Chilean food products giant Carozzi has officially launched Carozzi Ventures, its corporate venture capital (CVC) arm, aiming to invest $6 million over the next three years in startups within agritech, foodtech, supply chain, pet care, and advanced manufacturing sectors. This move highlights the company's strategic push toward innovation and modernizing its business through partnerships with emerging technology startups.

Introduction of Carozzi Ventures

Founded in May 2024, Carozzi Ventures remained under the radar in stealth mode until its formal public introduction in October. With this launch, Carozzi aims to further its commitment to innovation in the food industry while seeking solutions that could streamline supply chain processes and address critical industry challenges. Carozzi’s goal is to invest in sectors that are traditionally overlooked by venture capital firms, betting on areas that hold strong potential for long-term growth but may be seen as less attractive to conventional investors.

The company has outlined a focused approach with plans to make three investments per year, allocating up to $1 million per deal. These investments will primarily target early-stage companies from pre-seed to Series A stages. In addition to capital, Carozzi will offer startups access to its corporate operations for pilot programs and distribution networks, providing an invaluable platform for growth.

Target Sectors and Investment Strategy

The sectors Carozzi Ventures will focus on are agritech, foodtech, supply chain, manufacturing, and pet care. These industries have a direct alignment with Carozzi’s core business, which has long been rooted in food production and supply chain management. With the launch of Carozzi Ventures, the company is positioning itself to play a key role in shaping the future of food and supply technologies.

According to Gerardo Zañartu, the manager of Carozzi Ventures, the CVC unit is not just about providing capital. Instead, the fund aims to provide "scale money," meaning that it will help startups grow by leveraging Carozzi's resources, expertise, and market access, beyond just the financial backing. Zañartu emphasized that the fund would also explore other industries beyond its core focus areas if there are synergies that add value to Carozzi’s overall operations.

The fund’s investment committee includes industry experts such as Rocío Fonseca from Emprende tu Mente, Lorena González from Aurus, and Carozzi executives José Manuel Muñoz and Pedro Fernández. Together, they will evaluate opportunities and ensure that each investment aligns with Carozzi’s strategic goals.

Supporting Innovation and Scale

The launch of Carozzi Ventures is seen as a crucial step in supporting startup ecosystems that offer potential for both business growth and societal impact. The company's decision to focus on agritech, in particular, aligns with global trends where the need for sustainable agriculture solutions is growing amid challenges posed by climate change and population growth. By investing in technology-driven solutions, Carozzi Ventures aims to support startups that can bring transformative changes to farming and food production processes.

Startups backed by Carozzi Ventures will also have the opportunity to test and validate their products within Carozzi’s extensive supply chains, potentially allowing them to scale more quickly by integrating their innovations directly into real-world operations. Furthermore, access to Carozzi’s distribution networks will help these startups reach new markets, accelerating their growth and providing them with a competitive edge in scaling their operations.

A Broader Vision for the Future

Carozzi’s CVC initiative is in line with broader corporate trends in Latin America, where large companies are increasingly embracing venture capital as a way to innovate and remain competitive in rapidly evolving industries. The investment in agritech and related sectors positions Carozzi to not only keep pace with technological advancements but to also become a leader in the next wave of industry transformation.

“Carozzi will focus on sectors that are often overlooked by traditional venture capital funds because they aren’t seen as attractive,” said Zañartu, underlining the company's commitment to backing ventures that could bring long-term value even if they are not currently trendy in the mainstream venture capital space. This bold approach, coupled with its deep industry knowledge, positions Carozzi to make a significant impact in areas where innovation is needed most.

Carozzi Ventures marks a strategic shift for Carozzi as it seeks to position itself at the forefront of foodtech and supply chain innovation. By launching a $6 million venture capital fund, the company is tapping into emerging technologies and startups that could shape the future of food production, distribution, and sustainability. The move also highlights a growing trend among large corporations in Latin America to actively invest in and collaborate with startups to drive innovation, solve industry challenges, and secure their place in the next generation of business solutions.