Investor Profile: Convivialité Ventures - Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Convivialité Ventures is the venture arm of Pernod Ricard, created to look beyond the group's traditional wine and spirits business. Its mission is to shape the future of socialising by backing products and services that change how people come together, socialise and entertain. The team is based in San Francisco, with investments and teams across the US, Europe, Latin America, China and India.

Investment thesis

The thesis is conviviality itself, not drinks alone. Convivialité Ventures says it partners with startups delivering innovative services and experiences to redefine shared experiences, moving into hospitality and entertainment as well as drinks. A startup should therefore explain how it changes a shared experience, not only how it sells a product. Pernod Ricard describes the firm as investing beyond its traditional offerings in meaningful, sustainable and responsible ways.

Sectors and stages

The focus is conviviality-adjacent services and experiences, including hospitality, entertainment, food and beverage innovation, and sustainability solutions for the drinks industry. No rigid stage mandate or sector allocation was published in the sources read, so founders should not assume a seed-only or late-stage-only fit. The disclosed portfolio spans early consumer brands and later-stage platforms, pointing to a flexible, theme-led approach.

Fund size and cheque size

Fund size: not publicly disclosed. Convivialité Ventures operates as a corporate venture arm, and no standalone fund size or standard cheque size was stated in the sources read. Deal terms are generally not disclosed either. Founders should treat any cheque-size figure found elsewhere as unverified unless Pernod Ricard or Convivialité Ventures itself states it.

Notable portfolio

Pernod Ricard names a portfolio of more than 45 companies, including Fever, Fetch, Avantstay, Summer Farm, Liquid Death and Outdoorsy. Its documented sustainability bet is ecoSPIRITS: Convivialité Ventures took a minority share as part of a $10 million Series A round, alongside Closed Loop Partners, Proterra Asia, Pavilion Capital and Wavemaker Partners. ecoSPIRITS builds low-carbon, low-waste distribution technology using reusable 4.5-litre containers instead of single-use bottles. Pernod Ricard had already partnered with ecoSPIRITS in March 2022 for brands including Absolut, Beefeater and Havana Club in Hong Kong and Singapore.

People and partners

Stéphane Longuet is co-founder and managing director of Convivialité Ventures, and the named voice of the firm in Pernod Ricard announcements, including the ecoSPIRITS investment. The firm's own site stresses what it brings beyond capital: access to the Pernod Ricard network, capital, expertise and partnership opportunities. That network can open hospitality, events and brand partnerships that a generalist fund cannot.

Programmes and support

No startup credits or perks programme is published in the sources read, and founders should not expect cloud credits or a standard accelerator package here. Support is strategic and commercial: network access, expertise and partnership opportunities with Pernod Ricard. That suits startups whose product benefits from venues, live events or drinks occasions, and suits a cash-only need poorly.

How to apply for funding

No open, rolling application form with published deadlines was verified in the sources read. The firm's own site invites passionate entrepreneurs who share its vision to get in touch, so the practical route is a direct approach through the Convivialité Ventures website. Lead with the conviviality insight, why it sits beyond wine and spirits, and what a Pernod Ricard partnership would unlock, plus traction and geography.