Sip Ventures, the corporate venture studio of Asahi Beverages, has launched a new program to collaborate with startups and scaleups across Australia and New Zealand. The program offers up to $150,000 in equity-free funding and the opportunity to pilot your solution within one of Australia’s most respected beverage companies.

About Sip Ventures

Sip Ventures is Asahi Beverages’ innovation arm, built to identify and develop the next generation of commercial opportunities for the business. Over the past three and a half years, the Sip Ventures team has launched projects spanning social connection tools for Gen Z, commercial reuse of internal waste streams, and consumer hardware innovation.

Now, Sip Ventures is opening its doors to external collaboration, inviting proven startups and scaleups to bring innovation into Asahi Beverages' network and help shape how consumers experience beverages across Australia and New Zealand.

The Opportunity

Sip Ventures is seeking businesses that enhance how Asahi Beverages’ products are enjoyed, whether at home, in retail, at venues, or digitally.

Successful applicants will enter a 12–20 week commercial pilot with Asahi Beverages, supported by up to $150,000 in non-dilutive funding (a mix of cash and in-kind support). Each collaboration will be customised, designed to integrate directly into Asahi Beverages' brands, customers, and operations.

This is not an accelerator or a training program. It’s a direct path to commercial validation with one of the largest beverage networks in the region.

Focus Areas

Sip Ventures is open to a broad range of technologies and solutions that improve how Asahi Beverages products are experienced, including but not limited to:

At Home

• Smart home or entertainment integration

• Biometric insights and personalisation

• Subscription or delivery innovation
  
  
  

At Retail

• Frictionless checkout and payments

• Circular packaging or smart labelling

• Loyalty, rewards, or retail media
  
  
  

At Venues & Events

• Predictive or real-time monitoring (e.g. staffing, keg tracking)

• Dynamic menus, promotions, and gamified experiences

• Hospitality resourcing, retention, and training
  
  
  

Digital

• Payments, rewards, and personalisation platforms

• Data, analytics, and retargeting technology

• Collaboration or engagement tools
  
  
  

What Sip Ventures Isn’t Looking For

For this round, Sip Ventures is not seeking:

• Food or beverage product innovation

• Internal operations solutions (warehousing, logistics, or supply chain tools)
  
  
  

What You’ll Gain

• Up to $150,000 in equity-free funding per selected business

• Direct access to Asahi Beverages’ network, including pilot opportunities across brands and channels

• A co-creation partnership model designed to empower, not overrun, founders
  
  
  

Key Dates

• Applications close: October 31, 2025
  
  

• Assessment: Rolling basis through November 2025
  
  

• Final selections: December 2025
  
  

• Pilots commence: First half of 2026
  
  
  

How to Apply

Submissions are now open via sipventures.com.au.

Startups and scaleups with traction and in-market validation are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.