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Branded Hospitality Group has announced the launch of its Fund-III, a $50m vehicle targeting emerging technology companies within the foodservice industry. Branded operates as an integrated platform that invests, supports and accelerates technology and emerging brands in the food, beverage and hospitality sector. The company has already completed more than 50 venture stage investments across its first two funds (closed in 2021 and 2023). Launching this month, Fund-III aims to present “an innovative twist to the usual venture model”. In a statement announcing the launch, Branded said that while typical early-stage fundraise processes tend to only target family offices, fund-of-funds and high net worth individuals, the LP base of Branded’s third fund will be comprised primarily by operators, owners and partners across the foodservice industry that Branded supports. Branded’s Fund-III will target between 20-25 strategic investments across customer engagement, supply chain, marketing, data and analytics, automation, financial and sustainability solutions. Jimmy Frischling, co-founder and managing partner at Branded, said: “We know firsthand from our partners and entrepreneurial founders that every aspect of the foodservice and hospitality industry is being affected through constant digitization and evolution”. He added: “By launching our third fund with a focus on an LP base that not only comes from this industry, but is also actively committed to transforming it, we know that we’ve created an ecosystem where a rising tide will lift all boats”.