--- title: Ventures to Watch in Beer, Wine & Spirits description: Ventures to Watch in Beer, Wine & Spirits – Featuring VentureFuel’s Own Fred Schonenberg & Vanessa Rosado image: https://blog.venturefuel.net/hubfs/081522_VFI_Blog_Ventures%20to%20Watch%20in%20Beer%2c%20Wine%20%26%20Spirits-1.png --- ![](https://blog.venturefuel.net/hubfs/081522_VFI_Blog_Ventures%20to%20Watch%20in%20Beer%2c%20Wine%20%26%20Spirits-1.png) # Ventures to Watch in Beer, Wine & Spirits Published by [Vanessa Rosado](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/author/vanessa-rosado) on Aug 15, 2022 4:50:03 PM ## “The fit-to-brief part is the thing that differentiates VentureFuel. We're not looking at startups as an investment, as a VC fund. We're looking at it to help our corporate partner. So we really sit with them and we articulate what their brief is, what their challenges, what they're trying to get after. And then that's the lens, through which we evaluate all startups first. So it could be a unicorn, but if it doesn't solve our corporate partner's challenge, it's not relevant.” –Fred Schonenberg, Founder of VentureFuel Recorded at our most recent event, What's Next Now: Beer, Wine, and Spirits, featuring our Founder, Fred Schonenberg, and Head of Brand Strategy, Vanessa Ivette Rosado. Fred and Vanessa walk us through how the team at VentureFuel evaluates startups; and they share a short list of ventures they’re watching in the alcoholic beverages space. Check them out [here](https://blog.venturefuel.net/blog/inside-our-innovation-huddle-july-2022)! Want to learn more about the trends and innovations reshaping the alcohol beverage industry? Check out our event: What's Next Now: Beer, Wine & Spirits. [Click here to watch the event recap](https://info.venturefuel.net/beer-wine-spirits).   VentureFuel builds and accelerates innovation programs for industry leaders by helping them unlock the power of External Innovation via startup collaborations.  [![Meet VentureFuel](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/9106794/a45798f5-cdf8-41c7-a319-32b9f9c8276a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/9106794/a45798f5-cdf8-41c7-a319-32b9f9c8276a) Tags: [Innovation](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/innovation), [podcasts](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/podcasts), [Startup](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/startup), [Beer](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/beer), [AI](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/ai), [Sustainable](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/sustainable), [Beverage](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/beverage), [Consumers](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/consumers), [Alcohol](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/alcohol), [Spirits](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/spirits), [Regulations](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/regulations), [VentureFuel Visionaries](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/venturefuel-visionaries) [Back to Blog](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov) ## Related Articles ## [Your Next Drink - IWSR Chief Strategy Officer Brandy Rand](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/your-next-drink-iwsr-chief-strategy-officer-brandy-rand) “Innovate like your life depends on it. Don't be resistant to change; pay attention to... [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/your-next-drink-iwsr-chief-strategy-officer-brandy-rand) ## [The Frontlines of Beverage Innovation](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/the-frontlines-of-beverage-innovation) “You have to be okay to take a risk or you have to take a calculated risk. This is a... [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/the-frontlines-of-beverage-innovation) ## [Winter FancyFaire* With VentureFuel’s Alice Ponti](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/winter-fancy-food-with-venturefuels-alice-ponti) The future of food is being shaped by more than novelty — it’s about defensible design,... [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/winter-fancy-food-with-venturefuels-alice-ponti)