Cleveland Avenue
Chicago, IL · Invests in US · Website
Check size
🔒 $•• – $••Thesis
Global venture capital firm investing in lifestyle consumer brands and technology companies that positively disrupt large and growing markets. Great investments require deep industry expertise, hands-on operational support, and access to strategic partners.
Likely not a fit for
Pure software without embedded advantage; B2B services with low defensibility; non-consumer facing tech investments; highly capital-intensive hardware; commodity-driven sectors
How they invest
- Lead or follow
- Usually leads
- Typical decision
- ~1 month
- Warm intro
- Preferred
- Involvement
- Takes a board seat
- Fund status
- Actively deploying
- Assets under mgmt
- $2.5B
- Decision process
- Partnership vote
Partners & team
9 contacts on file
k•••@cl•••.com
Sign up free to unlock contact →LinkedIn profile
Sign up free to unlock contact →LinkedIn profile
Sign up free to unlock contact →LinkedIn profile
Sign up free to unlock contact →LinkedIn profile
Sign up free to unlock contact →LinkedIn profile
Sign up free to unlock contact →Portfolio
Aigen is building a future with no harmful chemicals in food by providing AI-driven, network-connected robotic services for agriculture, powered entirely by renewable energy.
Apologue Cocktail Co. is a forward-thinking cocktail company focused on the intersection of cocktails, community, and culture. They offer spirited liqueurs crafted from entirely natural, non-GMO ingredients and elevate ready-to-serve cocktails.
BabyQuip offers baby equipment rentals, allowing families to rent baby gear for their trips, making travel with children easier.
Bartesian creates bar-quality cocktails on demand, providing an effortless way to enjoy and serve premium cocktails at home.
Bear Robotics develops innovative robotic solutions for the hospitality industry, focusing on enhancing service efficiency and customer experience.
Beatclub.com offers AI-driven logo creation without design skills. It provides fast and professional logo designs.
Believer is a cultivated meat company focused on producing high-quality, non-GMO meat alternatives that are cruelty-free and environmentally sustainable.
Bemyfriends is a global fandom business company that provides comprehensive solutions and services to transform fandoms into successful businesses, leveraging IT-based platforms and expert consulting.
Beyond Meat produces vegan meat and plant-based meat substitutes, focusing on creating products that nourish and protect health while promoting sustainability.
Bhakti is a woman-founded company that specializes in fresh-pressed ginger chai concentrate made from organic ingredients. The company emphasizes sustainability and social impact, sourcing organic and fair trade ingredients and supporting organizations that empower women and girls.
Recent activity
- Mar 2026
BrewVo
Series E · Lead
- Jan 2026
Outtake
Series B · Participated
- Sep 2021
Soul Machines
Series B · Participated
- Jun 2020
NotCo
Series A · Lead
- Jan 2015
Footprint
Seed · Lead
- Mar 2014
Beyond Meat
Seed · Lead
Cleveland Avenue in the news
Crain's Chicago Business
Elizabeth Thompson
6 months ago
AlleyWatch
The 12 Largest NYC Tech Startup Funding Rounds of January 2026
7 months ago
AlleyWatch
The 12 Largest NYC Tech Startup Funding Rounds of January 2026
7 months ago
SportsPro
Phoenix Mercury sign record ‘US$3m per year’ Cleveland Avenue jersey patch sponsorship
Apr 2024
Sportico.com
Phoenix Mercury Ink WNBA-Leading Jersey Patch Sponsor Deal
Apr 2024
Phoenix Mercury
PHOENIX MERCURY AND CLEVELAND AVENUE ANNOUNCE REVOLUTIONARY ROTATING BADGE PARTNERSHIP
Apr 2024
Phoenix Mercury
PHOENIX SUNS, PHOENIX MERCURY AND CLEVELAND AVENUE ANNOUNCE INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION ALLIANCE TO TRANSFORM FAN EXPERIENCE
Apr 2024
Business Wire
Better Foods, Subsidiary of Shinsegae Food for Plant-based Products, Attracts Investment from Cleveland Avenue
Jan 2024
businesskorea.co.kr
Chicago-based Venture Capital Firm Cleveland Avenue Expands Global Reach with CA Tech X Asia Event in Seoul
Sep 2023
Food Dive
Low-carb Hero Bread raises $15M and expands retail presence
May 2023
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Building With Believer—an Ambitious New Games Company
Mar 2023
AgFunderNews
Verdant Robotics lands $46.5m in fresh funding from Cleveland Avenue, AgFunder & others
Nov 2022
BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News
Milwaukee wine subscription startup Bright Cellars raises $11.2 million
Sep 2021
Chicago Defender
Cleveland Avenue Announces $70 Million CAST US Initiative for Minority Entrepreneurs.
Apr 2021
Restaurant Business
Don Thompson’s venture capital firm ups its investment in Dom’s Kitchen & Market
Mar 2021
Chicago Tribune
Don Thompson grew up near Cabrini-Green and went on to lead McDonald’s. Now the former fast-food CEO wants to bring South and West side businesses to the table.
Mar 2021
The Business Journals
Cleveland Avenue launches $70M fund to invest in Chicago’s Black, Latinx food entrepreneurs
Mar 2021
Urban Milwaukee
Bright Cellars Raises $2.8 Million in Latest Round of Funding
May 2018
Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat® Closes Latest Fundraising Round Led by Don Thompson and Cleveland Avenue, LLC Investment Firm
Dec 2017
Similar firms
Early-stage, operator-led firm combining fintech, entertainment and Wall Street experience to provide hands-on support for software and operationally complex physical consumer businesses. Distributed team across LA, NYC, and Austin.
Research briefRead more
Add Cleveland Avenue to your investor list
Sign up free to save investors, see partner contacts, and track your raise.
Sign up