Dunnhumby Ventures will help fund start-up businesses that use data analytics to innovate in their operations with an initial $100,000 to $500,000 investment.

The investment fund will be lead by Dave Balter, global hear of investment at dunnhumby and one of the first companies selected was San Francisco-based InfoScout which uses a real-time analytics panel to give brands a comprehensive view of customer behaviour.

In addition, dunnhumby Ventures has also invested in Coherent Path and The Shelf.

Balter said: “dunnhumby Ventures is a strategic resource to help fund and accelerate innovations, startups, and motivated entrepreneurs with tenacity. We want to partner with those who are willing to do something no one has done before. We want nothing less than to reinvent retail.”