Clementine's Ice Cream Lands $6M to Build a National Franchise Empire

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – March 12, 2026 – Clementine’s Ice Cream, the St. Louis-based micro creamery with a devoted regional following, is set for a national debut after securing a $6 million investment round led by Next Phase Capital. The funding marks a pivotal moment for the brand, celebrated for its chef-driven flavors and artisanal quality, as it prepares to transition from a local favorite into a nationwide franchise powerhouse.

The strategic investment unites two formidable female founders: Tamara Keefe, the visionary behind Clementine’s, and Shelly Sun Berkowitz, the founder of Next Phase Capital and the franchising authority who built BrightStar Care into a $750 million national healthcare company. The capital infusion is designed to accelerate Clementine's national franchising strategy, which is slated to launch in the second quarter of 2026.

A Partnership Forged in Franchising Expertise

The collaboration between Keefe and Berkowitz is more than a financial transaction; it represents a strategic alignment of vision and experience. Berkowitz, who grew BrightStar Care to over 400 locations, brings a deep well of knowledge in scaling franchise systems, a critical component for Clementine's ambitious growth plans.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Tamara and invest in Clementine’s, what I truly believe is the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted,” said Berkowitz. “What inspires me most about her is the determination to build something that didn’t exist but was so clearly needed. I see a lot of my own journey in hers, and I’m proud to support another female entrepreneur who is creating opportunity, giving back to her community, and changing lives along the way.”

This partnership underscores a growing trend of successful female entrepreneurs reinvesting their capital and expertise to support the next generation of women-led businesses. The introduction itself came through another female founder in Berkowitz’s portfolio, Kristen Denzer of Tierra Encantada, who also invested in Clementine's. This network of support is crucial in an environment where women founders historically face significant hurdles in securing capital.

Overcoming Barriers to Build a Sweeter Future

For a decade, Tamara Keefe built Clementine’s through sheer grit and self-funding. After leaving a corporate marketing career, she poured her life savings into her passion project, growing it from a single shop with lines stretching around the block into a regional chain of 11 parlors. Every dollar of profit was reinvested into the business, eventually funding a 25,000-square-foot, FDA-certified production facility with the capacity to support dozens of stores.

However, Keefe’s journey was not without obstacles. She has spoken of “frustrating and discriminatory experiences with traditional banking,” a story that resonates with many female entrepreneurs. Studies consistently show a stark gender gap in business funding, with all-female founding teams receiving less than 2% of all venture capital. Keefe’s decision to seek strategic partners who shared her values led her to Berkowitz, whose belief in mission-driven businesses provided the perfect alignment.

“I believe the world truly needs our ice cream,” said Keefe. “Shelly’s support, alongside the backing of our incredible group of investors, is especially meaningful. Not only does this investment open the door to extraordinary growth possibilities for Clementine’s, but it also comes from people who understand the founder’s journey and believe deeply in our mission to give back to the communities we serve and create living-wage jobs for people who might not otherwise have access to them.”

The Micro Creamery Revolution Goes National

In a crowded premium dessert market, Clementine’s has distinguished itself through an uncompromising commitment to quality. It is one of only a handful of “micro creameries” in the United States, a designation that requires adherence to strict production standards. Its ice creams contain over 16% butterfat, significantly higher than most competitors, and less than 30% overrun—the amount of air whipped into the product. This results in a richer, denser, and more intensely flavored ice cream.

All recipes are all-natural, free from artificial flavors and colors, with every inclusion, from gooey butter cake chunks to brownie bites, made from scratch in their own facility. This dedication to craft has earned the brand national acclaim, including a spot on Oprah Magazine’s “O List” for its Gooey Butter Cake flavor. The company has also been a leader in innovation, pioneering a proprietary process for its popular alcohol-infused “naughty” flavors and becoming one of the first to launch a full line of dairy-free options at scale.

As competitors like Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Salt & Straw also expand their national footprints, Clementine’s strategy hinges on proving that its artisanal, small-batch quality can be maintained and scaled effectively across a wide-reaching franchise network.

A Superior Model for Franchising

The $6 million investment will directly fund a franchise model designed to be as premium as the ice cream itself. Rather than simply selling a brand name, Clementine’s plans to leverage its 25,000-square-foot production facility to create a vertically integrated supply chain. This control over production ensures quality and consistency across all future locations.

Critically, the company plans to share part of the co-pack margin with its franchisees. This innovative financial structure is intended to lower operational complexity and costs for franchise owners, potentially leading to a faster path to profitability and making the investment more attractive than competing franchise opportunities. By providing pre-made, high-quality bases and inclusions, franchisees can focus on customer experience and local marketing rather than complex in-store production.

This founder-friendly approach, guided by Berkowitz’s experience, aims to disrupt the standard food franchise playbook by creating a true partnership model. The company will also use the funds to expand its grocery and e-commerce footprint and further invest in production efficiencies. With a proven product, a powerful partnership, and a disruptive business plan, Clementine’s is poised to bring its unique brand of joy to neighborhoods across the country.