Startup Cafe: Nutrition, AI Health Innovation & Entrepreneurship
☕️ Startup Cafe: Nutrition, AI Health Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Today, our guests are Bernard Louvat, Founder and CEO of Tera, Your AI Nutritionist and Functional Food Shopper, and his Nutrition team, including Melanie Murphy Richter, MS in Nutrition Science, RDN, and Chiara Pomari, MD, MS in Nutrition Science. Jeffrey Chernick will moderate the event.
Bernard and his team are building Tera, an AI Nutritionist & Functional Food Shopper that helps health-conscious people heal and optimize their well-being through personalized food-as-medicine guidance.
He will share his background, what inspired Tera, what personalized nutrition is, and why it matters. He will explain how Tera’s AI platform works, what it does, and who it serves. He will share Tera’s future vision and potential impact on healthcare and food systems.
Melanie and Chiara will discuss common nutrition myths, practical tips for everyday wellness and how technology can empower healthier choices.
The session will end with audience Q&A, inviting engagement and connection around Tera’s mission.
Agenda
8:45 - 9:45 am • Coffee and Socialize
9:45 - 10:30 am • Scheduled Experience
July 16th, 2025
About: Bernard Louvat
Bernard Louvat is a serial entrepreneur, founder, CEO, and board member with multiple successful exits. He is currently building Tera, an AI Nutritionist & Functional Food Shopper that helps health-conscious people heal and optimize their well-being through personalized food-as-medicine guidance. Previously, he founded TouchCommerce, a SaaS live chat and AI messaging platform for the Telecom, Media and Banking industries, scaling it to $60 million ARR before its acquisition by Nuance, now Microsoft.
Bernard also founded Evolution Robotics (sold to iRobot) and BizBuyer (sold to GE), and held GM/Country Manager roles at CitySearch, Office Depot, and The Disney Store. A Harvard and HEC Paris MBA, he has raised over $100 million in venture funding and specializes in AI, SaaS, and consumer tech.
🔗 WEBSITE | 🔗 LINKEDIN
About: Melanie Murphy Richter, MS, RDN - Tera Nutrition Team
Melanie is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, recognized as 2023's “Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year" by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She serves on the Board of Scientific Advisors of Tera, a nutrition technology company developing AI-powered tools for personalized dietary guidance. Melanie is the Director of Communications and a Medical Science Educator for Prolon, a longevity science company.
As a graduate instructor of Nutrition Physiology through the Lifespan for the University of California Irvine (UCI)'s Nursing Department, she mentors and educates future healthcare professionals on the power of nutrition on one’s health and lifespan. In 2019, Melanie founded Wholistic Ritual, a science-backed holistic healing, nutrition, and integrative medicine practice.
🔗WEBSITE | 🔗 LINKEDIN | 🔗 INSTAGRAM
About: Chiara Pomari, MD, MS - Tera Nutrition Team
Chiara is an Italian Medical Doctor and Fulbright Scholar, awarded by the U.S. Department of State for academic excellence and leadership potential. She serves on the Board of Scientific Advisors of Tera, a nutrition technology company developing AI-powered tools for personalized dietary guidance.
Chiara holds a Master of Science in Nutritional Science from the University of Southern California, where she conducted clinical research on the Mediterranean diet and aging at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Originally trained in medicine at the University of Verona, she is passionate about translating evidence-based nutrition into accessible, real-world strategies to promote long-term health and disease prevention.
Moderator: Jeffrey Chernick
Jeffrey Chernick is a serial entrepreneur, startup mentor, and angel investor/advisor. Currently based in Venice, California, Jeffrey is running his companies and giving back to his communities. A former Wall Street wealth manager, Jeffrey realized early on that creating something from nothing is where it’s at. His mobility company, RideAmigos - the first ride-share platform of its kind - has taken millions of cars off the road for thousands of companies across the US and Canada.
With over 15 million downloads and $9.5 million in venture funding, Vyng, his video caller ID app, boasts 4 billion videos played across 170 countries. Jeffrey has been featured by more than 30 media outlets, including TechCrunch, Forbes, NBC, ABC, and the LA Times. He is a guest lecturer in entrepreneurship at Pepperdine University’s MBA Program. In his spare time, Jeffrey DJs across the world with neon drumsticks.
🔗 WEBSITE
About The KINN
The KINN is a membership network, accelerator, and collaborative workspace for conscious entrepreneurs, based in Venice, CA. Running tailored inner development and business accelerator programs for startups, providing executive coaching, accountability, and access to a top tier LA-based community of conscious entrepreneurs, creatives, intrapreneurs, and investors. If you're interested in learning more about KINN Membership please visit http://thekinn.co/apply
About Startup Coil
Networking for innovators to connect with like-minded individuals, startups, and entrepreneurs. startupcoil.com
About Nerds of LA
Join Nerds of LA—where LA’s most innovative minds collide! We’re building the ultimate network by connecting with other powerhouse groups in the area, expanding our reach across the city. If you’re ready to link up with founders, VCs, AI visionaries, and innovators shaping the future, this is the group you’ve been looking for.
Pick your platform and join the conversation with LA’s tech community. 🤝 🦾
Highlights from previous special guests
Building Businesses from the Heart with Lavinia Errico, Co-Founder of Equinox
How to Scale Consciously with Ryan Blair
Founder Mental Health Pledge with Brad Baum
Art Show with Denise Di Novi
Operating Incubators with Reuben Vollmer
Malibu Love Affair with Brigitte Londo
Live Through Love with Ruben Rojas
Finding Stillness with Henry Mitchell
Smarter with Science! with Science Stanley and Zen Zachary
The Science of Charisma: The 7 Secrets of Public Speaking with Richard Greene
Unveiling the Human Experience with Paul Vincent
Note: By attending this event, I hereby give my permission to the Horizon House LLC, their Releases, and to the photographer, my free and unlimited consent and permission to publish/broadcast, republish/rebroadcast or exhibit in the furtherance of their work, with or without identification of me by name, any photographs, videos or audios of myself, that have been obtained from my participation in KINN or Horizon Studio activities. I furthermore waive any and all claims for any compensation by reason thereof or for damages for reasons thereof.