MyFitnessPal has acquired Cal AI, the viral calorie app built by teens

MyFitnessPal has officially finalized its acquisition of Cal AI, a popular calorie-counting app created by two high school students, following nearly a year of negotiations. Launched just two years ago, Cal AI quickly gained traction, amassing over 15 million downloads and generating more than $30 million in annual revenue, as reported by MyFitnessPal. The acquisition retains the Cal AI team, including co-founder and CEO Zach Yadegari, alongside a small group of contractors. According to MyFitnessPal CEO Mike Fisher, the Cal AI app will continue to operate independently, maintaining its mission to simplify calorie estimation through food photography. A notable enhancement for users has already been implemented since the deal closed in December: integration with MyFitnessPal’s extensive nutrition database, which features 20 million foods and 68,500 brands, including meals from over 380 restaurant chains. While the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Fisher indicated that the Cal AI team was satisfied with the offer, especially given their impressive revenue figures. The acquisition followed a period of observation from MyFitnessPal, which noted Cal AI’s ascent in the app store rankings through analytic tools like Sensor Tower. Fisher acknowledged that they monitor a competitive landscape of around 70 rivals, and Cal AI had captured their attention early in the previous year. What truly motivated MyFitnessPal to pursue the acquisition was not only Cal AI’s rising popularity but also the dedication and focus exhibited by its young leadership. Fisher remarked on the impressive nature of Yadegari and his team, particularly noting their commitment to regular meetings despite their academic commitments, with the founders dedicating weekends to their startup. While specifics regarding the retention period for the Cal AI team at MyFitnessPal remain unclear, it’s common for such arrangements to last around four years in the industry. Yadegari will continue to manage the app as part of MyFitnessPal while balancing his college education. He gained significant media attention last year when he shared his experience of being rejected by 15 out of 18 top colleges, despite having a stellar GPA and a successful business. Initially, he had planned to forgo college to focus solely on his venture but later reconsidered the value of a degree. Currently, there are no plans to merge Cal AI with MyFitnessPal’s existing product features, such as its photo-meal scan tool. Fisher emphasized that the two apps cater to different user preferences, with Cal AI focusing on speed and simplicity, while MyFitnessPal offers more detailed and accurate tracking options. "While we both provide meal scanning capabilities, we understand that some users prefer a quick, AI-driven approach without the need for extensive input," Fisher noted.