The Sidekick is a collaborative effort by FirstBuild, GE Appliances’ innovative sector known for the popular Opal ice maker, and King Arthur Baking Company. With successful funding on Indiegogo, this device essentially acts as an automated dispenser for flour and water, safeguarding your starter’s vitality and removing the uncertainty of its feeding schedule, so it is always primed for use.

The device offers even more features than that. You can schedule the exact date and time for your next baking session, and the Sidekick’s Auto mode will manage the starter’s feedings to ensure it’s at its most active when needed, adapting to your kitchen’s temperature. It incorporates a microfeeding routine that only produces discard once a week, minimizing waste. For more experienced bakers, Custom mode allows you to program specific feeding routines and flour-to-water ratios. Additionally, you can manually add extra ingredients whenever desired.

The Sidekick is available to back on Indiegogo for $129, or as a pair for $249. For the moment it only ships to the US, but delivery isn’t estimated until January 2026 — it’s still in a prototype stage, with production models not yet finalized. If you want something a little simpler that’s available now, the $50 Breadwinner measures your starter’s volume so you know when it needs feeding and when it’s ready to bake.