Interview with Saleh Alnanih, Co-founder & CEO of Nodiet

Today's interview is with Saleh Alnanih, CEO and one of the co-founders of the digital weight loss service Nodiet. He leverages 5 years of experience in retail tech and operations to streamline the company's processes and ensure seamless service delivery. Also, his background in managing complex operations and integrating technology solutions is vital in maintaining the efficiency and reliability of the telehealth platform. Here's what he had to say:

Can you tell us a bit about you and the other founders? What's your background?

In the heart of Saudi Arabia, we are three visionary entrepreneurs who have come together to revolutionize healthcare through our groundbreaking telehealth company. Each of us brings a wealth of experience from diverse industries, we are united by a common goal - to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality for all.

• Saleh Alnanih, CEO - his background in managing complex operations and integrating technology solutions is vital in maintaining the efficiency and reliability of our telehealth platform.
• Saud Alwuthaynani, Chief Marketing Officer - his strategic insight into market dynamics and consumer behavior is instrumental in crafting effective marketing campaigns that resonate with users.
• Saleh Altuwaijri, Chief Finance & Strategy - brings 16 years of extensive experience in banking, FMCG, and startups to Nodiet.

Together, we aim to set new standards in the healthcare industry. Our diverse backgrounds, shared commitment to innovation and excellence are the cornerstones of Nodiet's success, poised to transform the healthcare landscape in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.

Let's speak about Nodiet. What is the market problem you want to solve, and where do you see the opportunity?

Overweight and obesity prevalence in Saudi Arabia has exceeded 54% among females despite the various weight loss solutions available.

In a rapidly changing world towards a less moving and more spoiled lifestyle, it is exhausting to go against the flow by adapting traditional and willpower-backed solutions to lose weight. Weight is more complex, and willpower is not enough for long-term weight care anymore.

Thus, Nodiet was founded in 2022 to revolutionize weight care in Saudi Arabia by leveraging the latest science and technology innovations to make it easier than ever to lose and maintain weight.

Our solution aims to tackle patient frustration due to the lengthy process they endure each month before using weight loss medications. "No Diet" provides a streamlined solution with its online automated service, offering an accessible and affordable way to complete the necessary steps efficiently.

The total population of Saudi adults aged 20 to 60 is 18.7 million. Approximately 58% of this demographic is overweight, resulting in a target group of 10.83 million overweight and obese adults residing in Saudi Arabia.

What are the features differentiating your offering from competitors?

For overweight and obese Saudi women, Nodiet is an online weight loss clinic that offers access to GLP-1 treatment programs at the most affordable rates. Nodiet ensures effortless weight loss by providing only clinically proven anti-obesity medications combined with specialized online medical supervision.

Unlike traditional weight loss clinics, which are often costly and restrictive, Nodiet delivers accessible, personalized, and affordable GLP-1 programs tailored specifically for each patient.

Can you share some numbers and achievements of the business?

We have achieved 19x growth in 12 months.

In 2023, more than 5,000 nodieters (it is a name we call those who lose weight with no diet) joined our weight loss program. We experienced dramatic growth over the course of one year by growing a starting base from 67 active nodieters to 1,250 (19x in 12 months).

What are your medium-term plans?

A few things:

• To be the first choice for online weight care in KSA
• Leverage technology to maintain nodieters results
• Build our online community for weight loss

Do you have some advice for other entrepreneurs in the digital health space in MENA?

The space is rich in terms of opportunities. However, four things you may consider before starting.

• One, the pain of your customer while you test your solution - what are you going to offer other than the conventional service provider.
• Two, the commercial side of it as the market, which is highly covered by insurance and government-backed hospitals.
• Three, how to scale the model - conventional healthcare is a labor intensive model which is a bottleneck for scalability.
• Four, how to deal with the regulations - this sector is highly regulated and it requires a high understanding of it.