Rachel Sheppard

Rachel Sheppard is the Director of Ventures at Mars Petcare, where she plays a pivotal role in early-stage investing and fostering innovation in the pet care industry. She leads the Leap Venture Studio & Academy, an initiative designed to support and invest in startups focused on improving the quality of life for pets and their owners. This program, a collaboration between Mars Petcare, Michelson Found Animals, and R/GA Ventures, is notable for being the first accelerator specifically targeting pet care startups.135

Sheppard's professional background is a blend of veterinary science and entrepreneurship. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis, and an MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship from Santa Clara University. Before joining Mars Petcare in July 2021, she served as the Director of Global Marketing at the Founder Institute, where she co-created the Female Founder Initiative to enhance participation of women in startup ecosystems.124

In her current role, Sheppard is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of investments aimed at addressing various challenges in pet care, including health monitoring technologies and solutions for senior pets. Her efforts also include initiatives to support underrepresented founders in the venture capital space.13