yael

What yael does

Baked by Yael is a privately held, founder-owned artisan bakery founded in 2010 by Yael Krigman, a recovering attorney who transitioned from international trade law at White & Case to full-time baking after her stress-relief bagels gained traction in 2011. The company operates a single brick-and-mortar bakery at 3000 Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington, DC, directly across from the National Zoo, supplemented by vendor presence at three DC-area farmers' markets (Old Town Alexandria, Palisades, Bethesda Central) and a nationwide e-commerce storefront with UPS shipping. Its core technology and IP are its dual kosher certification (DC Kosher plus Rabbi Aaron Alexander at Adas Israel), a strict nut-free kitchen protocol with StateFoodSafety allergen training for every employee, DC Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) status, and proprietary recipes including signature cakepops, hand-rolled and boiled bagels in six flavors, challah, babka, and a proprietary 'Duffin' muffin-doughnut hybrid.

The product portfolio is anchored by Cakepops, Bagels, Challah, and Dessert Platters as core SKUs, with sub-lines for Gluten-Free & Vegan products and a Panda-themed collection. The business generates revenue through five distinct streams: unit-priced retail baked goods (cakepops at $3.40-$4.20, bagels at $2.01-$2.45, challah at $11.45-$21.95); corporate and event catering (platters $59.95-$279.95, minimum 12-person bagel breakfasts); a weekly Challah subscription at $120 per cycle; hands-on Cakepop Designing Classes at $59.95; and Cakepop Party experiences for events. Customer segments include families with nut allergies, the kosher-observant Jewish community, National Zoo tourists, DC corporate clients (leveraging CBE status), event hosts (birthdays, B'nai Mitzvahs, weddings, school fundraisers), and gluten-free/vegan consumers. Distribution runs through retail storefront, nationwide shipping (UPS Next Day, 2-Day, Ground), DC-area local delivery, farmers' market pickup, and direct enterprise catering sales. Founder Yael Krigman retains sole ownership with no institutional investment beyond the 2013 Kickstarter that raised ~$75,000 from 669 backers.

Name

yael

Legal name

Baked by Yael

Website

https://bakedbyyael.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Baked by Yael is a privately held, founder-owned nut-free and kosher artisan bakery in Washington, DC, serving families with food allergies, kosher-observant Jewish consumers, corporate clients, and National Zoo visitors with cakepops, hand-rolled bagels, challah, catering, and nationwide shipping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Bakery

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Baked Goods Retailers (445291), Commercial Bakeries (311812)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAC), Online Bakery & Desserts Delivery (CRAHAIAK)

Keywords

• Nut-free bakery
• Kosher baked goods
• Artisan cakepops
• Hand-rolled bagels
• Corporate catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail baked goods sales: Direct sales of individual items (cakepops, bagels, challah, pastries, cookies) through the physical storefront and the online shop. Items are priced per unit or per platter. Nationwide shipping available.
2. Catering and corporate gifting: Corporate catering orders including bagel breakfast platters, dessert platters, coffee travelers, cakepop platters, and custom corporate gift orders. Minimum order quantities apply for some items (e.g., 12-person minimum for bagel breakfast).
3. Challah subscription: Recurring weekly or bi-weekly challah subscription service at $120 per subscription cycle. Guarantees availability on Fridays and offers discounted pricing versus individual purchases.
4. Baking classes: Cakepop designing classes where participants receive hands-on instruction, materials for 12 cakepops (a $42 value), and a baker's apron. Classes available in-person.
5. Cakepop parties and events: Event entertainment services for birthdays, ladies' nights, and other celebrations featuring cakepop making experiences. Also available for school fundraisers and B'nai Mitzvahs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Baked by Yael operates a nut-free, kosher-certified artisan bakery producing handmade baked goods including signature cakepops, hand-rolled bagels, and challah. The company sells through a flagship storefront across from the National Zoo in Washington DC, a nationwide e-commerce shop, three farmers' market locations, and provides corporate catering, hands-on baking classes, and in-person cakepop party experiences.

Product overview

Baked by Yael is a nut-free and kosher bakery offering a portfolio of handmade baked goods and experiential services. Core products include signature cakepops (award-winning hand-blended cake dipped in candy coating), hand-rolled and boiled bagels in six flavors, kosher challah in multiple varieties, and specialty items like babka and duffins (muffin-doughnut hybrids). The company operates a sub-brand of gluten-free and vegan products alongside standard offerings, and maintains a seasonal Panda Collection capitalizing on its location across from the National Zoo. Beyond retail products, the business offers catering services (platters for corporate events and gatherings), hands-on baking classes, and cakepop party experiences for events. Add-on products include handcrafted wooden challah boards and weekly challah subscriptions for recurring customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cakepops
• Bagels
• Challah

Quantifiable outcome

• Named one of the Top 15 Allergy-Friendly Sweets Shops in America by industry recognition.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ivy City SmokehousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIvy City Smokehouse supplies premium smoked salmon (lox), whitefish salad, and salmon salad to Baked by Yael. These products are used in bagel sandwich offerings and sold as standalone items. Ivy City Smokehouse products are dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free.
• Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal DelicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaked by Yael partnered with Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal Deli to bring their famous vegan corned beef and roasted turkey to Washington, DC. These plant-based, kosher, and nut-free products are used in sandwiches on Baked by Yael's bagels and challah. Available for pickup or local delivery only.
• StateFoodSafetycoreOthersStateFoodSafety provides Food Allergy Awareness Certificate and Food Handler Card training and certification for all Baked by Yael employees as part of the bakery's allergen-control and food safety protocols.
• DC KoshercoreOthersDC Kosher provides kosher certification for Baked by Yael's ingredients and kitchen operations. All ingredients are hechshered (certified kosher). The kitchen is certified kosher though not for Passover. Additionally certified by Rabbi Aaron Alexander at Adas Israel Congregation.
• Adas Israel Congregation (Rabbi Aaron Alexander)coreOthersRabbi Aaron Alexander at Adas Israel Congregation (located four blocks from the bakery) provides dual kosher certification alongside DC Kosher, covering all ingredients and the kitchen facility.
• Rafi Krigman (woodworker)minorOthersRafi Krigman, Yael's father and a retired engineer with a passion for woodcraft, handcrafts Challah Boards from his wood shop in Annapolis, MD using Maple, Cherry, and Mahogany wood. These are sold as add-on products with challah orders and as standalone gifts.
• CreativeCouch Designs (Maria)minorOthersMaria of CreativeCouch Designs designed Baked by Yael's logo and brand identity.
• Red Turtle Photography (Katie Jett Walls)minorOthersKatie Jett Walls of Red Turtle Photography photographed Yael's first product creations.
• Josh DavidsburgminorOthersJosh Davidsburg filmed Baked by Yael's Kickstarter video.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tatte Bakery & Café: Boston-origin artisan bakery and café that has expanded across the Mid-Atlantic (including DC area). Highly comparable on product mix (handmade pastries, signature items, breakfast/brunch catering) and on a multi-channel DTC/retail/catering model that Baked by Yael could emulate at scale.
• Erin McKenna's Bakery: Allergen-friendly vegan and gluten-free bakery with NYC, Disney Springs, and Berkeley locations. The closest direct peer on the allergen-free/dietary-restriction positioning, demonstrating both the niche's commercial viability and the multi-unit expansion path Baked by Yael could pursue.
• Baked by Melissa: NYC-based bite-size cupcake brand with strong DTC nationwide shipping, novelty positioning, and party/corporate gifting offerings. Comparable on small-portioned novelty treats, DTC-first growth, and experiential gifting — a useful model for Baked by Yael's cakepop and subscription strategy.
• Georgetown Cupcake: DC-based specialty cupcake bakery founded in 2008 that built a national brand around a single product category with celebrity/TV exposure (DC Cupcakes). Directly comparable in DC geography, retail-plus-shipping model, and founder-driven brand positioning, though without Baked by Yael's allergen or kosher specialization.
• Levain Bakery: NYC-based artisan cookie and baked goods bakery with a cult following and nationwide shipping via gold-standard packaging. Comparable in DTC shipping excellence, cult-brand status, signature single-product focus (cookies), and media-driven growth — Baked by Yael plays a similar playbook in the nut-free/kosher niche.

Broad incumbents

• Milk Bar: NYC-born bakery brand founded by Christina Tosi, with nationwide DTC shipping, retail locations, and packaged retail products. Comparable in DTC shipping scale, signature-product innovation (Cereal Milk, Crack Pie, etc.), and brand-led expansion, though Milk Bar is significantly larger and broader.
• Magnolia Bakery: Iconic NYC bakery famous for cupcakes and banana pudding, with multiple locations and DTC offerings. Comparable in celebrity-brand status, retail-plus-shipping model, and dessert/gift positioning, though it is a broader incumbent without Baked by Yael's allergen or kosher specialization.
• Carlo's Bakery: NYC-based specialty bakery famous from Cake Boss, with multiple retail locations and DTC offerings. Comparable in celebrity/TV-driven brand awareness, signature-item focus, and gift/catering channels, though broader in product mix and larger in scale.
• Sprinkles Cupcakes: Pioneer cupcake-chain brand with multiple locations, nationwide cupcake ATM, and DTC offerings. Comparable on novelty dessert retail, gifting, and multi-channel distribution, though positioned as a broader incumbent without Baked by Yael's dietary-restriction niche.

Regional players

• Bethesda Bagel: DC-area bagel shop with multiple suburban Maryland locations serving hand-rolled bagels and catering. Comparable as a regional competitor in Baked by Yael's core bagel and catering categories in the DC metro, though without kosher or allergen-free positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bakedbyyael
• Facebookfacebook.com/bakedbyyael
• Instagraminstagram.com/bakedbyyael
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/baked-by-yael

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about yael