders, drive innovation discussions, and produce guidance for the veterinary profession.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS): Annual summit where the future of the veterinary profession is imagined and built, featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking, and exhibitor opportunities.
• VMX Innovation Track

Products and services

• Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS) An annual three-day summit convening progressive veterinary professionals, industry leaders, and innovators for keynote speeches, panel discussions, networking, and exhibitor opportunities to reimagine the delivery of veterinary care through client-centered approaches.
• VMX Innovation Track A full-day educational track curated by VIC within the VMX (Veterinary Meeting & Expo) conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, delivering innovation-focused sessions to 30,000+ veterinary conference attendees.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• VIC Board (Current and Past Members)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016VIC's board consists of industry leaders including licensed veterinarians, veterinary nurses/technicians, and academics. Board members provide strategic guidance, implement innovation initiatives, and contribute to the council's mission. The board is transitioning to eight new members at the end of 2025 for VIC's next chapter.
• Mars Veterinary HealthflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond-level sponsor of the Veterinary Innovation Summit. As a division of Mars Petcare, Mars Veterinary Health is a major player in global animal health and a key supporter of VIC's mission to drive innovation in the veterinary profession.
• PetSmart CharitiesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond-level sponsor of the Veterinary Innovation Summit. PetSmart Charities supports access to care initiatives and is a key partner in VIC's mission to advance veterinary medicine.
• Hill's Pet NutritioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver-level sponsor of the Veterinary Innovation Summit. Hill's provides nutritional products and supports veterinary innovation initiatives.
• NationwidecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver-level sponsor of the Veterinary Innovation Summit. Nationwide is a major pet insurance provider supporting veterinary industry innovation.
• Chewy HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver-level sponsor of the Veterinary Innovation Summit. Chewy Health supports VIC initiatives and innovation in veterinary care delivery.
• ZoetiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Veterinary Innovation Summit. Zoetis is a global animal health company and key supporter of innovation in the veterinary profession.
• Royal CanincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Veterinary Innovation Summit. Royal Canin supports VIC and veterinary nutrition innovation.
• PurinacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Veterinary Innovation Summit. Purina (Nestlé Purina PetCare) supports innovation initiatives in veterinary medicine.
• ASPCAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver-level sponsor supporting VIC initiatives. ASPCA's mission aligns with VIC's focus on access to care and animal welfare.
• NAVC (North American Veterinary Community)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIC is a program/initiative of NAVC. NAVC is the parent organization (owned by Eastern States Veterinary Association, Inc., a Florida non-profit). NAVC created VIC in 2016 to advocate for transformational changes in the veterinary profession. VIC's mission and activities are administered through NAVC.
• VMX (Veterinary Meeting & Expo)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIC curates the VMX Innovation Track, bringing innovation-focused educational sessions to 30,000+ VMX attendees. VMX is NAVC's flagship conference and a key platform for VIC to reach the broader veterinary community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): AVMA is the largest national veterinary professional association in the US, producing policy positions, advocacy, and continuing education for veterinarians. It is the broadest peer to VIC in scope, serving as a non-profit convener and standards-setter for the same veterinarian audience VIC targets.
• Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE): VMAE is a non-profit association of executives from state and regional veterinary medical associations, focused on leadership development and best-practice sharing. It is directly comparable to VIC as a small, member-and-sponsor-supported professional convening organization.
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): AAHA is a non-profit veterinary professional association that accredits companion animal hospitals and publishes standards, guidelines, and thought-leadership content. Like VIC, it operates as a non-commercial, member-and-sponsor-supported convening body for the veterinary profession, making it the closest structural analog.
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA): WSAVA is an international non-profit association of small animal veterinary associations, producing global guidelines, congresses, and continuing education. It is a structural peer to VIC as a non-commercial, volunteer-led veterinary convener, with a broader international footprint.
• Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA): VHMA is a non-profit professional association serving veterinary practice managers and administrators, with a similar member-driven, education-and-events operating model. It targets an adjacent persona within the same veterinary ecosystem that VIC's "Building Better Teams" initiative addresses.
• VetPartners: VetPartners is a non-profit association of veterinary industry consultants and advisors that convenes members through meetings, education, and thought leadership. Its operating model — non-profit, member-supported, focused on elevating the profession — closely parallels VIC's convening structure.

Others

• dvm360 (MultiMedia Animal Care): dvm360 is a leading veterinary industry media brand covering clinical, business, and innovation topics for veterinary professionals. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant that competes for the same audience's attention and sponsorship dollars rather than directly convening the profession.
• North American Veterinary Community (NAVC): NAVC is VIC's parent organization and the producer of the VMX conference that hosts VIC's Innovation Track. While not an independent peer (it is VIC's parent), NAVC is the closest institutional comparator as a non-profit veterinary professional development and event organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vetinnovationcouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veterinary-innovation-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Veterinary Innovation Council