5 Food as Medicine Startups Changing Nutrition Habits
In Nutrition and healthcare, the traditional approach has often involved treating health issues reactively with pharmaceutical solutions. However, this method can overlook the pivotal role of diet in preventing and managing diseases.
Nutrition-based interventions often involve generic dietary guidelines that may not effectively address individual health conditions. Such approaches’ limitations include a lack of personalization, potential nutrient deficiencies, and a failure to leverage diet as a proactive tool in health management.
The burgeoning concept of “food as medicine” seeks to bridge this gap by utilizing tailored nutritional strategies to directly address and manage health conditions.
This approach leverages the therapeutic properties of specific foods to prevent, manage, and sometimes reverse chronic health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Unlike traditional dietary methods, food as medicine prioritizes personalized nutrition plans based on individual health needs, dietary preferences, and genetic profiles.
Food as medicine is a proactive approach that reduces dependence on pharmaceuticals, decreases the risk of side effects, and often leads to more sustainable, long-term health improvements.
This article highlights five growth-stage food-as-medicine startups changing health and lifestyle by personalizing nutrition based on dietary needs and health conditions. These startups have the potential to grow rapidly, are in a good market position, or can introduce game-changing food tech solutions to the market in the next 2-3 years.
This makes them a great option to partner, collaborate, or acquire.
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1. Chiyo Making Postpartum Mother Nutrition Care Easy with Its Diet Suggestions and Doorstep Deliveries
| Founding Year | 2021 |
| Headquarters | New York, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $3 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed/$3 Million |
| Website | https://wearechiyo.com/ |
Many new mothers struggle to access meals that support their recovery and nutritional needs after childbirth. Traditional meal solutions may not adequately address specific needs such as lactation support, hormonal balance, and energy replenishment, which are essential during the postpartum phase.
Chiyo, a postpartum nutritional startup, has developed a meal delivery service tailored explicitly to meet the needs of new mothers. This service provides nutrient-dense, ready-to-eat meals that incorporate principles of Eastern food therapy combined with Western nutritional science.
The startup’s offerings are designed to alleviate common postpartum symptoms such as fatigue and mood fluctuations and to support overall recovery. Their meal plans include a variety of ingredients known for their health benefits to new mothers, such as moringa, nettle, and other superfoods.
Chiyo focuses on the postpartum phase, ensuring its meals nourish and target new mothers’ unique health requirements. They use whole, nutrient-dense ingredients to craft meals that are both healing and supportive, providing more than just sustenance by promoting a holistic recovery process. This specialized focus is coupled with the convenience of home delivery, which is particularly valuable for new mothers adjusting to the demands of parenthood.
This postpartum nutrition startup is the brainchild of Co-founder and CEO Irene Liu. In the past, she worked with enterprises like Airbnb and Bain & Company.
Liu holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a Master of Science in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.
The latest funding of $3 Million for Chiyo came from a seed round raised on Mar 26, 2024. The seven investors leading this funding round include Bread and Butter Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Helm, Ingeborg Investments, Palette Ventures, Peterson Ventures, and Union Heritage Capital.
2. Season Health Helping Patients with Chronic Diseases with Its Digital Food Pharmacy
| Founding Year | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Texas, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $43.6 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Venture Round/$7 Million |
| Website | https://www.seasonhealth.com/ |
Many individuals with chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart conditions, fail to meet their dietary needs due to a lack of accessibility, knowledge, or appropriate resources. This inadequate management can lead to worsened health outcomes and higher healthcare costs.
Existing solutions may offer generic nutritional advice that doesn’t account for personal health conditions or preferences or provide integrated meal planning and delivery services tailored explicitly to medical needs.
To combat these challenges, Season Health has developed a platform that combines the convenience of meal delivery with the personalization of a health plan tailored to the specific needs of individuals with chronic diseases.
The startup offers a “digital food pharmacy” that aligns nutritional plans with the user’s health data and medical recommendations. Its services include personalized meal planning, grocery shopping assistance, and direct meal delivery to support the user’s health goals and dietary needs.
Season Health integrates medical advice directly with dietary implementation using modern technologies. It offers an advanced platform where dietitians and nutritionists can prescribe specific meals prepared and delivered to the user. This approach has improved patient adherence to dietary recommendations, potentially reducing hospital readmissions and healthcare costs related to poor diet management in chronic disease patients.
Josh Hix is the co-founder and CEO of this startup. He has vast experience in founding and leadership roles for multiple startups, including Plated, PlusScrn, and ZeeWise. Hix also worked as a Senior Investment Associate for Bridgewater Associates.
His alma mater includes Harvard Business School for an MBA and Georgia Institute of Technology for a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.
Season Health’s latest funding of $7 million was raised on Dec 13, 2023, from a Venture—Series Unknown round. Inception Health and Ziegler Link-Age Funds are the lead investors in this round. It acquired Wellory on Nov 28, 2023.
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3. AI Nutrition (RXDIET) Developed Software and App to Generate Customized Guidance and Meal Plans
| Founding Year | 2018 |
| Headquarters | England, UK |
| Total Funding Amount | $625K |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed/$625K |
| Website | https://www.rx-diet.com/ |
Many individuals with chronic conditions struggle with food insecurity and lack access to nutrition that targets their health needs. The standard dietary recommendations often fail to consider individual health concerns, cultural preferences, and financial constraints, making it difficult for patients to adhere to dietary advice and effectively manage their conditions. This disconnect can lead to poor health outcomes and increased healthcare costs due to recurring medical issues and hospitalizations.
RXDIET/AI Nutrition has developed an AI-powered platform with practical support mechanisms to combat these challenges. Its technology includes sophisticated AI software and a user-friendly app that offers personalized nutrition programs based on health conditions, dietary preferences, and lifestyle factors.
This platform assesses member information and generates customized guidance, including meal plans and behavioral coaching, backed by experts and grounded in the latest nutritional science.
AI Nutrition provides tailored dietary recommendations and ensures they are actionable through partnerships with local retail and distribution networks that deliver fresh ingredients directly to patients’ doors.
Additionally, the startup emphasizes community and motivational support, offering users a platform to share nutrition stories and recipes with other members to try and support.
This comprehensive service model helps improve adherence to dietary regimens, enhances treatment outcomes, and addresses food insecurity by keeping costs below national averages.
Roman Calista has been leading this startup as CEO since its inception. He has experience as CEO & Founder of DesignTeeLine, which Real Geek later acquired.
Calista holds a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from Charles University.
AI Nutrition raised its latest funding of $625K from a Seed round on Sep 13, 2022.
Related Read: Top 10 Food Tech Startups Innovating the F&B Industry
4. Heali AI has Developed an AI-powered “Heali Intel” to Share A Condition Based Recipe And Products
| Founding Year | 2018 |
| Headquarters | California, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $3 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed/$3 Million |
| Website | https://www.heali.com/ |
Personalizing nutritional intake to manage and treat chronic diseases effectively is a complex issue in the food and nutrition industry. Many individuals struggle with chronic health conditions that are directly influenced or managed by diet.
Finding the right dietary regimen that aligns with specific health needs and personal preferences remains a significant challenge. This is due to the generalized nature of dietary guidelines and the complexity of human health conditions.
To bridge this gap, Heali has developed an AI-powered platform designed to offer personalized nutrition plans.
This technology, known as “Heali Intel,” incorporates a vast database of food products and recipes, which are analyzed using AI and peer-reviewed medical findings to generate customized dietary recommendations.
The app supports a diverse range of dietary needs, accommodating over 30 different diet types, including those for chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Heali AI dynamically adapts to the individual’s ongoing health data and dietary responses. The platform’s use of advanced data science allows it to continuously refine and optimize nutritional recommendations, making it highly responsive to changes in the user’s health status or preferences. A combination of real-time data analysis and expert medical insights supports this personalized approach.
The startup is under the excellent leadership of founder and CEO Kyle Dardashti. Previously, he was co-founder of startups like JSwipe (acquired by Spark Networks) and Co-Founder & MD of MLLNNL.
He is an expert marketer known and endorsed by the industry leaders he worked with as Community Manager at MRY and Media Director at Tenthwave Digital LLC. He studied Business Administration at Boston University’s School of Management.
Heali AI raised its latest funding of $3 Million from Astanor Ventures in a Seed round on November 9, 2023.
5. Gini Health Offers A Diabetes Reversal Program with Tailored Nutritional Plans and Health Interventions
| Founding Year | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Ontario, Canada |
| Total Funding Amount | $1.1 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Pre-Seed/$120K |
| Website | https://ginihealth.com/ |
Traditionally, managing and reversing chronic conditions has involved generic dietary guidelines that may not be optimized for individual patient profiles. This can lead to suboptimal health outcomes and a lack of sustained engagement with prescribed health regimens.
Gini Health has developed a comprehensive digital platform that delivers personalized healthcare solutions using advanced AI and machine learning technologies.
The startup has a diabetes reversal program that provides tailored nutritional plans and health interventions to individual needs. This program integrates genetic health reports and customized supplement plans managed through a proprietary mobile assistant, enhancing patient adherence and the effectiveness of the treatments.
Gini Health takes a personalized approach that is informed by cutting-edge scientific research and real-time data analysis. It can adapt to each user’s unique health profile and provide precise nutritional guidance. In-app coaches and a community-driven support system support this proactive approach.
Gurjot Narwal, founder and CEO of this food-as-medicine startup, has previous industry experience founding a startup, working in consultant roles, and being a product lead.
He worked as a consultant with Accenture and PwC and as a product lead with The Home Depot Canada for five years. Before starting this nutrition startup, Narwal founded Healthbit, another marriage of nutrition and technology.
Gini Health’s latest funding of $120K came from a pre-seed round led by Techstars on Mar 31, 2020.
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Authored By: Naveen Kumar, Market Research
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