EntreVita: Democratizing Health Through Personalized Nutrition, Powered by AI

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May 8

Written By Nicole Kinsey

In a world where chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition are rampant, and access to healthy food remains a significant barrier for many, a new member of the StartUp Health community is stepping up to revolutionize how we approach food as medicine. EntreVita, founded by Cory Mitchell, D.Bioethics, is not just aiming to provide meals; it's building a future where personalized nutrition is accessible to everyone, everywhere.

By Nicole Kinsey

The Challenge: A System Failing Those Who Need It Most

The genesis of EntreVita lies in a stark and deeply personal realization: the very people who could benefit most from the healing power of food often face the greatest obstacles in accessing it. Cory Mitchell's journey began with the pervasive impact of cardiometabolic disease within his own family, a tragic pattern where nutrition-related illnesses played a fatal role. This personal connection ignited a fire to prevent similar suffering in others.

His awareness deepened during his time as a C-suite healthcare executive, where he was involved in Community Health Needs Assessments: one in a Black urban community and another in a white rural community. Both communities, despite their vastly different demographics, identified the lack of healthy, convenient, and affordable food as a top concern. For many residents in these food deserts, sustenance came primarily from gas stations and convenience stores – hardly the prescription for good health.

Further reinforcing this challenge was Mitchell's research for a book chapter on food justice. He discovered a nationwide trend: while Community Health Needs Assessments consistently highlighted the need for healthy food access, even farmer's markets fell far short of meeting the true needs of the community. Adding to that was the staggering statistic of fewer than ten Black-owned grocery stores in America, despite the significant need in Black communities – underscoring the systemic inequities at play. But the problem wasn't confined to urban areas; rural communities, industrial sites, and even universities during breaks faced similar challenges in providing access to nutritious options.

Origin Story: From Personal Experience to a Powerful Vision

The name "EntreVita" itself speaks to the company's mission. An amalgamation of French ("Entre" meaning "to pass through") and Latin ("Vita" meaning "life"), it embodies the idea of helping everyone navigate life and flourish. For Mitchell, the path to founding EntreVita was paved with both personal hardship and profound learning experiences.

Growing up in poverty, marked by the complexities of an entrepreneurial but troubled father and, later, his mother's rise and fall in business, instilled in Mitchell resilience and a keen understanding of systemic challenges. His personal battle with diabetes further sharpened his focus on the critical role of nutrition in health.

In order to bring EntreVita to life, Mitchell knew the team formation was vital. The company’s Chief Marketing Officer is someone Mitchell met during his MBA program at Syracuse University, a sharp intellect who wasn't afraid to challenge his ideas – a quality he deeply admired and valued for keeping him grounded. The addition of a CTO with experience scaling technology from a NASDAQ-listed company brought crucial expertise for their next phase of growth. Complementing this leadership is a team of innovators with skills spanning culinary medicine, data science, and robotics, united by a shared passion and collaborative spirit.

A true inflection point came when Mitchell himself began following the AI platform's recommendations to manage his own diabetes. Preparing affordable, delicious meals in under 15 minutes, he witnessed a dramatic improvement in his health, including controlled glucose levels, stabilized fatty liver disease, and a significant reduction in insulin intake. This personal success solidified his belief in the power of his vision.

Under the Hood: AI and Robotics for Personalized Nutrition

At its core, EntreVita is integrating the power of artificial intelligence and robotics to deliver personalized nutrition to the masses. Their initial offering is a sophisticated mobile app designed to provide real-time meal recommendations tailored to an individual's specific nutritional needs based on their conditions, whether it's diabetes, pregnancy, inflammation, or cognitive health. This isn't just about generic meal plans; it's about precise recommendations that can be fulfilled through cooking at home (with Instacart integration) or by identifying suitable options at nearby restaurants. Research suggests this approach has the potential to save diabetic patients significant money while drastically improving their health outcomes.

In fact, the company’s research revealed the potential of their approach to reduce diabetes by over 20% and save patients upwards of $20,000 annually. This data solidified the immense potential impact of personalized nutrition.

Looking ahead, EntreVita's vision extends beyond the app. They are actively working on integrating their AI "brain" with robotic "brawn" to create automated kiosks capable of preparing personalized meals in under seven minutes in public settings. Imagine accessing a vending machine at a gas station, charging station, industrial site, or even a hospital that dispenses a meal perfectly tailored to your dietary needs at that moment. This ambitious goal aims to make healthy, personalized food ubiquitous, especially in food deserts and for individuals with limited time and resources.

The user experience is designed to be seamless. Initially, patients and consumers will utilize the mobile app for personalized meal recommendations. The long-term vision includes making these tailored meals available in a wide array of locations, from hospitals and hotels to retail stores, transportation hubs, educational institutions, and recreational facilities – ensuring that healthy options are always within reach.

What's Next: Building a Healthier, Flourishing World

EntreVita is currently in the final stages of developing its mobile app, with a planned release within the next two months. The near future will see the commencement of their work on AI-robotics integration, bringing their vision of automated personalized meal preparation closer to reality.

Mitchell's health moonshot vision is nothing short of transformative. He envisions a future where personalized nutrition is the norm, not the exception, leading to longer, more productive, and healthier lives for everyone – a world where we all "flourish well." Success for EntreVita means patients will be empowered to redirect healthcare costs towards other life goals, experience improved wellbeing, and significantly reduce their risk of chronic disease.

The journey, however, is not without its challenges. Mitchell has joined StartUp Health as a founding member of the Food as Medicine Moonshot Community to build strong, mission-aligned, collaborative relationships for overcoming the hurdles ahead.

“It's such a blessing, to be a part of an ecosystem that gets it. As a founder, there are times where you question yourself. You question what you're doing. And am I doing the right thing? Or could I be doing something that's more profitable? But what this community did for me has made me fall in love with EntreVita all over again. It really brought the passion and it made me double down and say, I need to do whatever I need to do to make this happen, because it's more than about money. It is really about the mission, and it's about saving my mom, my sister, my father, my stepfather, and all those people who never had the opportunity to live long and flourishing lives. So that's my story.”

EntreVita, driven by Cory Mitchell's personal experiences and the team’s vision for redesigning the world to be healthier for all, stands at the forefront of a movement that recognizes the profound power of food as medicine. By harnessing the potential of AI and robotics, they are not just building a company; they are cultivating a future where health is truly democratized, one personalized meal at a time.

Connect with EntreVita via email

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