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Zenamins (YC S14) Mails You Personalized Vitamins

17 points by thewojo 12y ago

baby 12y ago
Aren't vitamins pretty much useless if you don't have any deficiencies?
- kitcar 12y ago
  Yes, there have been problems with vitamin manufacturers making aggressive claims regarding the power of vitamins (see http://www.salon.com/2013/06/25/are_vitamins_a_billion_dollar_scam_partner/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/25/are_vitamins_a_billion_dolla... )
- jasallen 12y ago
  Yes, yes they are. I have a problem with this, as I don't foresee a hockey stick growth business model that doesn't also involve false claims, but maybe I'm just that guy who didn't get it. As previous poster said, focusing on something like pre-natal would be a viable and honest model, but I'm not sure it's a hockey stick model.
salimmadjd 12y ago
There are times when you hear about something (like Uber, AirBnB etc.) and you tell yourself: shit, I wish I had thought of that. This is one of them. This is not a comparison to Uber, as I see this business more like a Dollar Shave Club. This is the case when the aspirin vs. vitamin analogy becomes rather literal. For that reason, like the dollar shave club, I think they need a way to get the word out. Ideally a charismatic or fun video that can get traction. But there is still no guarantee. If I'm taking vitamins, I'll wait until my bottle runs out and by then, I'll forget about it and buy it at the store next time I'm walking by the isles. Alternatively, they should turn vitamins into aspirin by focusing on a specific vertical. I would have focused on prenatal care, etc. Bring an OB or Pediatrician as an advisor or spokesperson. Create the case for how these vitamins are more targeted for the expecting mothers, produced naturally, dozed correctly, etc. Best of luck to the team!
- 2pasc 12y ago
  Could you contact me? (plg at name of my company in my hn profile) thx
- Torgo 12y ago
  >Alternatively, they should turn vitamins into aspirin by focusing on a specific vertical. I would have focused on prenatal care, etc. Bring an OB or Pediatrician as an advisor or spokesperson. Create the case for how these vitamins are more targeted for the expecting mothers, produced naturally, dozed correctly, etc. Dr. Weil Vitamin Advisor already does this. They also do the packs and everything else as far as I can tell.
dhackner 12y ago
I've seen convincing results from amino acid therapy, but I sit among the skeptics on multi-vitamins. Without some sort of differentiating research for their products, this doesn't seem vastly superior to a recurring amazon purchase.
- aradr 12y ago
  Hi there, if you take 3 or more vitamins a day, our packs are arranged into daily doses and far more convenient that dealing with pill bottles. Would love to hear your feedback. Thanks, Arad -- zenamins, CEO and Founder

17 points by thewojo 12y ago

baby 12y ago

Aren't vitamins pretty much useless if you don't have any deficiencies?

kitcar 12y ago
Yes, there have been problems with vitamin manufacturers making aggressive claims regarding the power of vitamins (see http://www.salon.com/2013/06/25/are_vitamins_a_billion_dollar_scam_partner/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/25/are_vitamins_a_billion_dolla... )
jasallen 12y ago
Yes, yes they are. I have a problem with this, as I don't foresee a hockey stick growth business model that doesn't also involve false claims, but maybe I'm just that guy who didn't get it. As previous poster said, focusing on something like pre-natal would be a viable and honest model, but I'm not sure it's a hockey stick model.

salimmadjd 12y ago

There are times when you hear about something (like Uber, AirBnB etc.) and you tell yourself: shit, I wish I had thought of that. This is one of them. This is not a comparison to Uber, as I see this business more like a Dollar Shave Club. This is the case when the aspirin vs. vitamin analogy becomes rather literal. For that reason, like the dollar shave club, I think they need a way to get the word out. Ideally a charismatic or fun video that can get traction. But there is still no guarantee. If I'm taking vitamins, I'll wait until my bottle runs out and by then, I'll forget about it and buy it at the store next time I'm walking by the isles. Alternatively, they should turn vitamins into aspirin by focusing on a specific vertical. I would have focused on prenatal care, etc. Bring an OB or Pediatrician as an advisor or spokesperson. Create the case for how these vitamins are more targeted for the expecting mothers, produced naturally, dozed correctly, etc. Best of luck to the team!

2pasc 12y ago
Could you contact me? (plg at name of my company in my hn profile) thx
Torgo 12y ago
>Alternatively, they should turn vitamins into aspirin by focusing on a specific vertical. I would have focused on prenatal care, etc. Bring an OB or Pediatrician as an advisor or spokesperson. Create the case for how these vitamins are more targeted for the expecting mothers, produced naturally, dozed correctly, etc. Dr. Weil Vitamin Advisor already does this. They also do the packs and everything else as far as I can tell.

dhackner 12y ago

I've seen convincing results from amino acid therapy, but I sit among the skeptics on multi-vitamins. Without some sort of differentiating research for their products, this doesn't seem vastly superior to a recurring amazon purchase.

aradr 12y ago
Hi there, if you take 3 or more vitamins a day, our packs are arranged into daily doses and far more convenient that dealing with pill bottles. Would love to hear your feedback. Thanks, Arad -- zenamins, CEO and Founder