French insurer Axa is investing €200m ($227m) in a new venture capital fund Axa Strategic Ventures (Axa SV).
The insurer said the fund will invest in "budding strategic innovations in the insurance, asset management, financial technology and healthcare service industries."
"Through Axa Strategic Ventures, we will leverage our global reach, capital and scale to serve as an accelerating force for start-up companies which have the potential to bring new approaches to the insurance model," said Henri de Castries, chairman and CEO of Axa.
The fund already has investments in five companies, via Axa's European fund the Axa Seed Factory, which is now part of Axa SV. The five companies are involved in travel insurance, investing, portfolio management, customer acquisition and climate change consulting.
The chairman of Axa SV is François Robinet, former CEO of Axa Life Invest and chief risk officer of Axa Group.