Meet Delian Petrov & Lawrence Stevens | Co-Founders; CEO & COO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Delian Petrov & Lawrence Stevens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Delian & Lawrence, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The idea for FridgeGuide Ai came from a mix of personal experience and a shared interest in solving a practical problem. Back in 2015, I developed ‘FridgeBuddy’, a simple tool to help people find recipes based on what they had at home. This idea stayed with me, but it wasn’t until 2023, when Lawrence and I were at a local farmer’s market in San Diego, that everything clicked. We spotted brussels sprouts at one of the produce booths and couldn’t think of any recipes for utilizing them to their fullest potential. That initial thought made us realize how often people buy groceries that they don’t end up using, and how challenging it can be to keep track of everything in your pantry or fridge. It’s a common issue – you end up wasting food, and it feels like you’re stuck making the same meals over and over again.

That’s when we saw the opportunity to use AI to make things easier. We thought, why not build an app that not only helps people manage their groceries but also suggests recipes based on what they already have? This wouldn’t just make meal planning simpler; it could also help reduce food waste, which is something we’re both passionate about.

So, we teamed up with Viktor, a brilliant software engineer, and incorporated FridgeGuide Ai in mid August 2023. Our goal was to create something practical, easy to use, and genuinely helpful for managing meals and groceries. We wanted to make an app that we’d use ourselves and that we believed could make a real difference in people’s daily lives.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Delian: FridgeGuide Ai is our innovative leap into making meal planning more efficient and sustainable. What sets us apart is our commitment to revolutionize grocery management using AI, all while tackling a global issue: food waste. A significant part in my entrepreneurial journey was the successful launch of SeaStatus, an environmentally-focused water data app, leading to its eventual sale in 2018. It not only honed my business skills but also deepened my resolve to pursue sustainability, which is at the core of FridgeGuide Ai. As a seasoned software engineer, I find a unique blend of creativity and logic, where each coding challenge is akin to piecing together a puzzle. This career is more than writing code; it’s about creatively solving problems and the thrill of resolving complex issues, which keeps me immersed, often late into the night.

Lawrence: Like most people I struggle with coming up with fun, new recipe creations at the drop of a dime. It’s even more difficult to find recipes online while avoiding the constant annoying advertisements. I’m most excited that FridgeGuide Ai will be able to generate recipes for any serving size and provide the expiration dates for the grocery items you purchase. My professional journey started in the Big Apple (NYC) in 2013 when I entered the dynamic world of public relations. The challenging times on the east coast equipped me with vital skills in adaptability and resilience, invaluable in navigating the complexities of our startup culture. Over the years, my career has expanded into marketing, event management, and technical program management. As the COO for FridgeGuide Ai, I love utilizing my different skill sets that I’ve picked up throughout the last decade to help make our app a resounding success.

Delian: To assist with the development build of the app, I brought in my childhood and trusted friend from Bulgaria as our lead software engineer. Viktor’s role in developing our application’s robust and scalable technology has been instrumental, enhancing our product’s functionality and market readiness.

Lawrence: And I brought in our Chief Bark Officer (CBO), Buddy the beagle! His interests include: playing fetch on the beach, going on road trips to places near and far and taking long naps on the couch. We pay him with pupachinos and dog bones and so far we’ve received no complaints.

Delian: Together, we’ve blended our diverse strengths and experiences to create FridgeGuide Ai. Our collective journeys have been about more than just building an app. It’s about redefining sustainable living and offering a solution that makes a real difference in the world, one kitchen at a time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If our best friend was visiting for a week, we’d have the perfect itinerary to showcase the best of San Diego. Starting the mornings at our favorite coffee shops like Subterranean Coffee in North Park, Garden Coffee in Old Town, and Moniker Coffee Co in Point Loma is a must. Each place has its own unique charm and character, perfect for leisurely morning conversations. We’d also include a visit to the Lafayette Hotel in North Park which has been newly renovated and includes a Oaxacan-themed restaurant, a speakeasy bar and free arcade games to play. The restaurant does serve crickets in their guacamole if you’re up for the challenge.

As the week unfolds, we’d make sure to balance the buzz of the city with some serene moments. A trip to Kate Sessions Park for a sunset picnic with a charcuterie plate is unbeatable for its stunning views. For a bit of unique entertainment, the Rooftop Cinema at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in Downtown San Diego offers an incredible experience, combining movies under the stars with the backdrop of the city skyline. We saw “Bridesmaids” during our last outing and laughed the night away. Of course, no visit is complete without a stroll along Mission Beach to soak in the coastal beauty. These activities showcase the diverse and dynamic spirit of our area.

As we enjoy these local gems, we’d also share our excitement about how FridgeGuide Ai is looking to form partnerships with local coffee shops and businesses. Our plan is to promote their offerings on our platform, creating a mutual benefit through profit sharing. It’s an integral part of our journey to give back and support the local community.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Lawrence: We’d like to give a shoutout to Mark Manson’s “The Art of Not Giving a F*ck”. This novel delves into the idea of directing our energy and focus towards things that genuinely matter in life. He emphasizes how we as humans develop resilience, strength and overall personal growth through suffering and struggling. Manson believes we should choose our values carefully, suggesting that our happiness and fulfillment hinge on what we decide to value and prioritize. A central theme of the book is encapsulated in Manson’s words, “who you are is defined by what you’re willing to struggle for,” which highlights the connection between our struggles and our identity.

Manson’s book has been instrumental in focusing our energy on FridgeGuide Ai. With our app we aim to make a meaningful impact in reducing food waste and assisting those in dire need of nourishment. As we embark on this journey, we anticipate facing various trials and tribulations. However, we believe these experiences will be pivotal in refining us into the best versions of ourselves, ultimately enhancing the value and effectiveness of our app.

Website: https://fridgeguideai.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/fridgeguideai/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/fridgeguideai