The pet food and health product maker has formed a corporate venturing fund called Companion Fund and an accelerator dubbed Leap.

US-based pet health and nutrition product supplier Mars Petcare launched a $100m corporate venturing vehicle called Companion Fund in partnership with venture capital firm Digitalis Ventures on Friday.

Companion Fund will be managed by Digitalis and will make investments in early and growth-stage companies operating in the digital health, diagnostics, nutrition and pet services sectors.

Mars Petcare, a subsidiary of packaged food producer Mars Group, owns pet food brands including Whiskas, Pedigree, Iams and Sheba, and animal health-focused services including…