At Nima, our mission is to provide food transparency and peace of mind to people with food sensitivities or allergies. Our breakthrough sensor technology empowers people to test their food for gluten, anytime and anywhere.
Our Story
Nima was founded in 2013 by Shireen Yates and Scott Sundvor, two entrepreneurs driven by a personal connection to food allergies and sensitivities. When Scott’s daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease, he realized how difficult it was to detect gluten cross-contamination. There simply weren’t any solutions for testing food on-the-go.
Shireen had struggled with digestive issues for years before discovering she had a gluten intolerance. She knew the importance of avoiding gluten, but found it extremely challenging when eating out or traveling.
Together, Shireen and Scott saw the need for a portable gluten sensor that could provide real-time results. They assembled a team of experts to create a sensor using innovative technology to detect gluten down to 20 parts per million.
After years of research and development, the first Nima Gluten Sensor was launched in 2014. This pocket-sized device and single-use capsules allowed people to test their food for gluten contamination in just a few minutes.
Our Technology
The Nima Gluten Sensor represents a breakthrough in food sensor technology. It uses a unique combination of features to accurately detect traces of gluten:
- Monoclonal antibody assay: Nima capsules contain proprietary antibodies that only bind to gluten peptides from wheat, rye, and barley. This provides targeted detection.
- Mechanical filtration: Food samples are mechanically filtered to extract gluten peptides for analysis while blocking larger food particles. This sample preparation step helps isolate the gluten.
- Electrochemical transduction: When the antibodies bind to gluten peptides, an electrical signal is generated proportional to the level of gluten. This signal is analyzed to determine if gluten is present above 20 ppm.
- Digital interface: The sensor’s built-in digital interface displays results as “Gluten Found” or “None Detected” on the easy-to-read screen.
By integrating these innovative technologies into a compact, user-friendly device, Nima enables consumers to quickly and confidently test foods for relevant levels of gluten anytime, anywhere.
Our Product Line
The Nima product line empowers people to test their food for gluten on-the-go.
Nima Gluten Sensor
This is the original Nima Gluten Sensor that started it all. The pocket-sized device comes with 12 single-use capsules so you can test foods out at restaurants, while traveling, or when eating at someone else’s home. It quickly detects gluten down to 20 ppm – the FDA threshold for ‘gluten-free’ labeling.
Nima Starter Kit
The Nima Starter Kit provides everything you need to start testing foods for gluten. It includes the Nima Gluten Sensor device, 12 disposable capsules, a capsule tray for storing capsules, the test wand for collecting food samples, a charging cable, and travel case. This bundle offers great value for a complete gluten testing system.
Nima Capsules
Nima Capsules are single-use test capsules designed specifically for the Nima Gluten Sensor. Each capsule contains the unique antibodies and filtration membrane to detect traces of gluten. Capsules should only be handled when testing food. They are available in packs of 6, 12, or 24 capsules.
Nima Accessories
From carrying cases to charging cables, Nima Accessories help you get the most out of your sensor. Carry cases keep your device protected while traveling. Multi-chargers let you charge multiple sensors at once. And the capsule tray provides safe storage for unused capsules.
Gluten Testing Made Simple
Testing your food with Nima is designed to be quick and easy:
- Collect a small sample of food using the test wand.
- Insert the wand into a Nima capsule and mix thoroughly with the food sample inside.
- Insert the loaded capsule into the sensor and close the lid.
- In just a few minutes, the results are displayed on the screen.
With just these simple steps, you can easily test for gluten before you eat. No more guessing if your food contains hidden gluten.
Why Nima
Nima offers the most advanced portable gluten sensor available with unique benefits:
- Detects down to 20 ppm: Meets the FDA gluten-free labeling standard.
- Works on many food types: Test solid, liquid, or creamy foods.
- Provides fast results: Just add sample, insert capsule, and get results in minutes.
- Easy to use: User-friendly one-button operation.
- Portable: Compact, lightweight design for testing anywhere.
- Single-use capsules: Eliminate cross-contamination from testing.
- Digital interface: Displays results clearly as “Gluten Found” or “None Detected”.
- Rechargeable battery: Lasts for months between charges.
With Nima, consumers finally have an easy, reliable way to test foods for relevant levels of gluten contamination on-the-go.
Nima App
The Nima App lets you get even more value from your sensor:
- Store photos and details of the foods you test for future reference.
- Generate reports to track gluten findings over time.
- Receive reminders when it’s time to reorder capsules.
- Find gluten-free restaurants and bakeries based on results uploaded by the Nima community.
- See the latest Nima product announcements and special offers.
By connecting your Nima sensor to the app, you get access to extended features and community-powered food discovery.
Who We Serve
The Nima Gluten Sensor is designed for anyone who needs or wants to test their food for gluten on-the-go.
- People with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity who require a strict gluten-free diet.
- Individuals with wheat allergy or other gluten-related conditions.
- Parents of children with gluten sensitivities looking to keep kids safe.
- Those following a gluten-free diet for other health reasons or preferences.
- People who simply want the peace of mind of knowing their food is gluten-free.
For all these consumers, Nima provides an invaluable tool to detect hidden gluten so they can feel more confident when dining out, traveling, or eating food prepared by others.
Our Mission
Nima’s mission is to empower people to enjoy food with true peace of mind by providing innovative solutions that offer transparency about what’s really in your food.
We aim to:
- Set a new standard for food sensitivity management through sensor technology.
- Enable people to confidently make smart food choices that work for their individual needs.
- Build an inclusive community centered around food awareness and transparency.
- Continually innovate portable, user-friendly food sensors that deliver rapid, reliable results.
By combining breakthrough technology with meaningful support resources, we strive to help people with food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities thrive.
Our Commitment to Customers
At Nima, customers are our top priority. We make the following commitments to each and every customer:
- We will continue innovating to make our sensors smarter, faster, and more useful.
- We will openly communicate what our technology can and can’t detect.
- We will enable customers to order capsules and accessories conveniently online.
- We will quickly resolve any product quality issues or service concerns.
- We will listen and respond to customer feedback to improve experiences.
- We will safeguard customer data and privacy preferences.
- We will provide exceptional customer support each step of the way.
By upholding these commitments, we aim to build long-term trust and deliver complete satisfaction.
Our Team
Nima was founded by entrepreneurs Scott Sundvor and Shireen Yates who have guided the company from concept to global brand by upholding our mission and values.
Our team combines world-class engineers, food scientists, app developers, and customer service experts. We also partner with trusted manufacturing facilities to produce our innovative products.
The Future of Food Sensors
Looking ahead, Nima plans to continue pioneering food sensor technology that provides real-time food transparency. We see tremendous potential for our core sensing technology across a wider range of food applications.
Our roadmap includes:
- Optimizing sensors to detect additional food allergens and contaminants beyond gluten.
- Integrating connectivity and data analytics to reveal hidden insights about our food system.
- Investing in microfluidics and nanotechnology to miniaturize our sensors even further.
- Exploring reusable sensor cartridge systems to reduce waste.
- Expanding our sensor platform into professional settings such as food production facilities and labs.
By relentlessly innovating food sensor technology, our vision is to reshape how people everywhere understand and interact with food for the better.
At Nima, we believe knowledge is power when it comes to the food you eat. We look forward to continuing our mission of bringing food transparency into consumers’ hands through portable, empowering food sensor technology.