Don Thompson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Avenue. See sector focus and contact routes.
Don Thompson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Avenue, a Chicago-based venture capital firm he co-founded in 2015 with his wife Liz Thompson, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience from his prior role as President and CEO of McDonald’s Corporation [2][3]. The firm’s investment thesis targets early-stage and growth-oriented lifestyle consumer brands and technology companies that transform large, dynamic markets, with a strong geographic focus on Chicago and an industry emphasis on food, beverage, and restaurant concepts [3][9]. Cleveland Avenue has invested between $100 million and $500 million through two funds, with a newer $70 million industry-agnostic fund (CAST US) dedicated to minority entrepreneurs from Chicago’s South and West sides [6]. Notable portfolio companies include Beyond Meat, Farmer’s Fridge, Red Bay Coffee, and Bartesian, a Chicago-based maker of home cocktail machines [6]. Thompson leads the firm’s $70 million initiative to fund Black, Hispanic, and female entrepreneurs traditionally overlooked by venture capital, reflecting a distinctive point of view centered on inclusive economic growth [6]. He currently serves on the boards of R
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