The story of MenuSano begins with a problem that affects millions of lives, diet-related illnesses such as obesity and diabetes. Sonia Couto, the founder, saw how businesses struggled to provide accurate nutrition information and how high costs created barriers for compliance. In 2014, she set out to change that, building a platform that combined technology with a vision for better public health.
MenuSano, based in Toronto, started with restaurants but quickly grew into a global solution. Today, it helps bakeries, food manufacturers, hospitals, schools, and major restaurant chains meet strict labelling regulations in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Its reach extends to both small businesses and large global names like Shake Shack, Pizza Nova, MOMOFUKU, and Canopy Growth.
The software offers more than nutrition facts. It allows businesses to analyze recipes, calculate costs, and even experiment with new ingredients. By simplifying compliance, it gives food creators the freedom to innovate without losing sight of health standards. Couto’s focus was never only about rules and regulations; it was about creating tools that encourage better choices for consumers everywhere.
What makes MenuSano stand out is its commitment to accessibility. By replacing expensive lab testing with a reliable digital solution, it has opened doors for businesses of every size to contribute to healthier communities. This combination of clarity, compliance, and convenience has turned MenuSano into a trusted name in food technology.
For Couto, the mission remains clear: empower businesses and support healthier living. With every recipe analyzed and every label created, MenuSano continues to make nutrition information a universal standard, not a privilege.
Making Nutrition Labelling Accessible and Compliant
MenuSano was created with one purpose: to simplify nutrition labelling for food businesses worldwide through a SaaS platform that is easy, reliable, and affordable. It addresses global regulatory requirements with a tool that handles recipe analysis and compliance effectively.
Sonia Couto shaped MenuSano with a clear vision: reduce barriers for businesses of every size navigating complex nutrition laws. The platform is practical and functional. Users input ingredients, and it generates labels that meet standards across borders. What once felt overwhelming becomes achievable, and affordability remains central.
Behind this simplicity lies a deep understanding of the challenges faced by small food producers. High costs, red tape, and regulatory variations often exclude them from compliance. MenuSano changes that reality. It creates opportunity where many saw roadblocks and provides a solution that is actively used by businesses to achieve compliance quickly.
At its core, MenuSano blends practicality with innovation. Sonia focused on solving an urgent challenge, nutrition compliance, and built a scalable solution that works.
Sonia’s Path: From Accounting to Tech Founder
Sonia Couto began her career in accounting and operations within a manufacturing background before moving into the technology sector. From there, she rose into leadership by noticing gaps and stepping forward to address them.
She co-founded two SaaS products, including MenuSano and Field Eagle, both incubated at Konverge Digital Solutions. Her operational experience brings structure and balance to her ventures. Rather than follow passing trends, she concentrates on solutions that demonstrate results.
Her early years taught persistence, adaptability, and problem-solving. These qualities allowed her to scale startups with resilience and clarity. Sonia’s journey is built on steady growth and practical leadership.
Turning a Setback into Strength
Sonia’s journey carries a personal layer of resilience. As a breast cancer survivor, she transformed that experience into strength, shifting her leadership style.
She moved from hiding emotion to embracing vulnerability. This shift made her leadership authentic and inspired her team to rise alongside her. It also shaped how she builds teams, valuing both skill and dedication to withstand challenges.
Mentor, Speaker, Advocate
Sonia’s impact extends outside her ventures. She mentors startups, delivers keynote speeches, and hosts podcasts that guide entrepreneurs through growth and setbacks.
She created and hosts Tenacity with Sonia C., a platform centered on perseverance in building technology businesses. It highlights not just success but also the failures and lessons that shape growth.
She also serves on Hackergal’s board, encouraging diversity in technology, and leads Founders Circle, a community where entrepreneurs share challenges and breakthroughs. Through these efforts, Sonia uplifts and supports others.
The Mindset of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Sonia is a strong advocate of the MVP approach. She advises entrepreneurs to see MVPs as tools rather than trophies. Define the test, keep it focused, and avoid unnecessary features.
MenuSano grew with this mindset. The team measured interest, adjusted quickly, and avoided wasted efforts. Sonia’s broader philosophy emphasizes building smart, testing early, and resisting the urge for perfection.
Recognized for Leadership in Nutrition Tech
Sonia’s leadership earned recognition in 2023 with the IE 100 Global Award for Nutrition Business Leader of the Year. This award reflects more than publicity. It acknowledges the real impact she created in nutrition technology by providing tools that matter to food producers and regulators.
The award represents the respect and trust she has gained in her field, underscoring the clarity of her vision.
Resilience as a Foundational Strategy
Two decades in technology have shown that endurance matters as much as vision. Sonia’s career demonstrates persistence through pivots, personal battles, and entrepreneurial challenges. Her ability to adapt and move forward defines her leadership.
She leads with intention, embraces failure as a lesson, and continues to focus on building for the future. Her resilience is not only personal but also the foundation of how she mentors and leads others.
The Future: Tools for Transformation
Sonia views technology as a tool for meaningful change. She believes automation and AI allow entrepreneurs to focus on impactful work. Her vision highlights industries such as healthcare, mining, and food, where innovation addresses urgent needs.
Healthcare requires tools for early detection, mining needs greater operational visibility, and food businesses depend on compliance support. Sonia’s focus is practical, addressing gaps that matter. For her, technology is not about trends but about transformation.