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Story:
In 2019, I came to London completely alone.
I grew up without parents, and from early on I understood that if I wanted a future, I had to build it myself. No safety net, no support—just work, persistence, and belief.
I studied architecture, worked different jobs, and slowly created a life from nothing.
About a year ago, I made the biggest decision I’ve ever made:
to build my own coffee shop.
The journey so far
I took a startup loan and began applying for units inside London stations with Transport for London.
At first, I was rejected again and again.
But I didn’t stop.
Eventually, I secured a unit at Bank Station.
From there, everything became real -and challenging.
I developed the full design and landlord pack myself.
I went through the entire Licence for Works process, complying with strict regulations for electrical systems, plumbing, fire safety, and approved materials.
This was my first real architectural project at this level.
And I got it approved.
That was a huge milestone.
I signed the lease in January, with 6 months rent-free to complete the build. I paid a £16,500 deposit, invested my savings, and bought materials—which are now already inside the unit.
What went wrong
During the build, I was scammed by a contractor.
I lost a significant part of my funds and, even more critically, almost 4 months of time—which is everything on a project like this.
At the same time, I lost my job.
Since then, I’ve been trying to recover, find solutions, and keep the project alive.
What I’ve already invested
Over the past year, I’ve put everything I had into making this happen.
- Startup loan + ongoing repayments
- My personal savings
- £16,500 lease deposit
- Materials already purchased and delivered to the unit: £6,000
- Legal expenses to secure the lease and agreements: £2,000
- Branding and design work to build the café identity: £1,000
- Ongoing costs like business rates with the City of London:£1,040/month
This wasn’t just an idea—I’ve already committed fully, financially and personally, to bring this project to life.
Where I am now
The café is real.
It is partially built, and very close to completion.
But I am now under serious time pressure.
There is only 1 month left before rent becomes payable.
I am already paying business rates, and without completing the build, the situation becomes unsustainable.
What happens if I don’t open in time
If I cannot complete and open the café soon, I risk losing:
- The Bank Station unit
- My £16,500 deposit
- All materials and money already invested
- The opportunity I worked for over the past years
This would mean losing everything I’ve built so far.
How the £21,000 will be used
I want to be completely transparent:
£16,156.80 (inc. VAT)– Fit-out completion
- Construction works (counter, walls, finishes)
- Plumbing and electrical installation
- Compliance with station and safety requirements
£5,000 – Equipment & opening setup
- Coffee equipment and essential tools
- Fridge and small appliances
- Initial stock (coffee, pastries, supplies)
This is the exact amount needed to take the café from “almost there” to open and operating.
Why I’m asking for help
This is not just a business.
This is something I’ve built from nothing, step by step, on my own.
I’ve come this far without asking for help—but right now, I can’t finish it alone.
I am doing everything I can:
looking for work, cutting costs, and pushing forward.
But time is running out.
If you choose to support
I truly want to give something back:
- You’ll be invited to the opening
- I’ll offer free coffee and small thank-you perks
- And I’ll share the full journey so you can see what you helped create
Every contribution, even £1, makes a real difference.
Thank you for reading.
And thank you for helping me finish what I started.
Organizer
