Former Whoop exec’s new app Alma uses AI for all things nutrition

App developers have been exploring the potential of generative AI models to offer users services that were previously only available through costly professionals like therapists or executive assistants, at a much more affordable price. Rami Alhamad, former VP of product at fitness company Whoop, is venturing into the realm of nutrition with his latest app, Alma.

Launching today for users in North America, Alma is a well-designed iOS app that features a calorie tracker and a nutrition guide enhanced with an AI layer.

Alhamad’s vision for Alma is to simplify nutrition tracking, addressing the tedious nature of apps like MyFitnessPal where users manually search for dishes and input them for different meals. With Alma, users can simply converse with the AI assistant about their food intake, and the app will estimate portions and calorie intake accordingly. Users can also adjust these estimates as needed.

Additionally, users can take photos of their meals for the AI algorithm to identify dishes. While similar features exist in apps like Healthify and Snapcalorie, Alma sets itself apart with its user-friendly design, multiple input methods, and ease of use.

In addition to calorie tracking, users can ask the AI assistant for meal suggestions based on their fiber and protein intake goals. They can also upload menu pictures for personalized recommendations. Alma provides users with a daily score based on their food consumption, using this score to offer tips on improving their diet.

Through interactions with the AI assistant, Alma learns user preferences over time, providing tailored suggestions that can be viewed and edited in user profiles.

The company plans to monetize the app through a monthly subscription of $19 or an annual subscription of $199.

The story behind Alma and future plans

After exiting Whoop in 2022, Rami Alhamad, the creator of sports tech startup Push, turned his focus to health and nutrition, identifying a gap in practical solutions for tracking nutrition despite the abundance of workout and sleep trackers. This led to the inception of Alma, where Alhamad aims to revolutionize nutrition tracking.

Reflecting on his journey, Alhamad shared, “For the last 10 years, I’ve struggled with weight fluctuations and spent significant time using apps like MyFitnessPal to track my food intake. When ChatGPT emerged, I began utilizing it for meal planning, but it lacked personalization. This prompted me to ponder the problem, eventually leading to the development of Alma post my departure from Whoop in 2022.”

Alhamad, currently an entrepreneur in residence at Menlo Ventures to spearhead Alma’s development, envisions a future where specialized AI-driven companies cater to specific consumer needs. With $2.9 million in funding from Menlo Ventures and Anthropic, Alma is poised for growth.

Alma leverages a combination of models to deliver results, drawing on nutritional expertise from Harvard Nutrition and expanding its data set with dedicated staff focused on nutritional knowledge. The startup’s vision extends beyond the U.S., aiming to incorporate global health knowledge into its platform.

Future plans for Alma include enhancing food discovery features, allowing users to request recipes and receive personalized suggestions. The app aims to automate food recommendations based on user preferences and goals, simplifying meal preparation using pantry ingredients.

While chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude offer similar functionalities, Alma streamlines the user experience by eliminating the need for elaborate prompts. Drawing parallels to Samsung’s Food app, which introduced pantry tracking and recipe suggestions based on available ingredients, Alma aims to provide a seamless solution for users.

Shawn Carolan, a partner at Menlo VC, highlights the appeal of Alma’s effortless food tracking process, noting that simplifying data entry can drive user engagement. He emphasizes the accessibility of nutrition information through Alma, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional weight loss methods.

Carolan envisions Alma as a pocket nutritionist, empowering users to pursue their health goals without resorting to expensive interventions. By democratizing nutrition guidance, Alma aims to revolutionize the way individuals approach their well-being.