Company description
At the heart of Food N’ Me, is the mission of empowering and encouraging children to improve their food choices and lifestyle. Food N’ Me has created a new world of interactive nutritional educational games, videos, recipes, activities, curriculum and parent resources delivered online and on mobile devices. Food N’ Me currently has 18 games in development focusing on teaching fundamental nutrition concepts to inspire children to make better food choices. Food N’ Me gained national recognition by winning Michelle Obama’s “Apps for Healthy Kids” contest for one of its games, Smash Your Food. Food N’ Me has partnered with WebMD, one of the largest health portal websites with over 84 million unique users a month, to distribute the company’s games. Food N’ Me is based on the founder’s proven program that was recently taught in 5 elementary schools to over 3,000 children. The business model relies on multiple revenue streams including mobile games sales and distribution through health portals (including WebMD) and a subscription program specifically targeted to educators, practitioners and parents of children afflicted with childhood obesity. This is an investment opportunity that may yield up to a 10X return in 3-5 years through an acquisition of the company by an insurance/healthcare company (i.e. Kaiser Permanente), a game/toy company (i.e. Mattel), a health portal (i.e. WebMD) or a food distributor (i.e. Safeway).
Team
Food N’ Me is managed today by Frederic De Wulf, Marta De Wulf and Douglas Hawes, who collectively bring over 60 years of relevant management, marketing, product development, nutrition science, legal and business experience to the company. The Company also plans to engage additional talent critical to complement their experience in financial management, engineering, curriculum development and behavioral psychology.
Frederic De Wulf, brings extensive management, production, creative and technology experience through his 16-year digital media career at Microsoft and his 15-year career in multimedia, working with Bill Moyers, Jacques Cousteau and National Geographic. Mr. De Wulf’s management experience spans from his starting-up a five million in sales interactive business to managing operations of a $40 million production business at Turner Broadcasting to leading Microsoft’s U.S. Small Business online engagement with over $5 billion in revenues.
Marta De Wulf’s 20-year successful career as a nutritionist, helping thousands of families and individuals, has given her insight into the role food plays in each of our lives. One of Marta's obese clients asked her, "Why didn't anyone teach me basic nutrition when I was in second grade and began to gain weight?" Hearing this and similar stories inspired Mrs. De Wulf to design and teach a children's nutrition program to 3,000 students ages 5-12. Mrs. De Wulf also presided as Director of a health business startup in Dallas, Texas with $500,000 in capital.
Kelly Johnston is a 2012 Executive MBA candidate at the University of California, Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business. She has a 24-year career in the finance and investment management field working for the Capital Group, American Funds, Oaktree Capital and William O’Neil + Co. Mrs Johnston brings to the company significant experience with managing development and global deployment of institutional financial software and integrated solutions.
Wajdie Ahmad is a 2012 Executive MBA candidate at the University of California, Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Microbiology from University of California, Riverside. Wajdie serves as Senior Manager of Engineering, Technical Service & Operational Excellence at Allergan Inc. Wajdie manages 5 year strategic departmental plans, $18 million operations budgets and the strategic deployment efforts for the Biologics organization including strategic imperatives, breakthrough objectives, and annual improvement priorities.
Douglas Hawes is a retired, long-time partner in the New York City-based law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf and professor of law at New York University and Vanderbilt Law School. He is an accomplished founder and investor in many small and medium-sized enterprises in the United States and France. He has served as a director of a number of public and private companies.
Marta De Wulf’s 20-year successful career as a nutritionist has given her insight into the role food plays in each of our lives. One of Marta's obese clients asked her, "Why didn't anyone teach me basic nutrition when I was in second grade and began to gain weight?" Hearing this and similar stories inspired Mrs. De Wulf to design and teach a children's nutrition program to 3,000 students of ages 5-12. Mrs. De Wulf also presided as Director of health business startup in Dallas, Texas with $500,000 in capital.
Douglas Hawes is a retired long-time partner in the New York City-based law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf and professor of law at New York University and Vanderbilt Law School. He is an accomplished founder and investor in many small and medium-sized enterprises in the United States and France. He has served as a director of a number of public and private companies.
Scientific Panel Scientific Panel: Dr. Adam Drewnowski Professor, Epidemiology
Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine
Adjunct Professor, MetabolismDirector, Nutritional Sciences Program, Dr. Adam Drewnowski is a world-renowned leader in innovative research approaches for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Dr. Drewnowski is also Director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition and the Center for Obesity Research.
Mollie Grow, MD - Pediatrics-Inpatient, Seattle Children’s Hospital staff since July 2006, Research Center: Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development. Overview: Board Certification(s), Pediatrics, Medical/Professional School, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Residency, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Pediatrics, Research Focus Area, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Publications: Grow HM, Cook AJ, Arterburn DE, Saelens BE, Drewnowski A, Lozano P: Child obesity associated with social disadvantage of children's neighborhoods. Social science & medicine (1982) , 2010 Aug: 584-91
Michaela Murphy writer, director, producer and storyteller with more than twenty years experience in creating original theater for children. Her plays have been commissioned by 52ND Street Project, Theaterworks USA, Manhattan Theater Club, and Second Stage and performances at the White House. Consultant/Artistic Director to project replications in Macon GA, Tuba City (Navajo Nation) AZ, Bemidji (Chippewa Nation) MN, Yale University and Lexington NY, and See/Hear London, England. Co-founder of the Shakespeare & Company Elementary Schools program and is a four-time recipient of the Joseph Papp Artist-in – Residency grant.
Business model
The problem
Nearly one in three children is considered overweight or obese, putting them at risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma. 17% of all US healthcare costs are attributed to obesity. Nutrition experts, pediatricians and recent studies all agree that the key to converting American families’ unhealthy habits into healthy ones is through education and lifestyle change.
Our solution
Food N’ Me is a fun, informative and compelling nutrition system that is proven to change eating behaviors in children and families. The company created an award-winning prototype site (www.foodnme.com), used by over 12,000 unique users and several schools; featuring interactive nutrition games, videos, recipes, activities and practical tips for parents.
“A can of coke has 8 cubes of sugar in it, I’m never drinking soda again.”
Conner, age 8, talking to his dentist
Food N’ Me is a revolutionary nutrition system delivered online and through mobile platforms. The platform features over 18 fun games focused on teaching fundamental nutrition concepts that naturally inspire children to make better choices. Each game takes into account the nutritional needs of each child based on their age, gender, level of activity and their family’s food preferences. The games all ‘report’ into the online Food N’ Me proprietary platform providing real time, personalized advice to parents via email and mobile apps based on what their children learn as they play. Food’ N’ Me features custom avatars, “Food Faces,” that children are able to customize to then represent them in all games. The Food N’ Me platform features familiar food environments for the children, such as kitchens, dining rooms, cafeterias and grocery stores. The games are featured in their environments like the Smash Your Food machine on the kitchen counter, the Food Detective at the grocery store and What Food Am I? logging game at the dining room table.
Unlike most standalone mobile games, Food N’ Me games cross promote each other as children play them. The Food N’ Me platform integrates its games and encourages families to complete their nutrition learning adventure together.
“Now I eat breakfast everyday and my headaches are gone.”
Tina, age 10
Our traction
Food N’ Me has already achieved solid traction and credibility:
- Food N’ Me’s game, Smash Your Food™ is an award winner in Michelle Obama’s “Apps For Healthy Kids” contest. The co-founders were honored at the White House.
- WebMD, the largest health portal on the web with over 84M unique user a month, is distributing Food N’ Me games providing credibility and traffic.
- Food N’ Me is based on the co-founder’s public school program taught to over 3,000 elementary children across 5 schools. This program substantially changed children’s behavior: Thousands of children accepted the “White Milk Challenge”. Of the 4th graders who received the nutrition enrichment program, 93% chose white milk over chocolate in comparison to only 12% of those who did not. School wide, consumption of white milk went up by 29% and chocolate milk went down by 32% the week of the enrichment program.
- Top experts in the field of obesity from the University of Washington and the Seattle Children's Hospital, have joined Food N’ Me’s Scientific Advisory Board. Food N‘ Me was tested with YMCA ACT! families, who confirmed the game’s effectiveness on influencing them to improve their food choices.
The company is currently creating a game version of Smash Your Food for the iPad, as well as new games developed for mobile devices. These games will be available mid 2011. Discussions are underway with WebMD to create more games for the Fit and Food N’ Me sites.
“I Love Food N' Me and wish all of our lessons at school were this fun!”
Troy, age 8
Our Team
Frederic De Wulf, brings extensive management, marketing and interactive production experience through his 16-year career at Microsoft.
Marta De Wulf’s 20-year successful career as a nutritionist, helping thousands of families and individuals, has given her insight into the role food plays in each of our lives.
Kelly Johnston, Paul Merage School of Business EMBA12, has a 24-year career in the finance and investment management field.
Wajdie Ahmad, Paul Merage School of Business EMBA12, serves as Senior Manager of Engineering, Technical Service & Operational Excellence at Allergan Inc.
Revenue Plan
The Company intends to price the games both individually and as a complete package. The games will be available both on mobile devices and online through major health portals. Food N’ Me will be distributed through healthcare providers, insurance companies, educational organizations and grocery store chains. The Company plans to sell sponsorship advertising as it gains reach. The Company anticipates ancillary revenues from licensing its intellectual property to merchandisers, media programmers and other game platforms.
“Food N' Me game told me I was a bagel, I was eating too many grains. Now I eat more fruit and my choices are better because I played your game”
Andy, age 9
Marketing
Food N’ Me secured an agreement with WebMD, the largest health information web site which has over 84 million unique users a month. The distribution agreement is expected to provide Food N’ Me not only with traffic but with an advertising platform for its mobile apps for the iPad, iPhone and other devices.
Food N’ Me plans to be available across top health and insurance portals. The Company also plans to create an affiliate network enabling smaller sites to “self-serve” to include Food N’ Me on their site.
Forecast
The company anticipates signing up more than 16,000 paying customers within eighteen months of launch. Food N’ Me is expected to reach its break-even point by 2012, operating profitably by 2014 and generating over $10 million in sales. The company’s long-term goal is to become an attractive acquisition target in three to five years.
The Company seeks seed investment of $1 million in capital, will be used to create the full personalized online service, launch within six months of funding and operate the service through its first year.
The Company’s intention is to realize a 5 to 10X return on investment in 3-5 years through an exit strategy of selling the company to either an insurance/healthcare provider (i.e. Kaiser Permanente), a game/toy company (i.e. Mattel), a health portal (i.e. WebMD) or a food distributor (i.e. Safeway).
Competitive advantage
Food N’ Me offers two distinct advantages to the online market(s) the company serves.
First, the Company is one of the few Internet-based programs to address both children and parents in an integrated, highly personalized way in the home. The Company’s competition extends from doctors to diet books. Nutritionists and personal trainers are limited to the value they can offer one-on-one. Diet centers and diet foods costs are high and the value extends as long as the family or individual adheres. Other web sites offer either a single tool for meal planning and recipes, diet logging for adults, or single games for children. Food N’ Me has not found a web site that provides lasting benefit simultaneously to children and families.
Second, the Company provides a customized experience of comprehensive nutrition education fun for children and easy for parents to incorporate into their busy daily family lives which should anchor Food N’ Me securely as their source of choice for a healthy eating childhood and for obesity prevention.
The Company anticipates a gradual increase in competition from other online providers, but the Company’s research and projections indicate that many customers will prefer the highly customized and integrated experience that would make Food N’ Me the most appealing option to families with children.
Several strategies the company expects could keep Food N’ Me ahead of the competition:
- First-mover advantage with top health portals, insurance companies and schools.
- Rapid application development (RAD) approach with quarterly releases informed by on-going customer input and feedback to keep abreast of market needs.
- Development of the most effective relevance and personalization engine. Research has indicated that many of the Company’s prospective customers use the Internet to research diet and nutrition programs for their families, but want to do business with a company that makes it easy and fun for families to digest “byte” sized advice tailored to their children’s age, gender and level of physical activity, while respecting their family’s food preferences and parenting styles.
The Company believes this expanding new market can support as many as a handful of similar online providers, once Food N’ Me is running profitably.
Wajdie Ahmad
Kelly Johnston
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