StartLife alumnus Verdify has successfully raised €2.4 million in funding to scale its personalized nutrition innovation for fostering human and planetary health.
The investment comes from existing shareholders and new investors Goeie Grutten Impact Fund, Oost NL (StartLife Founding Partner), Koppert Cress and De Smaakmaker. The capital injection follows previous investments in the company in 2020 and 2021.
Verdify has pioneered the development of software that optimizes meal compositions based on individual health and sustainability factors. This innovation is inspired by compelling research highlighting suboptimal diets as a major risk factor for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, various forms of cancer and diabetes. Moreover, recognizing that agrifood systems contribute to one-third of total greenhouse gas emissions, Verdify aims to empower individuals to make informed choices that enhance personal well-being and contribute to a sustainable future with a reduced ecological footprint.
Tailored meal plans in healthcare
The investment comes at a pivotal time as Verdify’s NooryMed application undergoes testing as a complementary tool in breast cancer treatment, in collaboration with pharmaceutical company Roche. What sets Verdify apart is the ability to process a wide range of medical data to create personalized meal plans, addressing the unique dietary challenges faced by patients during treatment.
‘Swap technology’ to promote better food choices
Verdify’s retail technology is already operational on 40 recipe websites, with plans to implement their technology further on supermarket and food company websites, encouraging people to make food choices with a neutral, or preferably positive impact.
Inspired by the fact that eating less meat can save almost 50% of greenhouse gas emissions, Verdify promotes gradual shifts towards a more sustainable and healthier eating pattern with simple product swaps. The company, therefore, promotes plant-based alternatives and will soon introduce ‘swap’ buttons on recipe websites. With one click, recipes can be converted to a vegetarian version or an alternative with lower carbon emissions.
“Verdify’s solution not only empowers consumers to make conscious choices for healthier and more sustainable nutrition but also provides crucial support to patients during their treatment and recovery. The impact of Verdify on health and climate is substantial, and we are delighted to contribute to its continued growth.”
Gijs Engelen, Investment Manager at Goeie Grutten,
Investment for broad impact
The investment enables Verdify to achieve significant goals. The NooryMed platform is being prepared for international use in the treatment of breast cancer and obesity. Additionally, the company aims to connect another 100 recipe websites, reaching tens of millions of people in various European countries to promote better food choices.
Arnaud Zwaal, Investment Manager Food at Oost NL: “Verdify’s software platform offers a solution that cuts both ways. Through personalized nutrition, we assist individuals in enhancing their health. Simultaneously, it’s a challenge to enhance the sustainability of food production and consumption to reduce negative environmental impacts. Verdify contributes by making sustainable choices more accessible.”
Support from StartLife
StartLife has supported Verdify from the start, helping the team think about how to best position themselves in the market and connecting them to the food ecosystem.
Jochem Bossenbroek, CEO at Verdify elaborates:
“Startlife has supported Verdify from the very beginning, helping us to rethink our business model and to get visibility in the food ecosystem. The backing of the Startlife team has been important to keep moving forward, also in challenging times.”
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