For the third year, Ambev is the Brazilian company that does the most business with startups

recognition

The company is a leader in open innovation according to the TOP 100 Open Startups ranking, reinforcing the transformation of its business model as a platform that promotes shared growth with the innovation ecosystem

For another consecutive year, Ambev was recognized as the company that most practiced open innovation in Brazil. The information was released this Wednesday (18), by 100 Open Startups, a pioneering platform and leader in open innovation in Latin America. Along with Ambev, ArcelorMittal, Suzano, Sicredi and Unimed lead the TOP 5 of the Ranking.

In addition to the main recognition, Ambev was highlighted in the Consumer Goods and Food category, also occupying 1st position. Large companies hired a total of 4,177 startups last year, mainly in the areas of solutions related to artificial intelligence, data analysis and productivity.

This is the year to consolidate Ambev’s transformation as a platform. After undergoing a profound cultural evolution, the company changed and transformed its business model, starting to act as a platform based on active listening and a long-term vision. And open innovation has been a strategic and fundamental pillar for the company to continue winning and delighting more fans, innovating and helping many people to develop and grow together.

“Collaboration with the startup ecosystem is a crucial part of our business strategy here at Ambev, and this relationship has become even stronger in recent years, in this process of transformation and evolution that has been taking place. We know that it is impossible to innovate alone and, being aware of our capillarity, we want our ecosystem to evolve and grow together with us. Leading the 100 Open Corps Ranking again only reinforces that we are on the right path”,

comments Eduardo Horai, CTO at Ambev.

Innovation for Ambev begins by listening to and resolving the ecosystem’s pain points. “Our passion for listening leads us, daily, towards evolution. We listen, we create, we test, we listen again, we experiment and we implement with excellence: this is our difference”, adds Horai.

Among the company’s main projects in the open innovation pillar are 100+ Labs Brasil, a startup acceleration program with socio-environmental solution projects, Além, an initiative to co-create new businesses, and Innochallenge, which focuses on making connections direct solutions from startups to challenges mapped out in various areas of Ambev.

The Ranking shows that, in 2023, corporations closed more deals with startups than ever before. 54,010 open innovation relationships between corporations and startups were recorded, totaling more than R$6.4 billion – a growth of 131% compared to 2023.

The TOP Open Corps Ranking is part of the 100 Open Startups Ranking, which has been published since 2016 and reaches its eighth edition in 2023. In addition to the TOP 100, the TOP 5 and TOP 10 corporations were also recognized, in 25 sectoral categories.

Proximity to the ecosystem

In this journey of strengthening relationships with its partner startups and strengthening the vision of ecosystem and shared growth, Ambev also announces the launch of the “Ambev Community” Seal. The proposal is to visually certify that the startups in the portfolio are official partners of the company.

According to the company, this demand arose from active listening. During Founders Community meetings, a group that brings together partners from startups in the community, participants always commented that their negotiations improved when they spoke to their investors who had a relationship with Ambev.

“Collaboration with startups is part of Ambev’s business strategy, we know that it is impossible to innovate alone. The relationship with our startup community is long-term, regardless of whether or not we are currently developing a project. We believe that this gesture, however simple it may be, can help them boost their business and add value to our entire ecosystem. At the end of the day, it’s a win-win relationship,”

says Marcos Medeiros, Community Manager at Ambev Tech.

The only prerequisites for receiving the Seal, according to the company, is being a current supplier or alumni of one of its innovation programs.

*With information from consultancy

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