Joining forces: How ZX Ventures and Kombrewcha work together

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AB InBev's Kombrewcha brand is growing the hard kombucha category.

What happens after a small, Brooklyn-based drinks startup gets acquired by the biggest beer company in the world? Kombrewcha joined ZX Ventures in 2016: and this guest podcast explores how the two are working together.

Kombucha is now a billion-dollar global industry. And while the famously tart, probiotic beverage has naturally occurring alcohol, Kombrewcha (4.4% ABV) was the first brand to take things one step further and introduce hard kombucha to the alcohol space.

Kombrewcha joined AB InBev's ZX Ventures division in 2016. Since then, Kombrewcha has used insights and support from the ZX Ventures team to tweak its formula, update its packaging and perfect its growth strategy. In this episode, Kombrewcha’s CEO Garret Bredenkamp joins Liz Tomic, Global Director of ZX Ventures’ Explore Fund, to share their experiences and how they help a little company grow inside a big organization. 

This episode explores:

1. Why did Kombrewcha change its formula and boost its alcohol content after joining ZX Ventures?  

2. What are the benefits of joining forces with a strategic partner?

3. What are the most important things a large companies can do to support entrepreneurs, post acquisition?

4. How will ZX Ventures and Kombrewcha know when their partnership has been a success?

This podcast - which you can listen to below - is hosted by Rabobank’s senior analyst Jim Watson and analyst Bourcard Nesin. You can also listen to the first part of the podcast, where Liz explains ZX Ventures' mission, here.