sylva

sylva

strategic design & innovation

strategic design & innovation

project summary

project summary

SYLVA is a smart dietary solution tailored to the physiological stages of women’s lives. Developed as part of the Financing New Ventures course at Pratt Institute, the app combines machine learning (VAE models), human-centered design, and culturally adaptive systems to address the long-ignored gap in women’s health and nutrition.

This project demonstrates the integration of:

  • Strategic business modeling

  • Tech-enabled innovation

  • Stakeholder-driven design

  • Sustainable value creation

SYLVA is a smart dietary solution tailored to the physiological stages of women’s lives. Developed as part of the Financing New Ventures course at Pratt Institute, the app combines machine learning (VAE models), human-centered design, and culturally adaptive systems to address the long-ignored gap in women’s health and nutrition.

This project demonstrates the integration of:

  • Strategic business modeling

  • Tech-enabled innovation

  • Stakeholder-driven design

  • Sustainable value creation

PROBLEM statement

PROBLEM statement

Despite the rise of digital health apps, most solutions are gender-neutral by default. They fail to address the 25% increase in poor health years for women compared to men (McKinsey, 2024).

From menstruation to menopause, women’s nutritional needs are dynamic, yet current tools remain static, often pushing supplements over personalized, food-based care.

We reframed this as a systems design challenge: How might we create a scalable solution that adapts to physiology, lifestyle, and culture—while building trust over time?

Despite the rise of digital health apps, most solutions are gender-neutral by default. They fail to address the 25% increase in poor health years for women compared to men (McKinsey, 2024).

From menstruation to menopause, women’s nutritional needs are dynamic, yet current tools remain static, often pushing supplements over personalized, food-based care.

Click the image below to check out the business proposal.

Click the image below to check out the business proposal.

results & reflections

results & reflections

The project received strong feedback for its clarity of value proposition, depth of market insight, and empathy-first execution.

Beyond academic success, it affirmed my belief that design—when paired with business rigor and systemic awareness—can build ventures that are both viable and vital.

The project received strong feedback for its clarity of value proposition, depth of market insight, and empathy-first execution.

Beyond academic success, it affirmed my belief that design—when paired with business rigor and systemic awareness—can build ventures that are both viable and vital.