Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Jen Goldberg
Apps
Biotech & Health
mood
Image Credits:Jen Goldberg
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
fund-raise
contrivance
Gaming
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
secrecy
Robotics
certificate
Social
blank space
inauguration
TikTok
Transportation
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
telecasting
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
meet Us
I ’m a bit of a bagel snob . I once baked beigel overnight with the bunch atBetter Bagelsfor a profile on its founders back in college . I once in a while bake them at home and still go to my childhood bagel shop , Abraham ’s , much every time I ’m in New England . I keep a sesame bagel fromFeltz Bagelson my desk .
bagel carry a sealed nostalgia for me . I have core puerility memories of driving to Abraham ’s with my pa and sister , pick up a dozen beigel , and ripping apart a fresh one to share on the drive habitation .
So when I ensure that Popup Bagels , a mom - and - soda - looking bagel shop chain , erect venture capital letter , I was like . . . what ? Is n’t this literally what small business loans are for ? Popup Bagels raised an $ 8 million Series A leave by Stripes , with involution from Habitat Partners and Tastemaker Capital .
Sure , BetterBrand , a startup that makes high - protein bagel with suspiciously low amounts of carbs , recently enhance $ 6 million in venture funding . But they are an e - Commerce Department solid food tech company , and that has VC write all over it . Not a plaza to go buy a bagel in person .
Popup Bagels ’ founder Adam Goldberg watch it differently , though . He told TechCrunch+ that he ’s not concerned in ever taking on debt — dear lot with that — and venture capital makes signified because Popup has strong need , runs a thin operation and is depend to grow quickly . Two of the backers — Stripes and Tastemaker Capital — have experience scaling food startup , too .
“ When you are interrupt an industry , and have something that is Modern and exciting , and people are stoke to try it , it is great to have capital letter to roll out tight and it is also great to have smart people behind that capital , ” Goldberg said . “ We turned down a lot of people who want to indite a balk that did n’t really aid . Stripes has experience in doing these axial motion - outs . ”
claim a close aspect , some of that definitely rings reliable .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
All of Popup ’s six locations are small - format fund that utilise few workers and largely serve as outlets where folks can grab their bagel — which are only sold whole in quantities of three , six or a dozen — and go . If this sounds a bit likeBlank Street Coffee , it definitely is , and that company also confuses me as a target for speculation capital .
The key here that crap Popup seem more like a venture - backable business is its focus and angle operations . Bagels are pretty simple , ingredient - wise , and Popup has only four varieties , which likely keep costs depleted on the front end . They bake the bagels every 10 min depend on need , so they trade out every daytime and do n’t have any waste .
Plus , the bagels are quite upright . Of of course I bought some , come on ! Goldberg had me try one fresh , just ripped apart . It had a firm crunch on the exterior and the ideal diffused and fluffy texture on the interior . Sorry , Montreal . If there were an outlet near where I lived , I ’d emphatically add it to my rotation .
But this byplay , in many fashion , has scaled due to its own ballyhoo . It ’s bring home the bacon awards at multiple Brooklyn Bagel festivals and has had famous person and athletes blab its praise . While it ’s potential for companies to cultivate a strong and truehearted customer base to affirm them after the hype fades — it always will — it ’s pretty unmanageable to pull off , no matter of how in effect your product is . Especially if you ’re a bagel society with plans to expand in New York and the Northeast — good bagel are n’t on the button scarce here .
Goldberg talk about how it ’s not uncommon to see long lines at the fellowship ’s electrical outlet . Sure , it ’s a sign of demand , but not longevity . If you saw that the U.S. ski squad was last to be there bunk the counter — which was take place when I visited on Thursday — sure , you ’d be willing to wait in note . But are you going to do that every time you lust a bagel ?
Also , the ship’s company only proffer four bagels , in addition to various and sometimes modified edition shmear , which could cut some customers out . If someone was looking for a beigel sandwich , a pledge bagel to go or a coffee , this brand is n’t an option .
But maybe Popup ’s focusing on selling bag of fresh bagels tap into a niche of customers . The fellowship could certainly find a inviolable enough base in New York and earn a chase in places where there are n’t as many possible options . The beigel aregood , after all . But it ’s going to be hard .
“ I say with confidence : We are making a great intersection that feels good after you feed it , that feel practiced when you are purchase it and picking it up , ” Goldberg sound out . “ We want you to enjoy that . ”
Hopefully , that ’s enough .
