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Shandy Shack makes craft shandies – a laid-back blend of beer and lemonade with lower alcohol content and no next-day regrets. Their mission to bring a lighter alternative to the mainstream helped them carve out a distinctive niche and ultimately led to a successful exit to SHS Group, the team behind household names like WKD and Schloer.
It’s a philosophy we share at SeedLegals. Just as Shandy Shack offers a more easygoing approach to traditional pub pints, we rethink the way startups raise investment – replacing the pressure, cost and rigidity of traditional funding rounds with smarter, more flexible options.
We sat down with co-founder Ed Stapleton to hear how agile funding through SeedFASTs and Instant Investment helped Shandy Shack:
💷 Extend their runway through periods of tighter cash flow
⚠️ Sidestep the risk of raising at a lower valuation by avoiding an inconveniently timed round
⚖️ Raise on-the-spot with a high-profile figure
Don’t miss Ed’s advice for fundraising and winning over potential acquirers at the end of this article.
Using SeedFASTs to raise early without the pressure of a full round
During the later stages of negotiating a major contract with a national grocer, Shandy Shack needed to extend their cash runway, but were reluctant to enter a full investment round until the deal closed so as not to compromise on valuation. Instead, they used SeedFASTs, SeedLegals’ simple, SEIS/EIS-compatible version of an Advanced Subscription Agreement (ASA).
A SeedFAST lets startups raise investment immediately, with shares issued later – typically when the next funding round closes. That means founders can access capital quickly, without needing to commit to a valuation or go through the full funding round process.
For Shandy Shack, it was the perfect tool:
Ed StapletonSeedFAST allowed us to raise money at a time when cash flow was tight, but when we were also on the cusp of a step change in growth. It allowed us to steady the ship with funding from established warm leads before heading into a main round with commercial contracts secured.
This was a win-win for both parties; we weren’t under financial pressure for the main round and we could offer a discount to those investors that helped us by coming in early via SeedFAST.
SeedFAST is a really simple product to use and it’s robust enough to give investors confidence as well.
Co-Founder,
That balance – quick and founder-friendly, but clear and professional enough for investor peace of mind – made SeedFAST a key part of Shandy Shack’s growth strategy.
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Seizing the moment with Instant Investment
The flexibility that Shandy Shack found so valuable didn’t end with the round. After closing their main round, Shandy Shack had the chance to bring on a high-profile backer – someone who could offer not just capital, but credibility and reach. Timing, however, was everything.
That’s where Instant Investment came in. Instant Investment lets founders top up their round after it’s closed. You can bring in additional investors without renegotiating terms or redoing documents – just set the amount, send the link and raise.
For Ed and the team, that simplicity was crucial:
Ed StapletonThe investment product actually allowed us to raise a small angel ticket from a high-profile celebrity who we might otherwise have struggled to close. That particular angel has become a key commercial partner for Shandy Shack, even post-acquisition. It was incredibly useful to be able to tag that on after the initial round.
It wasn’t so much about speed – it was the flexibility that mattered. People like that often want to work on their own terms. They don’t want deadlines or pressure; they’ll move when they’re ready. Having the flexibility to say, ‘No worries, you can invest when you’re ready. We’ve got this structure – just let us know when you’re good to go and how much you want to put in’ was really useful to keep them on side.
Co-Founder,
SeedLegals removed the friction you often find in a full funding round. That made it effortless for Shandy Shack to act quickly. As a result, they secured a strategically valuable investor without losing momentum.
Ed StapletonFounder wisdom often states that you should ‘always be raising’. With SeedLegals, you actually can. These products slot in before or after a round and give you amazing flexibility.
Co-Founder,
The full funding round experience – on your terms
Looking back, Ed credits flexibility as one of the most valuable aspects of Shandy Shack’s fundraising journey. Using SeedLegals, the team had the structure to raise capital before and after their main round – without being boxed into raising when the timing wasn’t right.
Ed StapletonIf we hadn’t set up those flexible structures, we’d have been forced into funding rounds at inopportune moments, or when cash flow wasn’t in a great place. That would have devalued the company. Being able to raise when it suited us – or our investors – was massively valuable for us.
Co-Founder,
And when it came to the full funding round itself, the experience delivered everything they needed – just faster, smoother and much easier to manage.
Ed StapletonWe were most impressed by the flexibility of the agile fundraising products – SeedFAST and Instant Investment – they were amazingly useful. The funding round tools are solid too.
SeedLegals approaches funding rounds in a far more digital, user-friendly way, and that really makes a difference.
Co-Founder,
For Shandy Shack, the ability to raise when it made strategic sense – and to do it all through one flexible, intuitive platform – was key to maintaining momentum and maximising value.
From startup spark to strategic sale
From day one, the Shandy Shack team understood that if they built solid brand foundations and demonstrated product-market fit, they would attract the interest of major drinks groups. That theory became reality when the business was acquired by SHS Group in November 2024.
Ed StapletonWhen we started Shandy Shack, we recognised that it could end up growing to full scale as part of a bigger drinks group’s portfolio. We were aware of SHS Group from early on as a UK company with a particular pedigree for nurturing and scaling drinks brands.
Co-Founder,
The acquisition didn’t happen by chance – it was the result of gradual relationship-building. What began with a meeting at a trade show developed into a product collaboration, and eventually, a deal.
Ed StapletonWe gradually developed our partnership with SHS Group – starting with a casual trade show conversation, then working together on a product, and finally shaping it into a full acquisition.
Co-Founder,
The process took around 9 to 12 months in its entirety, with consistent outreach, partnership discussions, and careful preparation. For Ed and the team, it was simply about knowing their value and treating the acquisition like any other commercial opportunity.
Ed’s advice for fundraising founders
Ed StapletonThere’s a saying (and bizarrely, a Pitbull lyric): ask for money and you’ll get advice, ask for advice and you’ll get money twice. That turned out to be 100% true for us.
Rather than going straight in with an ask, we’d set up calls to get input on our plans – and sometimes those conversations turned into investment offers. At the end of the call, we’d casually mention we were preparing for a raise, and the next day someone would follow up asking for the details.
It goes back to the idea of constant fundraising. If you’re leading a startup, you should be making those connections all the time.
Co-Founder,
Ed’s advice for founders with an eye on exit
Ed StapletonLooking back, one of the most valuable things we did was build relationships with potential acquirers before any formal discussions about acquisition began. By collaborating on projects or partnerships, we had the chance to demonstrate our value and ways of working. This groundwork made the eventual acquisition feel like a natural progression rather than a sudden leap.
Another crucial lesson was the importance of creating competitive tension. If only one party is interested in acquiring your company, you’re at their mercy. But if multiple potential acquirers are engaged, it can strengthen your negotiating position and lead to a better outcome.
Co-Founder,
Ready to raise?
With fast, flexible tools like SeedFAST and Instant Investment, plus full funding round support when you need it, we make raising investment simpler, faster and more founder-friendly.
We’ve helped thousands of startups raise over £2B in funding. Want to see how we can help you grow? Book a demo with our funding team and let’s make it happen.
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