The same thing I was left wondering. What's the point here with $400 machine and juices 5-8 dollars per serving? I'm sure they could get some thousands of users, but how on earth could this be worth such a large investment?
The key idea is already in the second sentence of TFA:
"The product was an unlikely pick for top technology investors, but they were drawn to the idea of an internet-connected device that transforms single-serving packets of chopped fruits and vegetables into a refreshing and healthy beverage."
Keywords: IoT, single-serving refill packs, healthy fuit & veg.
further details reveal that the thing will track you at every single use pinging the central servers. It has a kill-switch to refuse juicing when they don't think you should be juicing anymore (for now expired package, but hey, nothing prevents updated from refining the "feature").
Need I continue?
Overall, it's a product that just rides the hype of juicing and IoT, but it's at least as nasty as the !#@%!# cloudpets [1].
For them, sure, the idea is surely interesting. But for the end-user? Why would anyone go for this over just ..buying a bottle of juice? It doesn't sound like this would be freshly pressed or anything, just from a weird container.
This is not a product for me but to be the devil's advocate for this post -
a.) single serving in one packaged delivered to customer - no need to take time out of day/week to shop/hand select, also, sometimes hard to get serving size right if doing it manually
b.) package is squeezed on device - no need to clean blender/juicer/prep utensils/prep fruits/vegetables
c.) slightly fresher than buying juice in bottle in store, and don't have to go to store
I was thinking (in all seriousness from anyone around that had used this product), how on earth is that healthier than eating or squeezing 2-3 oranges? Apart from the convenience. Do those bags really maintain the vitamins etc or is it just a "healthy alternative to soft drinks"?