Corporate Venturer

Venture services firm Mach49 has helped the owner of alcohol brands Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Yamazaki to launch the CVC initiative.

Frontier Fund II and Climate Fund II have each received $150m to further explore technologies like AI and renewable energy for the carmaker.

Metalab Ventures, backed by the interface design firm and other investors, will seek product-led startups from pre-seed to series A stages.

The joint programme with Founders Factory will target technologies strategic to the mining industry such as decarbonisation and automation.

The joint fund will invest in strategic areas like supply chain and sustainability for Tesco, Ahold Delhaize, Woolworths, Empire and Shoprite.

The media conglomerate’s evergreen CVC arm has taken part in the AI-driven audit company’s $30m series B round as part of its broader investment focus on artificial technology.

UK smartphone camera component developer Cambridge Mechatronics’ latest round featured strategic investors Sony Ventures and Intel Capital.

Backed by one of the largest Philippine conglomerates, Ayala, Globe Telecom’s CVC unit is a leading force in the country’s emerging ecosystem.

Corporate investors have been part of $3bn worth of AI deals so far this year, with June particularly strong. There has also been a uptick in exits.

After GCV Powerlist member Yuko Sasahara Watanabe’s move to NTT Docomo’s lifestyle unit, the CVC arm named Jun Yasumoto president and CEO.