Business

Transylvanian AI Start-Up Wello Gets 1 Million Euros in Finance

Wello, an app based on artificial intelligence (AI) which aims to help obese children live healthier lifestyles has received financing of 1 million euros, of which 650,000 euros is a non-reimbursable loan from the European Union’s Operational Competitiveness Fund, part of the European Fund of Regional Development.

Based in Cluj, Transylvania – currently the hotbed of Romanian technology – Wello’s development began in August of last year, and the application will be launched in beta format this autumn. It aims to offer a practical solution to child obesity, and comes at a time when one in three European children aged from six to nine is overweight or obese. In Romania the problem is even more acute: the country’s children are on average the second most obese in Europe.

“Wello offers a way for families to change the way that they understand and record their health, helping users – both parents and children – to live longer, better and happier lives,” said Sveatoslav Vizitiu, co-founder of Wello. “The Wello platform – whose overall objective is to help obese children lose weight in a healthy way – will be a digital engine and validated source of information about nutrition and lifestyle for the whole family. Wello includes an element of gaming which will help children remain motivated and, through its use of artificial intelligence, will evaluate the health of each member of the family.”

The Wello app is being developed by Art Dynasty, also based in Cluj, one of Romania’s largest and most successful user interface and user experience design companies.