Cleveland Avenue

Cleveland Avenue is a Chicago-based venture capital and private equity firm founded by Don Thompson, former President and CEO of McDonald's Corporation, focused on food, beverage, and restaurant investments across the consumer, food technology, and quick-service restaurant sectors. Thompson led McDonald's from 2012 to 2015 and brings direct experience scaling one of the world's largest consumer food businesses, operational expertise in franchise models, supply chain management, and consumer brand marketing. Cleveland Avenue invests across seed through Series B stages with checks from $2 million to $10 million, focusing on better-for-you food and beverage brands, food technology companies, restaurant businesses, and the ecosystem of technology and services supporting the modern food industry. The firm has particular strength in leveraging Thompson's relationships across the US quick-service restaurant industry, grocery retail, consumer packaged goods, and food distribution. Portfolio companies noted in the original directory include Arby's, Corner Bakery, Jamba Juice, and Potbelly, which are established quick-service restaurant brands suggesting Cleveland Avenue's activity spans growth equity in established food businesses as well as earlier-stage investments. Beyond these portfolio companies, Cleveland Avenue has backed companies across food technology, plant-based foods, and restaurant innovation.