Fay and Berry Street demonstrate investor appetite for companies targeting nutrition’s role in disease prevention and health optimization.
Dietary change remains one of the few interventions clinically proven to have a positive effect on healthspan and longevity, and it appears that investors believe there is also money to be made in it. Personalized nutrition companies Fay and Berry Street, have each secured $50 million in funding to expand their platforms, which connect individuals with registered dietitians through insurance-covered programs.
The success of obesity drugs like Ozempic has fueled renewed investor interest in nutritional solutions, particularly when it comes to weight management and metabolic health. However, personalized nutrition can also play a wider role in extending human healthspan. By tailoring dietary recommendations based on genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors and specific health goals, a personalized approach to nutrition can offer targeted interventions that go beyond generic dietary guidelines and address underlying risk factors for age-related diseases.
Reflecting a growth in lifestyle-driven healthcare solutions that address chronic illnesses at their root, Fay and Berry Street are focused on driving a shift towards preventive approaches to managing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Both companies place significant emphasis on accessibility to their platforms and claim extensive partnerships with major US insurance providers, enabling millions of Americans to access personalized dietary counseling at little to no cost.
San-Francisco-based Fay, which landed a $25 million Series A last year, has experienced rapid expansion since its launch, claiming a network of more than 2,500 registered dietitians across the US. The company’s AI-enhanced platform tailors dietary recommendations to individual health needs, incorporating elements such as supplement guidance, curated shopping lists and lab test assessments.
“Our AI-driven platform gives dietitians ‘superpowers,’ automating burdens like insurance claims, scheduling, and patient follow-ups so they can focus on providing intimate and thoughtful care,” said Fay CEO Sammy Faycurry.
Berry Street, a New York-based company, facilitates connections between patients and registered dietitians while integrating with insurance providers to ensure affordability and accessibility. Also boasting thousands of dietitians using its platform, the company indicates it aims to broaden its reach and strengthen its role in shifting healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive dietary management.
Investors are clearly buying into the idea that nutrition is going to be a significant element of healthcare moving forward. Fay’s $50 million Series B funding round, led by Goldman Sachs, valued the company at a cool $500 million.
“Nutrition is a fundamental component of healthcare and yet it is often overlooked until it is too late, with people putting off behavior change until they get diagnosed with an avoidable chronic condition,” said Goldman Sachs investor Chase Williams. “It doesn’t have to be that way, and a major part of US healthcare moving towards value-based care is getting the system as a whole to work in a more proactive and preventative way.”
