Fresh uses AI to cut food waste and simplify meal planning

When Jaden Brozynski, Chris Miklosy and Logan May moved off campus and off Marquette University’s meal plan, they found themselves staring into refrigerators filled with half-used ingredients and little inspiration. Between busy class schedules, limited budgets and the frustration of wasted food, they began imagining a smarter way to plan meals.

That idea became Fresh, an AI-powered meal planning app that helps users prepare nutritious, affordable meals while making the most of the food they buy. The company uses artificial intelligence to create customized meal bundles based on user preferences, cooking skill level and budget. By suggesting recipes with overlapping ingredients, the app helps keep grocery costs low and reduces the risk of food going unused. Users can shop from a grocery list organized by aisle or take advantage of Fresh’s Instacart integration, which allows for one-click ordering with pre-filled carts.

The founders began developing Fresh in 2024 while participating in Marquette’s Accelerating Ingenuity in Markets (AIM) FinTech Program. Drawing on mentorship, lab space and business coursework, they turned their concept into a functioning app.

Fresh launched a beta version in January 2025 and now counts about 3,500 active users, with a strong percentage logging in daily. The company has raised about $65,000 in early funding, including angel investment and pitch competition awards.

A technology-driven approach to meal planning
At its core, Fresh aims to tackle a significant challenge: U.S. households waste about 60 million tons of food each year, and according to Brozynski, much of it because people can’t easily figure out what to make with the groceries on hand.

The founders have partnered with 55 recipe creators, many with large social media followings, and share a portion of Instacart commissions with them. This model helps creators earn revenue for their work while giving Fresh users access to a diverse library of professional-quality recipes.

Looking ahead
The team is focused on expanding Fresh’s bundles feature, scaling infrastructure to support growth and building its user base toward a goal of 10,000 active users. They plan to seek additional grants to help fund their expansion.

“We’re making it easier to cook healthy meals at home, making it more economically feasible, and reducing food waste overall,” Miklosy said.

With a mission grounded in technology and sustainability, Fresh is prepared to grow. To learn more about the company, connect with Fresh here.