Why are we building Alma?
Eating Well Is Hard
We live in an age of infinite choice. In 1980, the average U.S. supermarket stocked just over 14,000 SKUs. By 2008, that number had exploded to around 51,000, and although it later declined, stores still carry about 33,000 SKUs today . In produce alone, supermarkets once offered only three types of apples; now you’d find roughly 29 varieties on display .
At first glance, more choice feels like progress. But the reality is different: that abundance quickly becomes a fog. Standing in the grocery aisle, under harsh fluorescent lights, you’re lost in a sea of options—with no clear way forward.
Marketing vs. Reality: The “Simple” Protein Bar
Walking down the snack aisle, my team and I grabbed a bar labeled “Simple Protein Bar.” The front promised ease and nutrition. Flip it over and you’re hit with a 30-item ingredient list—most of which nobody could pronounce. That mismatch—from marketing clarity to nutritional chaos—is a microcosm of the food world today.
When Tracking Feels Like Filing Taxes
We’re told that the answer is tracking—count your macros, log your meals, hit your numbers. But the experience feels more like filing taxes than eating well. It’s tedious, joyless, and frankly, a bit defeating. If what’s meant to help us feels punitive and mechanical, it’s not really helping at all.
The Spark: A Coach in Your Pocket
So we thought: what if food guidance didn’t feel like chores? What if it was responsive—tailored to your sleep, your metabolism, your past slips, your specific goals? What if it adapted in real time, without you having to micromanage every bite?
That question inspired Alma: an AI-powered nutrition coach in your pocket—not a static tracker, but a learning companion. Alma watches your behavior, adapts to your context, and nudges you gently—no overwhelm, no guilt. It doesn’t offer universal plans; it builds a path that’s yours, based on your biology, routines, and preferences.
Why the Mission Matters
This isn’t just another fitness-trend app. This is about shifting behaviors at scale:
For individuals: It swaps overwhelm for empowerment, turning daily decisions into moments of clarity.
For society: It could reduce chronic illness, ease the burden on healthcare systems, and create real public health impact.
For mental well-being: It eliminates the daily decision fatigue—no more staring at labels, wondering, “Is this really right for me?”
This mission matters. We’re fired up to keep building towards it.
