Cleveland Avenue

Cleveland Avenue is a venture capital firm based in Chicago, founded in 2015. The firm makes investments across seed, early, later, and growth stages, with a focus on food and beverage companies, lifestyle consumer brands, AgTech, and technology businesses. It provides capital and strategic support to startups seeking to scale product offerings, expand into new markets, and build operational capabilities. As an investment adviser, Cleveland Avenue combines financial backing with hands-on guidance to help portfolio companies achieve long-term growth.

Matthew Wellington Burns

Senior Associate, Investments

Fernando Carranza

Senior Associate

Harry Coaxum

Managing Partner

Walker Cullinan

Investment Analyst

Fabian Gosselin

Investor

Past deals in Beverages

Somrus

Series C in 2023
Somrus is a producer of cream liqueurs that combines distilled rum, dairy cream, and natural flavors to create a diverse range of products. The company offers various flavors, including bourbon chai, raspberry mango cooler, urban bourbon lift, iced dirty chai latte, mango fizz, chairish toast, mango bean, and mango colada. Somrus aims to provide consumers with high-quality liqueurs crafted from natural recipes, ensuring a rich taste experience while maintaining affordability. Through its innovative approach to flavor and product development, Somrus seeks to enhance enjoyment without compromising on quality.

Zerocater

Series C in 2023
Zerocater, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that operates a subscription-based and on-demand food ordering platform, specifically designed for businesses and their employees. Founded in 2009, Zerocater delivers personalized and diet-specific meals from independent restaurants, caterers, food trucks, and private chefs. The service caters to various occasions, including meetings, parties, and celebrations, offering a range of menu options such as breakfast, lunch, happy hour, desserts, and even craft beverages. The company serves clients in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Austin, Texas, and focuses on enhancing workplace culture by providing convenient and diverse food solutions that foster employee engagement and collaboration.

Sustainable Beverage Technologies

Series C in 2022
Sustainable Beverage Technologies Inc. is a Colorado-based company specializing in the production of beer and soda concentrates. The company utilizes its patented BrewVo brewing process to create carbonated beverages and wine products, which can be easily mixed with water and carbon dioxide for convenient consumption. This innovative approach is particularly designed for hikers and adventurers, allowing them to enjoy flavorful beer while on the go. Founded in 2010, Sustainable Beverage Technologies, previously known as Pat's Backcountry Beverages, also operates an online store selling branded merchandise such as water bottles, hats, and apparel. The company is committed to enhancing efficiencies in brewing and distribution, positioning itself as a unique player in the beverage industry.

Bright Cellars

Series B in 2022
Bright Cellars Inc. is an online wine club that specializes in delivering personalized wine selections to its members through a monthly subscription model. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company utilizes a machine-learning algorithm that analyzes user responses from a questionnaire to recommend wines tailored to individual tastes. This approach not only helps new wine drinkers explore and refine their preferences but also creates an educational experience around wine appreciation. Bright Cellars allows users to receive curated wine deliveries at their doorstep each month and offers options for gifting selections to others. The company aims to inspire a new generation of wine enthusiasts by providing a transformative and personalized experience.

Somrus

Convertible Note in 2022
Somrus is a producer of cream liqueurs that combines distilled rum, dairy cream, and natural flavors to create a diverse range of products. The company offers various flavors, including bourbon chai, raspberry mango cooler, urban bourbon lift, iced dirty chai latte, mango fizz, chairish toast, mango bean, and mango colada. Somrus aims to provide consumers with high-quality liqueurs crafted from natural recipes, ensuring a rich taste experience while maintaining affordability. Through its innovative approach to flavor and product development, Somrus seeks to enhance enjoyment without compromising on quality.

Somrus

Series C in 2022
Somrus is a producer of cream liqueurs that combines distilled rum, dairy cream, and natural flavors to create a diverse range of products. The company offers various flavors, including bourbon chai, raspberry mango cooler, urban bourbon lift, iced dirty chai latte, mango fizz, chairish toast, mango bean, and mango colada. Somrus aims to provide consumers with high-quality liqueurs crafted from natural recipes, ensuring a rich taste experience while maintaining affordability. Through its innovative approach to flavor and product development, Somrus seeks to enhance enjoyment without compromising on quality.

Red Bay Coffee

Venture Round in 2022
Red Bay Coffee Company LLC, founded in 2014 and based in Oakland, California, is a coffee roasting company committed to quality and sustainability in the specialty coffee industry. The company offers a diverse range of whole-bean and specialty coffee products, which are meticulously sourced and roasted to ensure high standards. In addition to its coffee offerings, Red Bay provides coffee catering programs for events and sells merchandise, including T-shirts and gifts, through its online platform. Founded by Keba Konte, an artist and food entrepreneur, Red Bay Coffee is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion within the coffee sector. The company strives to empower historically marginalized communities, including people of color, the formerly incarcerated, women, and individuals with disabilities, by creating job opportunities and promoting social and economic restoration through its operations.

Apologue

Convertible Note in 2022
Founded in Chicago in 2016, Apologue produces and markets premium liqueur drinks crafted from entirely natural, non-GMO ingredients. Each expression features a unique regional ingredient, resulting in delicious, adventurous, and versatile liqueurs that cater to discerning consumers seeking natural cocktail options.

Ten To One Rum

Series A in 2022
Ten to One Rum is a wine company that builds a brand grounded in authentic elements of culture and heritage with a narrative that is both compelling and contemporary. They provide white and dark oak ex-bourbon cask rums.

Bright Cellars

Series B in 2021
Bright Cellars Inc. is an online wine club that specializes in delivering personalized wine selections to its members through a monthly subscription model. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company utilizes a machine-learning algorithm that analyzes user responses from a questionnaire to recommend wines tailored to individual tastes. This approach not only helps new wine drinkers explore and refine their preferences but also creates an educational experience around wine appreciation. Bright Cellars allows users to receive curated wine deliveries at their doorstep each month and offers options for gifting selections to others. The company aims to inspire a new generation of wine enthusiasts by providing a transformative and personalized experience.

Sustainable Beverage Technologies

Venture Round in 2021
Sustainable Beverage Technologies Inc. is a Colorado-based company specializing in the production of beer and soda concentrates. The company utilizes its patented BrewVo brewing process to create carbonated beverages and wine products, which can be easily mixed with water and carbon dioxide for convenient consumption. This innovative approach is particularly designed for hikers and adventurers, allowing them to enjoy flavorful beer while on the go. Founded in 2010, Sustainable Beverage Technologies, previously known as Pat's Backcountry Beverages, also operates an online store selling branded merchandise such as water bottles, hats, and apparel. The company is committed to enhancing efficiencies in brewing and distribution, positioning itself as a unique player in the beverage industry.

Bartesian

Series A in 2021
Bartesian Inc. is a manufacturer of a cocktail-making machine that enables customers to create customized, bar-quality cocktails at home using a capsule-based system. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company offers a robotic bartender that utilizes pre-mixed ingredient pods, allowing users to prepare a variety of cocktails, such as martinis and cosmos, at the press of a button. The machine combines alcohol, juices, bitters, and water from specialty pods, ensuring a seamless and authentic cocktail experience. Formerly known as MaxMixology Inc., the company adopted its current name in January 2015.

Red Bay Coffee

Convertible Note in 2020
Red Bay Coffee Company LLC, founded in 2014 and based in Oakland, California, is a coffee roasting company committed to quality and sustainability in the specialty coffee industry. The company offers a diverse range of whole-bean and specialty coffee products, which are meticulously sourced and roasted to ensure high standards. In addition to its coffee offerings, Red Bay provides coffee catering programs for events and sells merchandise, including T-shirts and gifts, through its online platform. Founded by Keba Konte, an artist and food entrepreneur, Red Bay Coffee is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion within the coffee sector. The company strives to empower historically marginalized communities, including people of color, the formerly incarcerated, women, and individuals with disabilities, by creating job opportunities and promoting social and economic restoration through its operations.

Sustainable Beverage Technologies

Venture Round in 2020
Sustainable Beverage Technologies Inc. is a Colorado-based company specializing in the production of beer and soda concentrates. The company utilizes its patented BrewVo brewing process to create carbonated beverages and wine products, which can be easily mixed with water and carbon dioxide for convenient consumption. This innovative approach is particularly designed for hikers and adventurers, allowing them to enjoy flavorful beer while on the go. Founded in 2010, Sustainable Beverage Technologies, previously known as Pat's Backcountry Beverages, also operates an online store selling branded merchandise such as water bottles, hats, and apparel. The company is committed to enhancing efficiencies in brewing and distribution, positioning itself as a unique player in the beverage industry.

Bartesian

Convertible Note in 2020
Bartesian Inc. is a manufacturer of a cocktail-making machine that enables customers to create customized, bar-quality cocktails at home using a capsule-based system. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company offers a robotic bartender that utilizes pre-mixed ingredient pods, allowing users to prepare a variety of cocktails, such as martinis and cosmos, at the press of a button. The machine combines alcohol, juices, bitters, and water from specialty pods, ensuring a seamless and authentic cocktail experience. Formerly known as MaxMixology Inc., the company adopted its current name in January 2015.

Bright Cellars

Series A in 2020
Bright Cellars Inc. is an online wine club that specializes in delivering personalized wine selections to its members through a monthly subscription model. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company utilizes a machine-learning algorithm that analyzes user responses from a questionnaire to recommend wines tailored to individual tastes. This approach not only helps new wine drinkers explore and refine their preferences but also creates an educational experience around wine appreciation. Bright Cellars allows users to receive curated wine deliveries at their doorstep each month and offers options for gifting selections to others. The company aims to inspire a new generation of wine enthusiasts by providing a transformative and personalized experience.

Somrus

Convertible Note in 2020
Somrus is a producer of cream liqueurs that combines distilled rum, dairy cream, and natural flavors to create a diverse range of products. The company offers various flavors, including bourbon chai, raspberry mango cooler, urban bourbon lift, iced dirty chai latte, mango fizz, chairish toast, mango bean, and mango colada. Somrus aims to provide consumers with high-quality liqueurs crafted from natural recipes, ensuring a rich taste experience while maintaining affordability. Through its innovative approach to flavor and product development, Somrus seeks to enhance enjoyment without compromising on quality.

Bartesian

Seed Round in 2019
Bartesian Inc. is a manufacturer of a cocktail-making machine that enables customers to create customized, bar-quality cocktails at home using a capsule-based system. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company offers a robotic bartender that utilizes pre-mixed ingredient pods, allowing users to prepare a variety of cocktails, such as martinis and cosmos, at the press of a button. The machine combines alcohol, juices, bitters, and water from specialty pods, ensuring a seamless and authentic cocktail experience. Formerly known as MaxMixology Inc., the company adopted its current name in January 2015.

Bhakti

Convertible Note in 2019
Bhakti, Inc. is a producer of chai concentrates, iced chai beverages, and dry tea products, with a focus on delivering authentic flavors through sustainably sourced ingredients. Established in 2002 and located in Boulder, Colorado, the company offers a range of products including iced chai available in six varieties, such as Original and Decaf, as well as concentrate products sold in quarts and gallons. Bhakti emphasizes the use of Fair Trade, Non-GMO, and organic ingredients, ensuring a high-quality beverage experience. Its products are widely accessible through various retail channels, including Whole Foods and Costco, as well as online platforms, allowing customers to enjoy both hot and cold tea blends made with real ginger, black tea, and spices. The company is committed to ethical business practices, aligning with B Corp standards to promote sustainability and social responsibility.

Zerocater

Series B in 2019
Zerocater, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that operates a subscription-based and on-demand food ordering platform, specifically designed for businesses and their employees. Founded in 2009, Zerocater delivers personalized and diet-specific meals from independent restaurants, caterers, food trucks, and private chefs. The service caters to various occasions, including meetings, parties, and celebrations, offering a range of menu options such as breakfast, lunch, happy hour, desserts, and even craft beverages. The company serves clients in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Austin, Texas, and focuses on enhancing workplace culture by providing convenient and diverse food solutions that foster employee engagement and collaboration.

Bhakti

Convertible Note in 2019
Bhakti, Inc. is a producer of chai concentrates, iced chai beverages, and dry tea products, with a focus on delivering authentic flavors through sustainably sourced ingredients. Established in 2002 and located in Boulder, Colorado, the company offers a range of products including iced chai available in six varieties, such as Original and Decaf, as well as concentrate products sold in quarts and gallons. Bhakti emphasizes the use of Fair Trade, Non-GMO, and organic ingredients, ensuring a high-quality beverage experience. Its products are widely accessible through various retail channels, including Whole Foods and Costco, as well as online platforms, allowing customers to enjoy both hot and cold tea blends made with real ginger, black tea, and spices. The company is committed to ethical business practices, aligning with B Corp standards to promote sustainability and social responsibility.

Red Bay Coffee

Series A in 2019
Red Bay Coffee Company LLC, founded in 2014 and based in Oakland, California, is a coffee roasting company committed to quality and sustainability in the specialty coffee industry. The company offers a diverse range of whole-bean and specialty coffee products, which are meticulously sourced and roasted to ensure high standards. In addition to its coffee offerings, Red Bay provides coffee catering programs for events and sells merchandise, including T-shirts and gifts, through its online platform. Founded by Keba Konte, an artist and food entrepreneur, Red Bay Coffee is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion within the coffee sector. The company strives to empower historically marginalized communities, including people of color, the formerly incarcerated, women, and individuals with disabilities, by creating job opportunities and promoting social and economic restoration through its operations.

Somrus

Series B in 2018
Somrus is a producer of cream liqueurs that combines distilled rum, dairy cream, and natural flavors to create a diverse range of products. The company offers various flavors, including bourbon chai, raspberry mango cooler, urban bourbon lift, iced dirty chai latte, mango fizz, chairish toast, mango bean, and mango colada. Somrus aims to provide consumers with high-quality liqueurs crafted from natural recipes, ensuring a rich taste experience while maintaining affordability. Through its innovative approach to flavor and product development, Somrus seeks to enhance enjoyment without compromising on quality.

Bright Cellars

Venture Round in 2018
Bright Cellars Inc. is an online wine club that specializes in delivering personalized wine selections to its members through a monthly subscription model. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company utilizes a machine-learning algorithm that analyzes user responses from a questionnaire to recommend wines tailored to individual tastes. This approach not only helps new wine drinkers explore and refine their preferences but also creates an educational experience around wine appreciation. Bright Cellars allows users to receive curated wine deliveries at their doorstep each month and offers options for gifting selections to others. The company aims to inspire a new generation of wine enthusiasts by providing a transformative and personalized experience.

Bright Cellars

Convertible Note in 2018
Bright Cellars Inc. is an online wine club that specializes in delivering personalized wine selections to its members through a monthly subscription model. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company utilizes a machine-learning algorithm that analyzes user responses from a questionnaire to recommend wines tailored to individual tastes. This approach not only helps new wine drinkers explore and refine their preferences but also creates an educational experience around wine appreciation. Bright Cellars allows users to receive curated wine deliveries at their doorstep each month and offers options for gifting selections to others. The company aims to inspire a new generation of wine enthusiasts by providing a transformative and personalized experience.

Zerocater

Series B in 2018
Zerocater, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that operates a subscription-based and on-demand food ordering platform, specifically designed for businesses and their employees. Founded in 2009, Zerocater delivers personalized and diet-specific meals from independent restaurants, caterers, food trucks, and private chefs. The service caters to various occasions, including meetings, parties, and celebrations, offering a range of menu options such as breakfast, lunch, happy hour, desserts, and even craft beverages. The company serves clients in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Austin, Texas, and focuses on enhancing workplace culture by providing convenient and diverse food solutions that foster employee engagement and collaboration.

Craftable

Seed Round in 2018
Craftable is a restaurant management platform designed to enhance operational efficiency within the hospitality industry. Developed by experts in technology and seasoned professionals in hospitality, it provides a comprehensive solution for restaurateurs, operators, and accountants. The platform facilitates ordering and purchasing management, inventory control, and accounting integrations, allowing bars, restaurants, and hotels to streamline operations and improve productivity. Key features include menu engineering, recipe costing, and vendor management, which enable users to monitor costs and maintain profit margins. Craftable is suitable for a range of operators, from independent restaurants to large regional and national chains, and serves notable clients in the hospitality sector, including Hakkasan Restaurants and Kimpton Hotels. The platform is particularly adept at managing complex beverage programs and culinary offerings, thereby driving revenue and optimizing business performance.

Sustainable Beverage Technologies

Series A in 2018
Sustainable Beverage Technologies Inc. is a Colorado-based company specializing in the production of beer and soda concentrates. The company utilizes its patented BrewVo brewing process to create carbonated beverages and wine products, which can be easily mixed with water and carbon dioxide for convenient consumption. This innovative approach is particularly designed for hikers and adventurers, allowing them to enjoy flavorful beer while on the go. Founded in 2010, Sustainable Beverage Technologies, previously known as Pat's Backcountry Beverages, also operates an online store selling branded merchandise such as water bottles, hats, and apparel. The company is committed to enhancing efficiencies in brewing and distribution, positioning itself as a unique player in the beverage industry.

Somrus

Venture Round in 2017
Somrus is a producer of cream liqueurs that combines distilled rum, dairy cream, and natural flavors to create a diverse range of products. The company offers various flavors, including bourbon chai, raspberry mango cooler, urban bourbon lift, iced dirty chai latte, mango fizz, chairish toast, mango bean, and mango colada. Somrus aims to provide consumers with high-quality liqueurs crafted from natural recipes, ensuring a rich taste experience while maintaining affordability. Through its innovative approach to flavor and product development, Somrus seeks to enhance enjoyment without compromising on quality.

Bhakti

Series B in 2017
Bhakti, Inc. is a producer of chai concentrates, iced chai beverages, and dry tea products, with a focus on delivering authentic flavors through sustainably sourced ingredients. Established in 2002 and located in Boulder, Colorado, the company offers a range of products including iced chai available in six varieties, such as Original and Decaf, as well as concentrate products sold in quarts and gallons. Bhakti emphasizes the use of Fair Trade, Non-GMO, and organic ingredients, ensuring a high-quality beverage experience. Its products are widely accessible through various retail channels, including Whole Foods and Costco, as well as online platforms, allowing customers to enjoy both hot and cold tea blends made with real ginger, black tea, and spices. The company is committed to ethical business practices, aligning with B Corp standards to promote sustainability and social responsibility.

Bright Cellars

Convertible Note in 2017
Bright Cellars Inc. is an online wine club that specializes in delivering personalized wine selections to its members through a monthly subscription model. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company utilizes a machine-learning algorithm that analyzes user responses from a questionnaire to recommend wines tailored to individual tastes. This approach not only helps new wine drinkers explore and refine their preferences but also creates an educational experience around wine appreciation. Bright Cellars allows users to receive curated wine deliveries at their doorstep each month and offers options for gifting selections to others. The company aims to inspire a new generation of wine enthusiasts by providing a transformative and personalized experience.

Drink Simple

Venture Round in 2017
Producer of packaged maple water, a natural drinking product derived from the sap of maple trees. It is infused with nutrients, contains naturally occurring electrolytes and prebiotics, has no added sugar, and is gluten- and dairy-free.

Drink Simple

Venture Round in 2015
Producer of packaged maple water, a natural drinking product derived from the sap of maple trees. It is infused with nutrients, contains naturally occurring electrolytes and prebiotics, has no added sugar, and is gluten- and dairy-free.
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