Coca-Cola Amatil has partnered Artesian Venture Partners to form a multimillion-dollar investment fund that will target early-stage companies.

Amatil X, Australia-based beverage bottling service provider Coca-Cola Amatil’s corporate venturing and startup accelerator division, has launched an investment vehicle with venture capital and asset management firm Artesian Venture Partners.

The multimillion-dollar scheme, dubbed Amatil X Early Stage Venture Fund, will be sponsored by Amatil X and run by Artesian. Amatil X already operates a corporate venturing unit known as AX Ventures.

The fund will back early-stage startups strategically aligned with Amatil and has already made its first investment, in New Zealand-based, tourism and logistics-focused artificial intelligence assistant provider Aider.AI.

Chris Sullivan, director of partners and growth for Coca-Cola Amatil Group, said: “One focus of Amatil X is to invest in platforms that allow our current and future customers to optimise their business and increase sales.

“Artesian are recognised experts in identifying and recommending high-quality, early-stage startups for investment. We are proud to partner them in growing startup ecosystems and scouting for business opportunities for the future.”

Edison Fu

Edison Fu is head of Asia development at Global Corporate Venturing.