/Companies

Blank Street

Brooklyn, US · Founded 2020 · Delaware corporation · 721 employees on LinkedIn · 18 known investors

Find your way into Blank Street

Sign up to see every warm intro you have to Blank Street

  • Paths you didn't know you had: your email and LinkedIn already hold routes to the Blank Street team. We find them for you
  • 2nd- and 3rd-degree connections: the friend-of-a-friend routes that take hours to manually find through your inbox or LinkedIn
  • Answers now, not in days: momentum is everything in a raise. Skip asking around whether someone knows someone

Days of research, done the moment you sign in, with every route ranked by how warm it is.

Blank Street operates specialty coffee shops with a small-footprint model, serving high-quality specialty coffee and locally-sourced food at affordable prices. The company operates locations across New York, London, Boston, and Washington DC.

Founders & leadership

Blank Street was founded in 2020 by Issam Freiha.

IFIssam Freiha
Issam FreihaFounder · Chief Executive OfficerBefore starting the company in 2020, he was a partner at Reshape Ventures, a role he held from 2017 to 2022.
BE
Berk Emir IldizExecutive
IL
Ignacio Llado Alvarez-SalasExecutive

Board

JFJason Fiedler
Jason FiedlerBoard Member2022–2026Managing Partner at Left Lane Capital
HEHisham Elhaddad
Hisham ElhaddadInvestor, Board MemberManaging Partner at HOF Capital
JCJoel Cutler
Joel CutlerBoard directorFounder, mentor and venture capital investor who backs consumer, travel, and fintech entrepreneurs
VMVinay Menda
Vinay MendaCo-founder & PresidentHe previously served as managing partner at Reshape Ventures, which he joined in 2017, before launching the coffee chain in 2020.
HMHarley Miller
Harley MillerBoard MemberManaging Partner and CEO at Left Lane Capital
HD
Harrison DiGiaBoard director
YM
Youngme MoonBoard director

Investors · 18

Reported raises · per SEC filings

Form D private placements

$242.4M disclosed across 7 rounds · 2020–2026

▶$105MraisedAug 2026 · 6 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Issam FreihaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Vinay MendaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Joel CutlerDirector
  • Youngme MoonDirector
  • Harley MillerDirector
  • Hisham ElhaddadDirector
  • Harrison DiGiaDirector
  • Ignacio Llado Alvarez-SalasExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$105M
Amount sold
$105M
Sales commissions
$2.3M
Proceeds to insiders
$15.2M
Placement agents
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
First sale
Aug 2026
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$21MraisedMay 2025 · 10 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Jason FiedlerDirector
  • Issam FreihaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Hisham ElhaddadDirector
  • Youngme MoonDirector
  • Joel CutlerDirector
  • Vinay MendaExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$25M
Amount sold
$21M
First sale
May 2025
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2020
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$38.7MraisedFeb 2024 · 48 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Vinay MendaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Joel CutlerDirector
  • Issam FreihaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Youngme MoonDirector
  • Jason FiedlerDirector
  • Hisham ElhaddadDirector
Offering amount
$44.9M
Amount sold
$38.7M
First sale
Mar 2023
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2020
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$6MraisedJul 2022 · 19 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Joel CutlerDirector
  • Issam FreihaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Vinay MendaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Youngme MoonDirector
  • Jason FiedlerDirector
Offering amount
$10M
Amount sold
$6M
First sale
Jul 2022
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2020
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$66.8MraisedJan 2022 · 46 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Jason FiedlerDirector
  • Issam FreihaDirector
  • Vinay MendaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Youngme MoonDirector
  • Joel CutlerDirector
Offering amount
$67M
Amount sold
$66.8M
First sale
Sep 2021
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2020
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$3MraisedMar 2021 · 2 investors · Restaurants
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Vinay MendaExecutive Officer, Director
  • Issam FreihaDirector
Offering amount
$3M
Amount sold
$3M
First sale
Mar 2021
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2020
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$2MraisedJul 2020 · 2 investors · Restaurants
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Berk Emir IldizExecutive Officer
  • Issam FreihaDirector
Offering amount
$2.5M
Amount sold
$2M
First sale
Jul 2020
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2020
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Founder mafia

4 people who came through Blank Street went on to found or lead other companies.

Related companies · 10

JoeJOE provides an operating platform for independent coffee shops covering back-of-house operations, front-of-house experience, and growth tools, priced as a capped percentage of loyalty revenue. Through its nonprofit incubator Awake Innovation Labs, the company runs an industry-owned model that routes value back to shop operators and coffee growers.
EaterEater is a digital media brand covering food and dining culture through a national website, iOS app, local city sites, YouTube channel, podcasts, and newsletters. The brand provides restaurant recommendations, dining guides, and food journalism across multiple platforms and formats.
CornerThe map for people who care where they're going.
Uber EatsEasiest way for consumers and businesses to order food from favorite local eateries
TimeoutTime Out is a digital media and entertainment guide that curates articles, recommendations, and listings for things to do, restaurants, events, and attractions across hundreds of destinations worldwide.
the infatuationThe Infatuation provides expert restaurant recommendations and reviews written by trained editors who dine anonymously and pay for their own meals. The company serves diners seeking trustworthy guidance on where to eat around the world.
AtlyAtly is a location discovery app that helps people find restaurants, bars, and places to visit through personalized recommendations and user-generated tips. The consumer platform has been described as combining social community content with map-based navigation.
Postmates<UNKNOWN>
DoorDashDoorDash operates a restaurant delivery platform that connects customers with dining establishments across hundreds of cities in North America through a logistics network.
Blue Bottle CoffeeBlue Bottle Coffee is a specialty coffee company that roasts and sells single-origin coffees, signature blends, matcha, and instant coffee through direct-to-consumer subscriptions and physical cafes, offering curated tasting experiences and a membership rewards program.

Companies working in the same space as Blank Street.

Frequently asked questions

What does Blank Street do?
Blank Street operates specialty coffee shops with a small-footprint model, serving high-quality specialty coffee and locally-sourced food at affordable prices. The company operates locations across New York, London, Boston, and Washington DC.
Who founded Blank Street?
Blank Street was founded by Issam Freiha in 2020.
Who are Blank Street's investors?
Blank Street's investors include Base10 Partners, Capital B Private Holdings, Cold Start Ventures, FJ Labs, General Catalyst, Good Friends, HOF Capital, Left Lane Capital and 10 more.
How much funding has Blank Street raised?
Blank Street has disclosed $242.4M raised across 7 rounds.
Where is Blank Street headquartered?
Blank Street is headquartered in Brooklyn, US.