DigiDine: The Digital Dining Table

Are you tired of eating alone? Does the idea of sharing a meal with someone from the other side the world sound exciting?

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Inspiration

DigiDine is built upon the concept of commensality—the practice of engaging in the social aspects of dining.

Since the dawn of civilization, sharing a meal has been more than just nutrition; it’s been the centerpiece of human connection. From the times of tribes sitting around a campfire breaking bread has always been a way to bond, share stories, and build communities.

As Chef Rene Redzepi wrote in You and I Eat the Same, "Food can’t cure all the world's ails, but it’s a start. If we can share a meal, maybe we can share a conversation, too." This captures the essence of what DigiDine aims to achieve. Through meals, we transmit cultural values, traditions, and social norms. The dinner table is the original social network.

Research in anthropology, sociology, and psychology shows that commensality is deeply rooted in our biology and has a significant impact on physical and mental well-being. What’s exciting is that DigiDine not only preserves the social nature of dining— it also drives the broader adoption of MR technology.

What it does

DigiDine is a mixed-reality platform designed to revolutionize the dining experience by blending physical and digital worlds, enabling users to share meals and meaningful moments—no matter the distance.

DigiDine has powerful features that make dining more than just about eating.

  • A Connector using Invitation Mode allows families and friends to share a meal and recreate the warmth of home with customized dining spaces. With hand tracking, you can interact with your food and participate in a Virtual Toast, offering a tactile, interactive experience that mimics real-world dining.
  • An Adventurer using Match Mode can meet new people from around the world, fostering global connections over shared meals. With AI-powered real-time translation, language barriers disappear, making global dining experiences seamless and encouraging deeper cross-cultural understanding.
  • A Dreamer using Companion Mode experiences immersive dining with AI companions. Children can learn about food and nutrition in imaginative settings, like dining in outer space.

With these features, DigiDine ensures that dining is not just about food—it’s about connecting, sharing, and experiencing meals together in exciting, innovative ways, no matter where you are.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We believe DigiDine Will Encourage Broader Adoption of XR devices like Meta Quests.

Interpersonal connections and social interaction are key factors in embracing new technologies. Dining, being one of the most inherently social activities, is central to DigiDine’s mission. The platform is designed to capitalize on users' desire for shared experiences, encouraging broader adoption of Meta Quests.

Research shows that immersive environments increase emotional engagement, strengthen relationships, and enhance the sensory aspects of eating, making food taste better and the experience more enjoyable. By allowing people to share meals across distances in mixed reality, DigiDine fosters connection, reduces social isolation, and positions MR headsets as essential tools for enhancing social well-being.

What we learned

First, we discovered the growing need for meaningful virtual connections during our hackathon preparation.

Social isolation and chronic loneliness have been steadily increasing, with 60% of U.S. adults reporting feelings of loneliness, and 24% of the global population identifying as "very lonely" or "fairly lonely." The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, highlighting the urgent need for meaningful, virtual social experiences.

During the pandemic, virtual meals and gatherings rose sharply, with over 40% of families participating in virtual celebrations. However, traditional digital platforms lack the depth of real-world interaction, especially during shared experiences like dining. This gap presents a unique market opportunity for DigiDine to offer immersive, shared dining experiences that provide the warmth and connection people crave.

Second, we also realized the*massive market opportunity for digital shared dining experiences*

The global mixed reality market is valued at $2.8 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $72.8 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 45.34%. DigiDine is entering this rapidly expanding market, perfectly positioned to drive the adoption of MR headsets by offering a new layer of social interaction: immersive dining.

Business Model of DigiDine: The Digital Dining Table

DigiDine follows a Freemium Business Model to drive broad user adoption while monetizing through diverse revenue streams.

The Basic tier offers free access to 1-on-1 dining environments, in Match Mode and Invitation Mode, with limited digital dining companions.

The Premium plan, for $9.99 per month, unlocks custom dining environments, seats more than two people, and gives access to additional dining companions and full avatar customization.

The Corporate Tier, starting at $500 per month, can host large-scale virtual events, conferences, and networking dinners with branding opportunities and high-volume usage of internal events.

Additional revenue streams include in-app purchases, allowing users to buy exclusive virtual dining environments (e.g. exotic beaches, historical landmarks) and avatar customizations (e.g., unique utensils, table settings). We will also host exclusive virtual events featuring celebrity chefs, generating ticket sales.

Corporate partnerships and collaborations with grocery and food delivery services will enhance user engagement.

DigiDine also plans to license its API to third-party platforms, including the hospitality and education sectors, for further growth.

What's next for DigiDine: The Digital Dining Table

DigiDine is forging the future of Human-Food Interaction (HFI), blending physical and digital worlds to enhance how we experience dining. Our investment in R&D ensures DigiDine will be at the forefront of immersive and interactive dining experiences that leverage technology for health, social connection, and personalization.

In the first three months, we’ll focus on creating our Minimum Proof of Concept, or MPOC. This will be a basic prototype showcasing DigiDine’s core Mixed Reality features—letting users interact with a virtual dining environment while engaging with real food and utensils. This proof of concept is the foundation upon which the rest of the platform will be built.

From months three to six, we’ll create a Vertical Slice, Design Document and integrate AI-driven Dining Companions.

In months six to nine, we’ll roll out full avatar customization and motion tracking.

From months nine to twelve, we’ll launch real-time translation capabilities.

At the twelve to fifteen-month mark, we’ll integrate IoT (Internet of Things) technology to track nutritional data in real time. Smart utensils and plates will allow users to monitor calorie intake, portions, and even suggest healthier options as they dine.

By month fifteen, we’ll focus on scalability. We’ll ensure the platform can handle large-scale multi-user events, enabling virtual dinner parties, business luncheons, and even conferences.

Finally, between months eighteen and twenty-four, we’ll deliver a polished demo that will showcase all the core features of DigiDine in one cohesive experience. This is what we’ll present to stakeholders for feedback before moving to our full public launch after twenty-four months, with ongoing post-launch support.

By addressing these milestones, DigiDine will become the leader in immersive, health-conscious, and socially engaging dining experiences, revolutionizing the way we connect and eat.

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