Verdify raises US$1.5M for AI-powered personalized recipe platform

14 Dec 2021 --- Foodtech scale-up company Verdify has raised €1.3 million (US$1.5 million) for its Swapmeals recipe platform. The investment is slated to help the Netherlands-based company improve personalization and enrich its profile with data from wearables and biomarker tests on its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform.

Currently, the Swapmeals recipe platform enables consumers to get tailored meal inspiration based on personal nutrition profiles. The personalization engine powering the platform can map “the composition of virtually all recipes on the internet and tailor them according to consumer nutrition profiles.”

According to the company, the investment will be used to scale up the Swapmeals platform and introduce the concept into the healthcare domain. 

“With the new investment and access to this innovative ecosystem we can not only scale up but also build a bridge between the healthcare domain and the food sector,” says Jochem Bossenbroek, CEO at Verdify. 

The financing came from Brightlands Venture Partners, Joles and the company’s founders. It follows last year’s €750,000 (US$878,000) seed funding round.  

“We believe Verdify responds to a clear and logical market need for personalized nutrition,” says Kim de Boer, partner at Brightlands Venture Partners. 

Personalized nutrition boosted by AI
The platform takes into account personal parameters such as health conditions, food allergies, activity levels, lifestyle, location and taste preferences. 

The algorithm replaces ingredients that do not match an individuals’ profile and can replace them with suitable alternatives. Another algorithm “rewrites” the recipe instructions according to the new composition. 

As part of the investment, the aim is to introduce the concept into the healthcare sector.

“This will enable consumers to receive nutritional advice from dietitians and medical professionals directly in their Verdify nutrition profile. Furthermore, it will be possible to enrich the profile with data from wearables and biomarker tests,” notes Verdify.Personalization has been spotlighted as a key trend for the future of the nutrition space.

Targeting consumer needs
Consumers are increasingly on the lookout for a healthy and sustainable diet but struggle with the complexity of food choices, notes Verdify.

Using technology to enable greater levels of personalization has been spotlighted as “revolutionizing” the industry and making waves across the nutrition space. 

The role of AI is set to play a “pivotal” role in the nutrition industry as technology responds to growing demands for personalized solutions. 

Earlier this year, US National Nutrition Month highlighted the challenges of personalizing eating habits but stressed that it is key to success in the long term. 

As industry observes the fast-moving developments within personalization, Qina and Blendhub last month announced they were partnering to spearhead a “global ecosystem” that can lead to the development of personalized powder-based nutrition solutions. The importance of personalization was noted as the most important trend in the global food industry. 

Edited by Andria Kades