Reinventing the Pizza Bagel: Bagelverse's Jacob Cooper on Nostalgia and CPG
In this Founder Feature, host Caitlin Bricker sits down with Jacob Cooper, founder of Bagelverse, who's reinventing the classic pizza bagel with real mini New York bagels and bold flavors like spicy vodka and barbecue chicken.
Jacob spent eight years as a CTO in AI and tech before making a complete 180 to chase a childhood nostalgic idea. He launched Bagelverse in April 2026, and in the months since has sold over 80,000 pizza bagels through pop-ups around New York City, won a Shelfie Award, and had one of the most visited booths at Summer Fancy Food.
Caitlin and Jacob dig into his unconventional career pivot, the surprisingly complex supply chain behind a "simple" pizza bagel (which requires two separate co-packers), why packaging might be the single most important investment an emerging brand can make, and how he's building genuine, long-term relationships with retailers a year in advance of launch.
Listen in as they discuss:
- Jacob's total pivot from eight years as a CTO in AI and tech to founding Bagelverse
- Why he built the brand entirely through in-person pop-ups and farmer's markets before ever touching CPG
- The surprising complexity behind a "simple" pizza bagel, and why it requires two separate co-packers
- Why he intentionally delayed finding a co-packer until he knew the brand had real traction
- What Jacob learned about follow-up and note-taking after having one of the busiest booths at Summer Fancy Food
- Why big retailers plan shelf resets up to a year in advance, and how that timeline actually works in a founder's favor
- Why staying in touch with retailers and buyers without always having an ask builds real, lasting relationships
- Why Jacob believes packaging is the single most important investment an emerging brand can make
- How Bagelverse is being intentional about which retailers to pursue first, rather than chasing every opportunity
- Where to find Bagelverse today, from NYC pop-ups to the brand's farmer's market side project, Little Bagel
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Episode Links:
- Jacob Cooper LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/pizzabagel-guy
- Bagelverse LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebagelverse/home
- Bagelverse Website: www.thebagelverse.com
- Bagelverse Instagram: @pizzabagel.nyc
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Show Links:
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- Visit host Caitlin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinbricker/
- Questions or comments about the episode? Email podcast@startupcpg.com
- Episode music by Super Fantastics
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