Enlightened Hospitality Investments

Enlightened Hospitality Investments is the strategic investment platform of Union Square Hospitality Group, led by Danny Meyer. Based in New York, it focuses on growth investments in hospitality and technology, leveraging Union Square Hospitality Group's resources to identify opportunities both inside the group's portfolio and in outside ventures. Founded in 2016, the firm operates as a growth/expansion firm that targets information technology, restaurants, hotels, and leisure sectors, making investments typically in the tens of millions of dollars.

Aaron Chan

CFO

Johnny Hagan

Senior Investment Associate

Mark Leavitt

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Perry Leavitt

Vice President

Pete Mavrovitis

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Linda Meliani

Senior Investment Associate

Danny Meyer

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Danny Meyer

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Paulina Orillac

Vice President

Theo Ressler

Investment Associate

Harry Seherr-Thoss

Partner

18 past transactions

Oats Overnight

Series B in 2024
Oats Overnight is a manufacturer of oatmeal-based breakfast options designed for convenient, overnight preparation. It offers spoon-free, high-protein oatmeal cups made with certified gluten-free oats and boosts them with superfoods such as maca root, raw cacao, hemp, and coffee, along with real fruit, nuts, and seeds to deliver nutritious, tasty breakfasts. The lineup emphasizes easy preparation and reliable nutrition for a quick, healthy start to the day.

Chip City Cookies

Series B in 2024
Chip City Cookies specializes in gourmet cookies, offering over 40 varieties daily. Their signature cookie is a warm, 5.5-ounce treat.

Five Iron Golf

Private Equity Round in 2024
Five Iron Golf is an indoor golf facility founded in 2015 and based in New York City. It has transformed Manhattan's golf culture with its innovative approach, expanding from its original Midtown location to multiple venues. The company caters to both professionals and sports enthusiasts, offering a range of amenities, including state-of-the-art full swing and Trackman simulators, experienced teaching professionals, a full bar, and a chef-inspired menu. Additionally, Five Iron Golf provides versatile event spaces, creating an inclusive and accessible urban golf experience for its customers.

Culture POP Soda

Venture Round in 2024
Culture POP Soda is a probiotic drink made with real organic fruit juice and organic spices.

Qu

Venture Round in 2023
Qu is a leading digital-first platform designed specifically for the restaurant industry. It simplifies complex multi-channel and menu ecosystems by offering an intuitive cloud-based system that caters to operators, franchisees, employees, and guests.

Chip City Cookies

Venture Round in 2022
Chip City Cookies specializes in gourmet cookies, offering over 40 varieties daily. Their signature cookie is a warm, 5.5-ounce treat.

ConverseNow

Venture Round in 2022
ConverseNow Technologies, Inc., established in 2018 with headquarters in Austin, Texas, specializes in developing AI-powered virtual ordering assistants for quick service restaurants (QSRs). The company's core business involves automating and personalizing restaurant orders across high-volume voice channels like phone, drive-thru, self-service kiosks, voice assistants, and chat. By deploying its advanced voice AI technology, ConverseNow helps QSRs enhance operational efficiency, reduce customer wait times, overcome labor shortages, and ultimately boost same-store sales and average tickets while providing additional labor hours per store each month.

7shifts

Series C in 2022
7shifts is a comprehensive team management platform specifically designed for the restaurant industry. The company offers a suite of tools that assist restaurateurs in making informed decisions, enhancing team retention, and streamlining operations. Its software automates employee scheduling, enabling restaurant managers to efficiently manage work hours and utilize detailed analytics to optimize workforce performance. By improving employee engagement and facilitating communication, 7shifts replaces the need for last-minute phone calls and shift swaps, ultimately helping to reduce labor costs. Trusted by over 40,000 restaurants and one million professionals in the sector, 7shifts serves both front-of-house and back-of-house teams, positioning itself as a vital resource for restaurant management.

PreciTaste

Series A in 2022
PreciTaste is a pioneering AI-driven kitchen management software company serving the foodservice industry. With over 2,500 AI systems deployed, they optimize operations by predicting demand, guiding crews to prep precise amounts of food, and automating cooking processes using proprietary deep tech and computer vision. Their suite of products aims to enhance productivity, reduce food waste, and improve labor efficiency.

Tacombi

Venture Round in 2021
Tacombi is a food and beverage brand and restaurant operator focused on Mexican cuisine and related beverages. It began in 2010 with a taqueria in a downtown New York garage and has since built a network of neighborhood taquerias in New York, Washington, DC, and Miami. The company develops Vista Hermosa tortilla products to preserve and share authentic Mexican flavors, with these products sold in stores across the United States. Its menu features tacos, quesadillas, burritos, aguas frescas, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, cocktails and juices, offering a single destination for varied Mexican-inspired foods and drinks.

NotCo

Series D in 2021
Founded in 2015, NotCo specializes in developing plant-based alternatives to animal-derived products such as mayonnaise, milk, yogurt, dressings, and desserts. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the company creates food systems that mimic the taste and functionality of their animal-based counterparts.

NotCo

Venture Round in 2021
Founded in 2015, NotCo specializes in developing plant-based alternatives to animal-derived products such as mayonnaise, milk, yogurt, dressings, and desserts. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the company creates food systems that mimic the taste and functionality of their animal-based counterparts.

7shifts

Series B in 2021
7shifts is a comprehensive team management platform specifically designed for the restaurant industry. The company offers a suite of tools that assist restaurateurs in making informed decisions, enhancing team retention, and streamlining operations. Its software automates employee scheduling, enabling restaurant managers to efficiently manage work hours and utilize detailed analytics to optimize workforce performance. By improving employee engagement and facilitating communication, 7shifts replaces the need for last-minute phone calls and shift swaps, ultimately helping to reduce labor costs. Trusted by over 40,000 restaurants and one million professionals in the sector, 7shifts serves both front-of-house and back-of-house teams, positioning itself as a vital resource for restaurant management.

CLEAR

Venture Round in 2021
CLEAR, the secure identity company, uses biometrics to build a connected world that’s smarter and more secure. It links identity with different information sets, including credit cards, tickets to the game, reservations, frequent flyer numbers, flight manifests, health care identification, driver's licenses, and passports. CLEAR's data security framework meets the highest standards for performance and for protecting sensitive information — FISMA High- and SAFETY Act-certified by the Department of Homeland Security. CLEAR's users are always in control of their data and do not sell user information. CLEAR was founded by Caryn Seidman-Becker and Ken Cornick in November 2010 and is based in New York, United States.

Banza

Series B in 2019
Banza LLC is a food manufacturer based in Detroit, Michigan, specializing in chickpea-based pasta products. Founded in 2014, the company offers a variety of pasta shapes, including penne, rotini, shells, and elbows, all designed to provide nutritious alternatives to traditional pasta. Banza's mission is to make healthy food more accessible, and its products are enriched with protein and fiber, catering to consumers seeking delicious comfort food without compromising on health. The brand has gained significant recognition, being available in approximately 8,000 retail locations across the United States, including major stores like Target, Kroger, and Whole Foods. Banza has received endorsements from prominent media outlets, highlighting its innovation and contribution to the food industry.

Tripleseat Software

Venture Round in 2019
Tripleseat Software develops cloud- and mobile-based sales and event management software for owners and operators of restaurants, hotels, banquet facilities, and catering operations. The platform manages private dining, banquets, catered events, weddings, corporate meetings, and other celebrations, guiding the process from inquiry to day-of execution. It provides features such as instant lead alerts, e-signatures, online payments, synced calendars, and automatic exporting to streamline event sales and coordination for mid-market venues. The software helps venues grow their events business by replacing manual processes and improving revenue from events. Tripleseat was founded in 2008 and is based in Concord, Massachusetts.

Dig Inn

Venture Round in 2019
DIG operates a restaurant chain focused on providing fresh, locally sourced meals. With an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, the restaurants offer organic dishes prepared from scratch using vegetables, whole grains, and naturally-raised meats. The company collaborates closely with trusted farmers and producers to ensure high-quality ingredients. Customers can enjoy healthy, expertly crafted meals at an affordable average price, with the convenience of online ordering and direct table service.

Goldbelly

Series B in 2018
Goldbelly is an online platform connecting specialty food makers and artisans with consumers nationwide. It offers a marketplace for iconic regional foods, facilitating ordering and doorstep delivery, helping small businesses expand their reach and increase revenue.
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