Bootstrapping Growth: The Adaptolatte Story Behind a Fast-Rising Mushroom Coffee Brand

Adaptolatte's founders Sean and Sophie bootstrapped their mushroom coffee brand into a global business by cleverly leveraging credit and cash flow.

When Sean and his wife Sophie first encountered mushroom coffee on a road trip through Oregon and California, they were intrigued. Functional mushrooms like Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps weren’t part of their daily lives in London, but in the U.S. the blends were everywhere. A wellness staple with a loyal following. After giving it a try, Sean noticed the cognitive and health benefits firsthand.

That trip sparked a question: could mushroom coffee resonate outside the U.S.? With Sean’s background in the Japanese market, and a personal history of using traditional Chinese medicine remedies passed down from his mother, the couple saw an opportunity.

“We just thought, could this be a product that might fit another market, not just the U.S.? We’d seen brands growing and starting up in the UK, and with my background in Japan, it felt like something that could really resonate,” Sean explains.

They returned home determined to build Adaptolatte - mushroom coffee company with products designed to blend seamlessly into customers’ daily routines.

From one product to a growing range

Adaptolatte launched with a single product, a functional mushroom coffee blend with 30 daily servings. The format was intentional: customers could easily integrate it into their lifestyle, while the brand could build a strong repeat-purchase model.

The strategy worked. Customers embraced the subscription offering, appreciating the consistency of never running out of their morning ritual. Over time, Adaptolatte expanded into new lines, a decaf version for evening use, a matcha blend, and now, ongoing investment in NPD (new product development) with plans for more flavours, trial packs, and eventual retail expansion in Japan

Bootstrapped growth with creative cash flow

From the outset, Sean and Sophie committed to building a profitable, lean business. They avoided early equity raises, instead creatively leveraging cash flow.

At first, they relied on credit cards, specifically Amex’s 56-day interest-free period, aligning inventory purchases with billing cycles.

We realised that if we could use a credit card and leverage its 56-day interest-free period, by the time we’d liquidated our stock, it would have covered the amount from a cash flow perspective,” Sean recalls.

That approach worked until Amex suddenly slashed their credit limit by 80%, cutting off vital cash flow overnight. It was a make-or-break moment.

Sean pivoted. He explored equity conversations, built a deck, and refined Adaptolatte's three-year roadmap. Ultimately, he secured alternative funding through revolving credit facilities and revenue-based financing at healthy terms.

Building a global brand while living anywhere

One of the most inspiring elements of Adapt Arte’s story is how Sean and Sophie have built the business around the lifestyle they want.

“After years in London, we realised there was nothing tying us down,” says Sean. “We’ve been able to spend months in Asia and Australia, meeting partners, visiting Japan, and working remotely. It’s given us flexibility and fresh perspectives.

What’s next for Adaptolatte?

Looking ahead, Adaptolatte is doubling down on innovation. With new blends in the pipeline, plans for trial formats, and ambitions to enter Japanese retail, the brand is well-positioned for its next phase of growth.

“Every time we release a new product, it boosts lifetime value. Our focus now is cadence, creating new flavours, formats like sachets, and long-term, getting into retail in Japan,” Sean says.

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Want to hear more? You can watch Sean's full founder story here