Motivation
Foodback was born out of a simple question: Why do cashback programs reward everything - but not healthy eating? During the Startup Experience seminar, we identified a gap in how health-positive behaviors were recognized and wanted to fill it with a model that aligned incentives for individuals, insurers, and broader public health goals.
The concept:
- Create a mobile app with an AR interface that guides shoppers to healthier products in real-time.
- Scan receipts or integrate with supermarket loyalty programs to verify purchases of healthy foods.
- Fund these cashbacks by partnering with health insurance companies and NGOs that benefit from reduced long-term health costs when people eat better.
Approach
This was primarily a business planning and concept validation project, not a technical build. I worked in a small team, handling:
- Product Conceptualization: Defined the app’s core features - including real-time AR overlays to highlight healthy items, backend receipt verification, and an incentive payout system.
- Business Model & Financial Planning: Conducted market research and calculated potential healthcare cost savings.
- Pitching: Created a polished pitch deck and presented to a panel of professors and invited stakeholders.
Achievements & Feedback
The project was extremely well-received during the seminar:
- The pitch earned a perfect grade and strong applause from the jury.
- We received direct feedback from health insurance stakeholders, validating the social impact potential - though also highlighting regulatory hurdles to the financing of the project as budgets are tightly regulated by law in Germany and therefore lobbying would be required to make this a reality.
Learnings
Foodback was a great experience in learning how to:
- Turn a visionary idea into a compelling, financially viable startup plan.
- Identify and validate market pain points through focused interviews and research.
- Navigate the realities of public health policy, especially in regulated industries like insurance.
- Balance social impact goals with financial sustainability in a way that could attract serious institutional partners.