Personalised nutrition company announces beta launch with US$10.25m in funding

A US nutrition company that “translates” clinically validated science into nutrition recommendations has announced its beta launch with US$10.25m in funding.

AHARA, co-founded by physician nutritionist Dr Melina Jampolis and serial tech entrepreneur Julie Wainwright, uses multiple data inputs from a scientifically developed health questionnaire, as well as genetic, epigenetic and biomarker testing, and combines them using an AI-enabled algorithm.

The output, the company says, identifies an individual’s key nutrients and provides “ultra-personalised” nutrition recommendations and advice, including nutrition plans featuring nutrient-specific meals, recipes, shopping lists, and dining-out menu-scan.

 “I co-founded AHARA with Julie to make evidence-based, personalised nutrition accessible to everyone,” said Dr Jampolis, AHARA chief medical officer and former president of the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists.

“The opportunity to contribute to nutrition science with our science-based, AI-supported approach was too important to pass up.”

Wainwright, her co-founder and CEO, said: “As a patient of Dr Melina, I experienced first-hand the positive impact of her approach to optimal health when she combined my genetics, health survey and biomarker tests resulting in a personalised food and supplement recommendation.

“It quickly became clear to me that technology could make personalised nutrition available to all.  I approached Dr Melina with the idea for a health tech business that would reach millions, and she quickly understood that together we could help everyone achieve optimal health.”

According to AHARA, the AI features of the platform “maximise” learnings from app engagement and data tracking to better understand users’ unique eating patterns.

Its current health focus options include heart, gut, brain, metabolic, ageing and immunity. A performance option is expected follow in 2024.