Cleveland Avenue

Cleveland Avenue is a venture capital investment firm based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in seed ventures, early-stage investments, and private equity deals, primarily focusing on emerging restaurants, beverages, lifestyle consumer brands, agTech, and technologies for the foodservice and hospitality sectors. Cleveland Avenue leverages its extensive resources and expertise to support innovative companies and their founders, aiming to foster growth and success in the food and beverage industry. As a Registered Investment Adviser, the firm is committed to making impactful investments that align with its strategic vision.

Matthew Wellington Burns

Senior Associate, Investments

Harry Coaxum

Managing Partner, Operations

Walker Cullinan

Investment Analyst

Ellen Federbush

Project Manager, Office of the CEO

Mingu Lee

Managing Partner, Technology Investments

Jason Mercer

Principal

Wayne Moore

Investor

Fabian Gosselin Paliza

Senior Associate Investments Team

Veronica Pierce

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Don Thompson

CEO and Founder

Ryan Tlusty

CFO

Robert Wietecki

Senior Associate, Investments

Taylor Williams

Senior Associate

Andrea Zopp

Managing Partner

Past deals in Nutrition

Hero Bread

Series B in 2023
Hero Bread is a food product company based in San Francisco that focuses on creating nutritious baked alternatives. The company offers a range of products, including bread, muffins, tortillas, and other bakery items, all designed to be low in calories, sugar-free, and with zero net carbohydrates. By prioritizing taste and health, Hero Bread aims to provide consumers with the freedom to enjoy their favorite foods without the associated guilt, making it easier for individuals to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Partake Foods

Series B in 2022
Partake Foods, Inc. is a food company that specializes in producing allergy-friendly cookies. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, the company offers a range of products that are nut-free, gluten-free, vegan, and free from the top 12 allergens, catering to families seeking safe and tasty snack options. The product lineup includes various flavors such as sprouted grain chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, sweet potato millet, carrot oat, and birthday cake mini cookies. Partake Foods sells its products online, allowing customers to enjoy healthy snacks conveniently.

Hero Bread

Series A in 2021
Hero Bread is a food product company based in San Francisco that focuses on creating nutritious baked alternatives. The company offers a range of products, including bread, muffins, tortillas, and other bakery items, all designed to be low in calories, sugar-free, and with zero net carbohydrates. By prioritizing taste and health, Hero Bread aims to provide consumers with the freedom to enjoy their favorite foods without the associated guilt, making it easier for individuals to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Every Body Eat

Grant in 2021
Every Body Eat provides clean, gluten-free, plant-based, delicious snacks. Every Body Eat's products include cheese-less, sea salt chia, chive and garlic, fiery chile lime, snack thins variety packs, craver pack, crispbreads, sea salt, tart cherry, white pepper and garlic, and crispbread variety packs. They also provide e-commerce services. Every Body Eat's snacks are flavorful, crave-able, and enjoyable to share with family and friends - regardless of most dietary restrictions or preferences.

Nuritas

Series B in 2021
Nuritas, Ltd. is a biotechnology company based in Dublin, Ireland, that specializes in the discovery of bioactive peptides from food sources. Established in 2012, the company employs a unique approach that integrates artificial intelligence and genomics to rapidly identify and unlock natural peptides with health benefits. By focusing on nutritional bioinformatics, Nuritas combines computational biology with nutritional science to mine therapeutic peptides, enabling the development of functional food, beverages, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. Its innovative technology not only discovers new bioactive ingredients but also collaborates with food and ingredient companies to co-develop sustainable products. Through its work, Nuritas aims to enhance human and animal health while promoting a more sustainable food system.

Farmer's Fridge

Convertible Note in 2018
Farmer’s Fridge provides an automated smart fridge that serves salads, bowls, snacks, and more. Its unpurchased items are regularly donated to local food pantries, providing responsibly sourced nutrition to community members in need. The company is driven by a mission to make it simple for everyone to eat well. Founder Luke Saunders was frustrated with the lack of healthy, affordable options available on the road so he worked with the best in the business to create a user-friendly smart Fridge that puts chef-curated meals in your hands, in seconds. It was founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Beyond Meat

Series H in 2018
Beyond Meat, Inc. is a food company that specializes in the production and sale of plant-based meat alternatives, providing consumers with options that mimic the taste and texture of traditional animal-based products. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in El Segundo, California, the company offers a diverse range of products, including burgers, sausages, ground beef, jerky, meatballs, and chicken. Beyond Meat's offerings are designed to address key global challenges such as human health, climate change, resource constraints, and animal welfare. The products are made using simple, non-GMO ingredients and provide comparable or superior protein levels to animal meat, while being free from cholesterol, antibiotics, and hormones. The company distributes its products through various channels, including grocery stores, mass merchandisers, restaurants, and foodservice outlets, both domestically and internationally. Beyond Meat was previously known as Savage River, Inc. before rebranding in September 2018.

Farmer's Fridge

Series C in 2018
Farmer’s Fridge provides an automated smart fridge that serves salads, bowls, snacks, and more. Its unpurchased items are regularly donated to local food pantries, providing responsibly sourced nutrition to community members in need. The company is driven by a mission to make it simple for everyone to eat well. Founder Luke Saunders was frustrated with the lack of healthy, affordable options available on the road so he worked with the best in the business to create a user-friendly smart Fridge that puts chef-curated meals in your hands, in seconds. It was founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Beyond Meat

Series G in 2017
Beyond Meat, Inc. is a food company that specializes in the production and sale of plant-based meat alternatives, providing consumers with options that mimic the taste and texture of traditional animal-based products. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in El Segundo, California, the company offers a diverse range of products, including burgers, sausages, ground beef, jerky, meatballs, and chicken. Beyond Meat's offerings are designed to address key global challenges such as human health, climate change, resource constraints, and animal welfare. The products are made using simple, non-GMO ingredients and provide comparable or superior protein levels to animal meat, while being free from cholesterol, antibiotics, and hormones. The company distributes its products through various channels, including grocery stores, mass merchandisers, restaurants, and foodservice outlets, both domestically and internationally. Beyond Meat was previously known as Savage River, Inc. before rebranding in September 2018.

Farmer's Fridge

Series B in 2017
Farmer’s Fridge provides an automated smart fridge that serves salads, bowls, snacks, and more. Its unpurchased items are regularly donated to local food pantries, providing responsibly sourced nutrition to community members in need. The company is driven by a mission to make it simple for everyone to eat well. Founder Luke Saunders was frustrated with the lack of healthy, affordable options available on the road so he worked with the best in the business to create a user-friendly smart Fridge that puts chef-curated meals in your hands, in seconds. It was founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Drink Simple

Venture Round in 2017
Maple water is pure sap from the maple trees. It's a common misconception that all sap is sticky. Maple sap actually looks and feels just like regular water. The main difference is that maple water goes through a natural process that infuses it with nutrients. In early spring, maple trees pull water from the ground and filter it through their roots. This water collects nutrients stored in the tree all winter and provides hydration and nourishment that enable the tree’s growth and rejuvenation in the spring renewal season.

Beyond Meat

Series F in 2016
Beyond Meat, Inc. is a food company that specializes in the production and sale of plant-based meat alternatives, providing consumers with options that mimic the taste and texture of traditional animal-based products. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in El Segundo, California, the company offers a diverse range of products, including burgers, sausages, ground beef, jerky, meatballs, and chicken. Beyond Meat's offerings are designed to address key global challenges such as human health, climate change, resource constraints, and animal welfare. The products are made using simple, non-GMO ingredients and provide comparable or superior protein levels to animal meat, while being free from cholesterol, antibiotics, and hormones. The company distributes its products through various channels, including grocery stores, mass merchandisers, restaurants, and foodservice outlets, both domestically and internationally. Beyond Meat was previously known as Savage River, Inc. before rebranding in September 2018.
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