Crowdfunding and collaboration behind entrepreneurs’ coffee venture

COFFEE specialists North Star Roast are a one-of-a-kind business, in a one-of-a-kind place.

Based in Meanwood, Leeds and launched by two entrepreneurs with an advanced knowledge of what they do and what they want, North Star is poised for even greater success as they launch a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

25 year-old Alex Kragiopoulos and 21 year-old Ellis Hall are the co-founders of North Star Roast, a two year old firm which has only gone from strength to strength with its sustainable wholesale and training offerings.

Mr Kragiopoulos spoke to TheBusinessDesk.com about his burgeoning business and why the firm’s Kickstarter campaign was an obvious choice for teh forward-thinking firm.

After being in business nearly two years, the firm now counts top-end coffee shops such as Baltzersens among its customers and has been showcased at events such as last year’s Buy Yorkshire.

Mr Kragiopoulos said: “As a new business people were initially wary of us, but the fact we survived this long and that people love the coffee we roast means we’ve been getting more people on board as word spreads.”

After launching a website in February of this year, the firm has been able to access a nationwide market, and has secured an account with a Brighton firm who want a bespoke blend.

On why the two entrepreneurs decided to launch a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign instead of going down more traditional routes to funding, Mr Kragiopoulos said that despite their affection for their existing coffee roaster, dubbed Roxanne, “it got to the stage when we need to get a bigger roaster. Roxanne is a 5kg roaster, producing 100kg a day roughly.

“We needed a new roaster, and had one in mind, custom-made from Giesens in The Netherlands. They are built to order and take 12-14 weeks to be manufactured and delivered, and it would be able to produce 3 times what we manage now.”

“A loan would impact our cash flow and paying back the loan monthly would be too big a cost, so we have nothing to lose from a Kickstarter campaign.”

Precedent in the city’s food and beverage scene helped with their decision to crowdfund their project, after the Leeds Indie Food festival was successfully funded through Kickstarter.

The pair had a video shoot for their page from Little Less Known, an independent film businesses that promotes Yorkshire firms, including work for charcuterie Friends of Ham.

On marketing their campaign Krag said: “Social media has been key. Facebook and Twitter as well as offline, dropping fliers in different, relevant areas.”

“Like with anything, people might forget about it after the first rush of interest so we use it to remind people that it’s still ongoing.”

North Star have now raised £5,355 with 118 backers, but their goal is £20,000, and with 17 days left of the campaign, the pressure is on.

Mr Kragiopoulos said: “The reason why people should back us is because we started our business with all our own money, with no grants or funding, and no millionaire investors. We’re asking people to get behind what we’re trying to do. “

North Star also works with Falcon Speciality, a collaborative supply chain firm based in Harrogate that makes the origins of North Star’s coffee beans transparent and fair, which has been integral to the ethos of the company since its inception.

He said: “The bigger roaster the more coffee we can sell, but also the more we’re buying from farmers and the more we can help them; it’s not just about us getting a bigger roaster.”

You can find more info on the firm and their kickstarter campaign here .