May 2nd, 2025 – The path to owning a coffee shop is filled with passion, purpose – and far too often, loneliness. This summer, that changes. Coffee Futures Fund (CFF), a new initiative dedicated to early-stage specialty coffee shop owners, officially launched at the Specialty Coffee Expo 2025 in Houston, Texas.
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CFF provides capital and year-long mentorship to select 10 coffee shop owners in the summer 2025 cohort. It’s a platform built around one core belief: coffee owners deserve more than capital—they deserve community, mentorship, and the tools to build enduring businesses.
“We’re not just a fund. We’re a village,” says Akshat, founder of Coffee Futures Fund. “CFF was born from a simple insight: too many promising founders never get the chance to build what they imagine – not because of a lack of passion, but because the ecosystem wasn’t designed with them in mind. We’re changing that.”
“Capital is a Commodity. Experience is Not.”
CFF stands out from traditional funding sources by prioritizing the unique needs of coffee owners in their first 1-3 years of operation. The fund aims to invest in a small, carefully curated cohort of U.S. coffee shop owners annually, ensuring that each participant receives the personalized attention and resources necessary to realize their vision. The mentor board has begun reviewing applications and is inviting emerging owners to apply sooner than later..
What makes CFF different?
- It’s not just money. CFF offers funding without taking equity, board seats, or charging entry fees.
- It’s not just mentorship. Founders receive deep, hands-on guidance from seasoned operators who’ve built some of the most respected multi-unit coffee businesses in the U.S.
- It’s not just theory. Over a 10-week program, participants engage in practical sessions focused on operations, branding, leadership, and resilience.
“Your Team Just Got Bigger”
At CFF, the experienced mentor board consists of successful coffee owners who understand the industry intricacies. Participants can expect collaboration with mentors with more than 100 years of combined experience of building successful multi-unit coffee brands, providing insights that come from firsthand experience.
Trevor Corlett, Founding Mentor at Coffee Futures Fund, says “It’s more than just an investment. The real value comes in having financial support, which is then also 100 plus years of experience from individuals who have been down your path and been down your road and can speak into real growth opportunities and charting the course for what success looks like long-term.”
Moreover, Julie Housh, CFF Program Lead, says “We create this community where folks do feel less alone, where they feel supported, where they feel like they can nurture their coffee companies.”
Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the Summer 2025 cohort, and close on May 15 at 8 PM ET. Coffee owners selected will receive funding, mentorship, access to industry experts, and lifelong membership in a growing peer network of builders shaping the next chapter of coffee.
Interested coffee shop owners can learn more and apply here.
CFF hosted its inaugural launch event at the Specialty Coffee Expo 2025, where the team shared more about the program, introduced mentors, and connected with future founders.
Join us as we help reimagine what support for coffee shop owners can look like.
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