Seeds

 

Name: Sarah Hardin-White NYU affiliation: Stern NYU status: Graduate

Did you enter last year?: No Do you have any teammates?: Yes How many, including yourself?: 3

 

Concept Name

Seeds

 

High Concept Statement

Seeds reimagines General Mills’ ‘Box Tops for Education’ program for the plant-based community. Convert purchases to points, points to dollars for social and environmental organizations.

 

Status Quo

The number of people identifying as vegan or vegetarian has grown over 500% the past three years, but there is currently not a way to spread this exploding trends’ positive effects on humans, the environment, and animals beyond individual plates. Seeds harnesses purchasing power and activism to amplify change.

 

Competition

Both customers and companies in the plant-based foods space are motivated by a shared mission rather than only low prices or bottom lines. Customers are high-income, socially-conscious urbanites, while partner companies are family-owned and dispersed throughout the country. In this virtual farmers’ market, users donate to causes that are working to solve problems in the global food system, and companies enjoy increased exposure and recognition as a brand that gives back.

 

Solution

There is not an existing option for customers. Moreover, the popular buy – give concept and partnership loyalty programs do not currently exist in food.

 

Revenue Model

In terms of revenue, Seeds is a data company. When users (who have built an extensive profile) scan a QR code on products to collect points, they will be asked to confirm the purchase by taking a photo of the receipt. In the process, we will gather information not only specific to that sale, but also other products they are buying. This is data we will sell to participating companies. We also see opportunities in additional ad revenue, including allowing brands to connect the QR codes to short marketing videos, or interesting point of origin data (i.e., the farm where a product originated). This type of data will endear the consumer to the product and reinforce repeat customers.

 

Which platform would you like to launch your app on?

iPhone

 

Which category best describes your app?

Food & Drink