AUSTIN, TEXAS — Eight startups have joined SKU for its Spring ’25 Track, including pet nutrition company Saint Rocco’s.

The startups include: Saint Rocco’s Treats, a company producing human-grade dog treats, meal toppers and food; Fairly Nuts, which produces trail mixes; good dirt, which is a low-sugar sparkling beverage formulated with mushrooms and fiber; Kobi, a company producing body care products for kids and teens with sensitive skin; Niramaya, a startup producing Indian-American snacks; PetPax Co, a company making supplements for pets; pi00a, a deaf and CODA family owned business producing Asian-inspired Neapolitan pizzas; and Rookie’s, which makes ice cream and cookie sandwiches. 

Saint Rocco’s was founded by brothers Kolby and Kaleb Rush after they were both sent home from college and lost their internship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Combining their love for dogs, entrepreneurial skills, and knowledge of dog treat craftmanship from their dad and grandfather, Saint Rocco’s was born. The company’s limited-ingredient products are baked fresh daily to ensure optimal freshness.

The startups will participate in SKU’s 12-week program designed to help consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies scale their operations.

Candidates began the program on March 4 and will finish with a Showcase Pitch event in Austin on May 20.

“This track is incredibly diverse, showcasing brands across food, beverage, personal care and pet care,” said Buff Greebe, executive director at SKU. “We were thrilled by the number of applications and the exceptional quality of the brands. The level of innovation and passion from the founders is truly inspiring.”

Find more articles about pet food industry startups.