The startup offering stem cell banking for Australian pets
From a quest to help one dog, Paloma Newton and Jackson Gritching launched Elita Genetics, raising $1.1 million in a tough market.
Elita Genetics has recently emerged from stealth mode, unveiling Australia’s first accessible, proactive stem cell therapy offering for pets. The launch comes at a time when domestic pets outnumber Australians, and pet healthcare spending exceeded $9 billion in 2023.
Founded by Melbourne entrepreneurs Paloma Newton and Jackson Gritching, Elita Genetics offers a pet stem cell bank that collects and stores stem cells during routine desexing procedures. This service provides pet owners with access to potentially life-changing therapies already in use internationally.
The startup has secured $1.1 million in early funding from investors including Side Stage Ventures, Archangel Ventures, M8 Ventures and Startmate. Capital Brief sat down with Newton to discuss how Elita Genetics aims to make advanced stem cell therapies accessible to all dog owners — therapies that could help prevent or more effectively treat common diseases in both dogs and cats.
The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
What sparked the idea for Elita Genetics?
The genesis really was that we got a dog. His name is Edgar Allan Paws, and when we got him, we found out he was predisposed to arthritis. I started doing a lot of research about what we could do proactively and preventatively.
