Enlightened Hospitality Investments is the growth fund founded by restaurateur Danny Meyer (Union Square Hospitality Group, Shake Shack), investing minority stakes in hospitality and food brands it wants to help scale. Its style is hands-on operational support with founders staying in charge.
3 companies on Ferret
Joe Coffee Company
Coffee · 24+ locations — Joe Coffee is New York's hometown roaster, founder-run for more than 20 years. Danny Meyer's hospitality fund holds a minority stake, and 80% of its beans come from certified producers.
Dig Inn
Dining · 38+ locations — Dig Inn owns its own 20-acre farm, one of the most credible sourcing operations in fast casual. Ownership is a different story: it carries $132M in venture backing, Danny Meyer among the investors, and a founder who stepped back to chairman.
Salt & Straw
Dining · 57+ locations — Private equity firm KarpReilly and Danny Meyer's growth-equity fund have backed Salt & Straw since 2017, joined by Dwayne Johnson two years later. Co-founders Kim and Tyler Malek still run the small-batch ice cream chain day to day, but are now exploring an outright sale reportedly worth more than $200 million.
Firm data last updated August 2026