Let me introduce you to Zach Yadegari, an 18-year-old high school senior from Long Island who’s both brilliant and refreshingly human in the way he tells his story. He started coding at age 7—leading class projects by 10, building his first app by 12—and now runs Cal AI, an AI-powered calorie-tracking app generating over $1.1 million per month. That translates to roughly $1.4 million in monthly revenue, or about $30 million annually.
What Made Cal AI a Hit?
- Effortless nutrition tracking: Snap a picture of your meal, and Cal AI estimates calories and macronutrients—no manual entries.
- Accuracy and downloads: Boasts a 90% accuracy rate and over 5 million downloads since launching in mid-2024.
- Lean and global team: Zach manages Cal AI with 17 team members spread across four continents, all while balancing high school life.
The Story Behind the Success
Zach’s path is as strategic as it is impressive:
- He coded early—first programming class at seven, published games on the App Store by 12, and sold his gaming site Totally Science for six figures at 16.
- The AI boom gave him the chance to build something original. He partnered with developers via social platforms like X, lived in a hacker house, and leaned into influencer-based marketing—personally DM’ing thousands to secure the right collaborations.
- As he put it, “If you show it, people say, ‘Whoa, I want that.’”
Market Impact & What It Means
- Disrupting health and fitness tech: Cal AI’s AI-first approach—quick, visual, accurate—sets it apart from legacy tracking apps like MyFitnessPal.
- Challenging college norms: His $30M ARR and 4.0 GPA didn’t stop top schools like Harvard and Stanford from rejecting him—sparking debate about traditional admissions criteria.
- A business in a teen’s hands: Despite operating at enterprise scale, Zach remains grounded—prom, GPA, ACT, college applications and all. “I’m still a normal high schooler,” he says.
What Experts (and Life) Teach Us
Cal AI’s trajectory reveals that in today’s AI era:
- Niche yet solving real needs can skyrocket: nutrition tracking with AI fulfills a relatable daily challenge.
- Young innovators thrive with the right tools: Zach grew up in a time when YouTube tutorials, AI libraries, and global collaboration are at your fingertips.
- Admissions systems lag behind real-world accomplishments: despite running a million-dollar business, his entrepreneurial success didn’t translate into college acceptances. That exposes an ongoing misalignment.
FAQs
Q1: Did Cal AI really make $1.4 million in one month?
Yes—estimates place its average monthly revenue between $1.1 million and $1.4 million, totaling around $30 million annually.
Q2: How accurate is the app?
Approximately 90%, based on testing with real meals.
Q3: How does he balance school and the startup?
He manages both—classes, prom, college applications—while leading an international team. “I’m still a normal high schooler,” he says.
Q4: Is he going to college or doubling down on the startup?
Unclear—he’s undecided. Despite his success, he sees value in human connection and learning.
Bottom Line
Zach Yadegari isn’t just running a thriving tech business—he’s living the dual identity of a teen and entrepreneur. Cal AI proves that with creativity and AI, impact doesn’t wait for age or degrees. His story challenges us to rethink how we value education and innovation today.
