Fast Five Friday: How Blank Street Cracked the Code

Hey

Welcome to Bankrolling Tomorrow, your no BS guide to capital raise stories.

If you've read Tuesday's deep dive into Blank Street's business empire, you know it was a beast - packed with insights. But if you didn't, I appreciate that it's been a busy week.

So instead of letting those lessons sit unread in your inbox, I'm pulling out the gold for you.

Now, just because I have recently shifted to decaf coffee, doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two about coffee. I would say I have quite a refined palate if anything.

But more important than coffee, I know businesses, and capital raises. Blank Street didn't just build a coffee empire - they orchestrated one of the smartest funding strategies I've seen, turning a simple coffee concept into a $200M+ valuation machine. Their ability to time each raise perfectly and pick investors who opened doors, not just wallets, is textbook capital raising done right.

And here are the things you can take from Blank Street and directly apply to your business (in short):

1/ Raise money to hit a milestone that shuts everyone up
Don't raise just to "keep going" - raise to reach a point where your success is undeniable. Whether that's your second location, £1M recurring revenue, or a waitlist you can't clear, make sure your funding gets you somewhere nobody can argue with.

2/ Your investors should open more than just their wallets
The best investors don't just write cheques - they make your life easier. Before you take anyone's money, ask yourself: will this person help me hire better people, close bigger deals, or raise my next round? If not, you're paying way too much for way too little.

3/ Only borrow when your cash flow can actually handle it
Debt isn't the enemy, but timing is everything. Take it on too early and those monthly payments will be calling the shots instead of you. Wait until your cash flow is steady - then debt becomes rocket fuel instead of dead weight.

4/ Get your fundamentals right before chasing shiny marketing
Celebrity partnerships and influencer collabs might look sexy, but they only work when you've already got momentum. If you're chasing Z-list shout-outs instead of fixing your margins, you've got your priorities backwards. Build something worth the hype first.

5/ Spend fast, but spend smart - the clock starts ticking the moment you raise
Every funding round starts a timer, and investors want results, not experiments. Use your capital to double down on what's already working and scale it hard. Spreading money too thin is exactly how promising companies become cautionary tales.

Blank Street proved that smart capital strategy beats flashy marketing every single time. Get the basics right, pick the right partners, and spend like you mean it.

Thanks for allowing me into your inbox every week.

I’ve been having some amazing conversations around capital raises, If this is something you’re looking into, or is your area of interest, my inbox is always open. 

PS: If your business needs funding or funding advice, explore the options at my company FundOnion here. We’re amazing!

Talk soon,

James