Mood Restaurant & Bar wins JSE Venture Capital Pitch Room 2026
Mood Restaurant & Bar, led by Matthew Francis, won the JSE Venture Capital Pitch Room 2026, securing a $500,000 prize.Summary
Matthew Francis’s Mood Restaurant & Bar was named the winner of the 2026 JSE Venture Capital Pitch Room competition, receiving a $500,000 prize. Francis’s entrepreneurial journey began at The University of the West Indies, where he left his economics studies to start a candy company that quickly failed. He gained experience in construction, facilities management, and hospitality before completing his degree in hospitality and facilities management.
Mood Restaurant & Bar, located in Golden Spring, St Andrew, will open in March, taking over the Kingston Reggae Garden restaurant’s three-acre property. The restaurant, operating under Four Fran Enterprise, will be a brunch-themed, casual dining establishment with 100 seats, focusing on creating a specific “mood” – serenity, thrill, happiness, togetherness, and celebration – through its ambience and social media appeal.
Targeting 25- to 45-year-olds and families, Mood projects an average cheque size of $3,500 and annual revenue of $42.5 million, leveraging farm-to-table sourcing, events, and significant digital marketing investment (45% of revenue). Francis’s success demonstrates resilience and the potential for growth after setbacks, positioning Mood Restaurant & Bar for a promising launch.
(Source：Jamaica Gleaner)
