Cleveland Avenue

Name

Cleveland Avenue

Legal name

Cleveland Avenue, LLC

Website

https://clevelandavenue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (52315), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Institutional Capital Introduction (LP/Family Office/Endowment Matching) (FSAEALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

Keywords

• Venture capital services
• Consumer brand investing
• Technology venture investing
• Portfolio support services
• Startup advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns and Carried Interest: As a venture capital firm, Cleveland Avenue generates returns through successful portfolio company exits, realization of carried interest from investment gains, and management fees from managing investment funds.
2. Portfolio Support Services: Provides comprehensive financial solutions, business strategy, organizational development, operational expertise, marketing, supply chain optimization, and strategic resources to portfolio companies in exchange for equity stakes and investment returns.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cleveland Avenue is a global venture capital firm that invests in lifestyle consumer brands and technology companies that positively disrupt large and growing markets. The firm provides financial resources, expertise, and holistic business support to help unlock the value of investments, managing multiple investment funds including the CAST US Fund (focused on minority and women entrepreneurs) and CA Tech Fund (targeting AI, Digital Experience, and Robotics technologies). It supports portfolio companies through services spanning business strategy, financial expertise, organizational development, operational expertise, marketing, supply chain, business insights, and product/concept development.

Product overview

Cleveland Avenue is a global venture capital firm that operates as a single unified investment services platform. The firm provides financial resources, expertise, and holistic business support to invest in lifestyle consumer brands and technology companies. The investment services include various consulting offerings such as Business Strategy, Financial Expertise, Organizational Development, Operational Expertise, Business Insights/Analysis, Marketing, Supply Chain, Product & Experience Showcases, Concept Development, Strategic Resources, and Facilities Management. The firm manages multiple investment funds including CAST US Fund (focused on minority and women entrepreneurs) and CA Tech Fund (targeting AI, Digital Experience, and Robotics technologies). Their portfolio spans across AgriTech, Food & Beverage, Restaurant & Food Tech, Robotics/AI, Software Services, Consumer Goods & Services, and Lifestyles of Health & Sustainability sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cleveland Avenue Venture Capital Services Global venture capital firm providing financial resources, expertise, and holistic business support to invest in lifestyle consumer brands and technology companies that positively disrupt large and growing markets.
• CAST US Fund Investment fund focused on minority and women entrepreneurs and their companies, providing capital, mentorship, and business development support to underrepresented founders.
• CA Tech Fund Technology-focused investment platform targeting disruptive technologies including Artificial Intelligence, Digital Experience, and Robotics in lifestyle-driven industries including Food, Fashion, Home, Work, and Culture & Entertainment.
• Business Strategy Strategic solutions to help businesses navigate uncertainties, capitalize on opportunities, and achieve their strategic objectives.
• Financial Expertise Comprehensive suite of financial solutions for early-stage and growth-oriented businesses, including customized financial strategies, funding requirements, and growth plans.
• Operational Expertise Guidance to enhance productivity, scalability, and overall performance through streamlined processes and customized solutions.
• Marketing Services Effective marketing strategies and campaigns to enhance brand visibility, attract target audiences, and drive revenue growth.
• Supply Chain Services Supply chain strategy development, assessment, optimization, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.
• Product & Experience Showcases Culinary vision development and product showcase services leveraging the firm's 33,000 sq ft innovation facility with showcase restaurant, two test kitchens, and mixology lab for beverage and culinary development.
• Business Insights / Analysis Comprehensive and actionable insights to uncover market trends, identify investment opportunities, and support portfolio companies' growth strategies, leveraging neuroscience technology and dedicated business insights researchers.
• Organizational Development Services to help structure organizations for growth, optimizing internal frameworks, enhancing efficiency, agility, and overall performance.
• Concept Development Identification and nurturing of high-potential concepts, supporting entrepreneurs, and facilitating startup development.
• Strategic Resources Access to third-party resources through strategic partnerships, mentorship programs, and industry collaborations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Portfolio companies benefit from strategic partnerships with category leaders enabled by Cleveland Avenue's industry relationships
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The CAFE Group (Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education)coreOthersThe Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (The CAFE Group) is a related philanthropic organization co-founded by Don and Liz Thompson, committed to supporting and mentoring students and professionals as they progress from the classroom to the boardroom through philanthropy and education support services. The CAFE Group provides financial and programmatic support to Leaders of Color.
• Phoenix Suns/MercuryflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership involving Footprint Center sponsorship activation. Steve Tompos serves as the relationship lead for Cleveland Avenue and Footprint with the Phoenix Suns/Mercury organization. Footprint, Cleveland Avenue's largest investment, has naming rights to the Footprint Center arena.
• Royal Caribbean Cruises LimitedminorOthersDon Thompson serves as a Director on the board of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, representing Cleveland Avenue's investment perspective and governance involvement.
• The Northern Trust CorporationminorOthersDon Thompson serves as a Director on the board of The Northern Trust Corporation, providing governance oversight.
• Northwestern Memorial HealthCareminorOthersDon Thompson serves on the board of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, providing governance oversight.
• BIA (Latin American food company)minorOthersDon Thompson serves as a Director/Alternate Board Member for BIA, a Latin American food company. Joseph McCoy also serves as Alternate Board Member for BIA.
• Lamar Advertising CorporationminorOthersLiz Thompson serves as a Director of Lamar Advertising Corporation.
• Chicago Public Media/WBEZminorOthersLiz Thompson serves as a Director for Chicago Public Media/WBEZ.
• Simon Property GroupminorOthersRandall Lewis serves as a Director for Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG), representing Cleveland Avenue's portfolio governance.
• Flipper's WorldminorOthersJoseph McCoy serves as a Board Member of Flipper's World, a portfolio company.
• BartesianminorOthersJoseph McCoy serves as a Board Member of Bartesian, a portfolio company.
• Redbay CoffeeminorOthersJoseph McCoy serves as a Board Member of Redbay Coffee, a portfolio company.
• BeatclubminorOthersJoseph McCoy serves as a Board Member and Member of the Finance and Audit Committee of Beatclub, a portfolio company.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forerunner Ventures: Early-stage VC firm focused exclusively on consumer brands and commerce. Directly comparable to Cleveland Avenue's lifestyle consumer brand thesis and stage focus.
• Lerer Hippeau: Seed and Series A consumer/tech VC firm investing in lifestyle brands. Comparable stage, sector focus, and hands-on portfolio support model.
• VMG Partners: Consumer brand-focused growth equity firm investing in food, beverage, beauty, and retail. Comparable consumer brand thesis and growth-stage orientation.
• S2G Ventures: Food and agriculture technology VC firm with significant fund size and food-tech portfolio overlap. Directly comparable given Cleveland Avenue's Beyond Meat and Better Foods investments.
• Obvious Ventures: Mission-driven VC firm investing in purpose-oriented companies across food, health, and sustainability. Similar values-driven thesis and portfolio construction approach.
• PowerPlant Ventures: Plant-based and sustainable food VC firm. Directly comparable given Cleveland Avenue's plant-based portfolio (Beyond Meat, Better Foods).
• Kapor Capital: Impact-focused VC firm investing in underrepresented founders with tech-enabled solutions. Comparable through Cleveland Avenue's CAST US Fund and impact thesis.

Regional players

• gener8tor: Midwest-based VC accelerator with strong Chicago ties. Comparable in geographic focus and stage, though primarily accelerator-driven versus Cleveland Avenue's direct investing.

Emerging players

• Illuminate Ventures: Enterprise tech VC firm with diversity-focused fund strategy. Comparable through CAST US Fund's diversity thesis, though tech rather than consumer focused.

Broad incumbents

• Revolution Ventures: Stewart Butterfield's broader venture platform with consumer brand and tech investments. Larger and more diversified but overlapping in consumer thesis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CleveAveLLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleveland-avenue
• Instagraminstagram.com/cleveavellc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments139 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleveland Avenue