Nuvilab

Established in 2018, Nuvilab is a South Korean company specializing in data-driven solutions for the food service industry, with a core mission to reduce food waste and enhance nutritional management. The company was founded by CEO Dae-hoon Kim and CTO Jey-yoon Ru, both former engineers from Hyundai Motor Co. They leveraged their expertise in image analysis and camera sensor technology, originally applied in the automotive sector, to develop advanced food scanners. This transition from automotive research to food technology highlights a strategic pivot to address the global issue of food waste.

Nuvilab's business model is centered on providing its AI-powered food scanning technology as a subscription-based service. The company targets B2B and B2G clients, including hospitals, schools, corporate cafeterias, military bases, and the hospitality sector. By deploying its technology, clients can achieve significant operational efficiencies, with reported food waste reductions averaging 30%. Revenue is generated through subscriptions to its data analysis solutions, which utilize the semi-permanent hardware installed at client sites.

The company's flagship product is the AI Food Scanner, which uses a combination of 2D cameras, 3D depth sensors, and multi-modal AI to analyze food. In less than a second and with over 95% accuracy, the scanner can identify the type and quantity of food on a plate or in a bin, both before and after meals, without needing to measure weight. This technology provides real-time data on consumption, leftovers, and nutritional intake. Nuvilab offers several versions of its scanner, such as the AI Food Tray Scanner for individual diet management and the AI Food Bin Scanner for tracking kitchen waste. These solutions provide actionable insights that enable cafeteria managers to optimize inventory, reduce overproduction, and make data-informed menu decisions. Beyond waste reduction, the platform offers personalized nutritional reports, making it a valuable tool for healthcare and wellness applications, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic diseases.

Keywords: food waste reduction, AI food scanner, food service technology, nutritional analysis, cafeteria management, food data analytics, computer vision, smart kitchen, inventory optimization, food-tech, sustainable food chain, corporate food service, hospital catering, school lunch programs, diet management, B2B food solutions, plate waste tracking, carbon footprint reduction, food consumption data, personalized nutrition