Women's Activism NYC

Julie Chapon

1987 - Today

By: Nathalie Perrin | Date Added:

Julie Chapon is the co-founder of Yuka, a mobile application that allows users to analyze food and cosmetic products from a health and environmental perspective. Yuka provides information that was previously difficult to access or understand as a consumer, finally enabling informed purchasing decisions. Yuka is an app, but it's also a book on nutrition, and a blog that covers topics ranging from nutrition to healthier cosmetics and environmental impacts. It serves as a valuable resource for developing people's knowledge Julie serves as a role model for many women, embodying entrepreneurship with values and a commitment to making our world more sustainable, and I admire her for this. Indeed, the values and vision that Julie embodies through the development of this app give me hope in a world that is still too consumer-oriented, where our health and planet bear the brunt for the profit of a few. My friends say I'm a fan, and I proudly acknowledge it because it's thanks to individuals like Julie and her co-founders that things are changing. They have achieved immense success in Europe, and now they are working with industry players to make products healthier. They recently moved to NYC to expand Yuka in USA. Welcome to NYC! Thanks to Yuka, it's also easier to educate our children on these topics. My daughters are familiar with the app and understand the color code. I've been able to easily explain concepts like "too much sugar or salt" and, more importantly, additives. Today, when faced with a new product, they’ll ask me to check Yuka to decide whether to buy it or not. Julie's contribution is significant for me in our daily lives and for the future, ensuring the health of our children and the planet they will inherit. I had the chance to meet Julie to prepare this article. I encountered someone with a smiling face, transmitting the desire to make a difference, who explained her journey and what gives her energy in this fabulous project. Julie graduated from a French business school (EDHEC) and, after a few years in a consulting firm, felt the need to find a meaningful job. During this quest, she participated in a Hackathon with her future co-founders, and over a weekend, they worked on what would become Yuka. She realized she loved working on this topic, and the team also found that they worked well together and complemented each other. The adventure was launched! In the first year, they maintained their respective jobs, and Yuka was a side project. The app was officially launched in January 2017. Julie draws motivation from the positive impact she sees every day through user feedback. For her, Yuka is a socially impactful company where money is a means and not an end. Currently (2023), they are undergoing B-corp processes to have their social and environmental commitments recognized. These values guide each of her decisions, contributing to improving the world we live in. When asked about advice for women who want to embark on such an adventure, Julie first addresses the imposter syndrome that affects many people, especially women. Her main advice revolves around self-confidence: having confidence in one's abilities, believing in oneself because when the desire is there, a lack of knowledge is not a barrier. It is now possible to easily acquire knowledge and find information. She also emphasizes surrounding oneself with the right people—competent and supportive—listening to others' advice but not letting it destabilize or divert from one's goals, as some advice can be too intrusive and not always relevant.

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