Limburg-based Verdify, a foodtech company, announced that it has secured €2.4M in a fresh round of funding from existing and new investors, including Goeie Grutten Impact Fund, Oost NL, Koppert Cress, and De Smaakmaker.
The Dutch company will use the funds to support scaling its personalised nutrition innovation for human and planetary health.
Gijs Engelen, Investment Manager at Goeie Grutten, says, “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.”
Enabling better food choices
Consumers seek healthier and sustainable diets but struggle with the complexity of food choices. This is where Verdify looks to make a difference.
Founded in 2020 by Jochem Bossenbroek and Sandrin Bergheanu, Verdify’s mission is to make healthy and sustainable eating easy and enjoyable for everyone.
Verdify’s innovation stems from research linking poor diets to health risks such as cardiovascular disease, various forms of cancer and diabetes.
The startup specialises in innovative software for personalised online meal inspiration, empowering individuals to make healthier food choices that benefit both personal well-being and the environment. It does that through its platform Swapmeals.com.
Swapmeals, according to the company, provides a conducive environment where default food choices are both healthy and sustainable. The platform considers personal parameters like health conditions, food allergies, activity levels, lifestyle, location, and taste preferences, offering a tailored experience for users.
The personal nutrition profiles can be created by consumers on the Verdify website and activated on Swapmeals.com to find fully personalised and shoppable recipes.
Personalised meal plans in healthcare
Verdify’s recent investment coincides with testing its NooryMed app, a collaborative effort with pharmaceutical company Roche in breast cancer treatment.
The Dutch startup claims to distinguish itself due to its capability to analyse diverse medical data, crafting personalised meal plans that tackle the specific dietary needs of patients undergoing treatment.
Fleur Pasman, COO at Verdify, says, “A good nutritional status can prevent worsening of side effects, prevent additional hospitalisation, and prevent early treatment drop-out.”
“However, a large proportion of patients become malnourished due to taste changes, swallowing problems, and nausea resulting from chemotherapy.”
NooryMed automatically adapts recipes to address the dietary challenges faced by patients undergoing treatment, ensuring alignment with healthcare provider recommendations.
Verdify’s ‘Swap technology’
Verdify’s retail technology is live on 40 recipe websites, encouraging sustainable food choices. Focused on the environmental impact of meat consumption, the startup advocates for plant-based alternatives and plans to introduce ‘swap’ buttons for easy recipe conversions.
Fueled by the awareness that reducing meat consumption can cut 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, Verdify advocates for a move toward sustainability and better health through straightforward product swaps.
The company is gearing up to introduce ‘swap’ buttons on recipe websites, making it easier for users to transition to plant-based alternatives. Ongoing discussions with supermarkets and food companies aim to expand the reach of this “innovative” swap technology.
Capital utilisation
The funding empowers Verdify to reach key milestones. Plans include the global expansion of the NooryMed platform for treating breast cancer and obesity. Furthermore, Verdify aims to integrate with 100 more recipe websites.
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