Hardware Podcasts

Reinventing the Pizza Bagel: Bagelverse's Jacob Cooper on Nostalgia and CPG

The Startup CPG Podcast · 9 Oct 2026 · 29m · Episode 381

What this episode covers

Jacob Cooper, founder of Bagelverse, explains his pivot from eight years as a CTO in AI to launching a nostalgic pizza bagel brand with flavors like spicy vodka and barbecue chicken. He details the complex supply chain requiring two separate co-packers for bagels and pizza assembly, and his strategy of validating demand through pop-ups before securing manufacturing. Cooper emphasizes the critical importance of high-quality packaging for emerging brands and his long-term, relationship-focused approach to securing retail placements with major retailers like Target and Whole Foods.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Bagelverse, Wegmans, Target, Whole Foods, Walmart, Pop Up Grocer, Happier Grocery
Products
Bagel Bites, Cheese Annie's, Little Bagel, Alexa
Also
Summer Fancy Food, Startup CPG, Shelfie Award, Amazon EC2

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