Constellation Brands plans to invest $100m in women-led startups

Constellation Brands Ventures (CBV) is planning to invest $100m in alcoholic beverage businesses that are currently led or were founded by women.

To be carried out by 2028, the new ‘Focus on Female Founders’ programme will provide resources to support women entrepreneurs, while allowing CBV access to growth opportunities in the alcoholic beverage space.

Constellation Brands’ chief growth officer Mallika Monteiro said: “The Our Focus on Female Founders programme reinforces our commitment to supporting the advancement of women within our company, within our industry and in our local communities.

“This programme is designed to make meaningful investments in female-founded and female-led businesses doing disruptive and innovative work across beverage alcohol.

“Broadening our focus on this critical demographic will drive incremental growth for our business, enhance our relevance, deepen our consumer knowledge base and broaden our pipeline of ideas and talent.”

The company has completed the first of its investments with the support of speciality beverage companies Austin Cocktails and Vivify Beverages.

Austin Cocktails offers Cucumber Vodka Mojito, Ruby Red Cocktail, Perfect Bergamot Orange Margarita, Peppered Maple Blood Orange Bourbon Cocktail and New School Gin Mule bottled cocktails, which are produced using natural ingredients.

Vivify Beverages offers alcohol beverage products such as Bravazzi Hard Italian Soda and Itz Spritz.

Vivify’s co-founder and marketing and innovation vice-president Sarah Ross said: “Constellation Brands thinks like we do. They are focused on what is coming next, not on what has worked in the past.

“We know we can leverage their investment in us and their expertise to keep our momentum going.”

In addition to funding, the companies selected under the Focus on Female Founders programme will have access to Constellation’s experienced staff and mentors.