Cat & Cloud Podcast
Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/
Coffee Futures Fund: Community and Support for Emerging Coffee Shop Owners - Ep# 443
Summary
In this episode, the crew sits down with Akshat Khandelwal, founder of Coffee Futures Fund, to unpack the reality of coffee shop ownership—and why so many founders struggle in silence. Drawing from conversations with hundreds of operators, Akshat shares how the industry has focused heavily on product quality while overlooking the people behind the bar. The conversation explores loneliness in ownership, the myth of “figuring it out alone,” and how mentorship, community, and shared experience can dramatically shift outcomes for emerging shop owners. From funding models to values-driven leadership, this episode highlights a growing movement to support independent coffee businesses in a more human, connected way.
Chapters
00:00 Akshat’s Origin Story and Why Coffee Pulled Him In
08:00 Why So Many Coffee Shop Owners Said “Don’t Do It”
16:00 From Romantic Dream to Coffee Futures Fund
24:00 Building a Village: Mentorship, Community, and Capital
32:00 Why Coffee Shop Owners Feel Isolated
40:00 Values, Clarity, and What Makes a Cafe Actually Matter
48:00 How the Cohort Works: Goals, Mentors, and Growth
56:00 Funding Without Equity: A Different Way to Support Shops
1:04:00 Letters to Young Coffee Shop Owners and the Future of Coffee Futures Fund
Cat & Cloud:
Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/
Webstore www.catandcloud.com/
Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions
Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale
Links –
The Truth!
Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural
https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural
Coffee Futures Fund:
Jared Truby Interview
https://youtu.be/KaTFcHxjumk?si=wlTAbJ7ZCvZleM7B
Jared Truby Zine
https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby
Roundtable Event
https://coffeefutures.fund/Roundtable.html
World of Coffee/SCA
https://usa.worldofcoffee.org/
Cafe Imports
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-where-do-we-go-from-here-tickets-1983895046489
Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.
Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.
The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.
Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby
Produced by Casey Ryan
March 2026
