🥐 Fresh from the oven
early-stage finds, founder notes & thoughtful crumbs worth your time
Why this section exists
“It’s hard to tell which events are actually worth it.”
— Every founder, ever
There’s a lot of noise out there. This section was made to sift through it — carefully and intentionally.
Everything shared here — from events and reads to tools and resources — is either something I’ve attended or tested myself, or something I’ve seen truly move the needle for early-stage founders, especially those working in design, product, or real-time tech.
If it’s listed here, it’s something I’d send to a founder I’m working with.
Because nothing rises well in a cluttered kitchen — and your time and energy deserve better.
— The baker-in-chief, @LeavenLab

📅 Calendar sprinkles #2: what’s heating up this June(global pitch)
The summer is shaping up to be a global pitch runway — with stages lighting up from Paris to Hong Kong to Kyoto. In this round of Calendar Sprinkles, we’re spotlighting three standout gatherings that blend storytelling, venture energy, and cross-border momentum — all hand-picked with early-stage founders in mind.

🍞 Bread from the breadcrumbs #1: agents, energy, and embodiment: crumbs from TechCrunch AI today
From vertical agents to power-hungry data centers, the latest crumbs from TechCrunch Sessions AI Today reveal where the AI stack is quietly reshaping itself — and why the most interesting startups aren’t always chasing scale, but shape.

🧁 Baker’s debrief #2: how to pitch without sounding like a pitch
A live pitch doesn’t have to sound like one. In this debrief, we recap our May 30 workshop with EchoHer—covering storytelling structure, founder blunders, and the simple tools every early-stage team should have ready. Featuring two live pitches, real-time feedback, and a peek inside the making of Ryme, our AI sous chef for pitch practice.

📅 Calendar sprinkles #1: what’s heating up this June(US, AI)
June is packed with high-signal events for founders, from AI summits in San Francisco to curated voice tech dinners in NYC. In this round of Calendar Sprinkles, we’re sharing a hand-picked list of gatherings focused on pitching, real-time voice, and early-stage innovation — all curated with founders in mind.

🧁 Baker’s debrief #1: finding the right co-founder isn’t a checklist
It turns out co-founder fit isn’t a checklist — it’s a conversation.
In this Baker’s Debrief, we reflect on what founders really need to align on, the questions they’re afraid to ask, and five hard-earned tips from our latest workshop.
🧁 Fresh picks from the kitchen
Whether you're pitching, learning, or just browsing for your next big step — these are the events we’d RSVP to ourselves.
Updated biweekly, curated with care by the baker-in-chief.
✨ Some events come with special discount codes or insider access — these are shared through our [🧺perks pantry] or in the newsletter.