This 19-year-old sold his $30 million AI calorie-tracking startup. Now he's tackling doomscrolling.

While many of his peers were busy preparing for exams, 19-year-old Zach Yadegari was finalizing the sale of his impressive nutrition app, Cal AI, to MyFitnessPal. This AI-driven calorie-tracking platform, which Yadegari co-founded in high school, launched in May 2024, quickly amassing an impressive user base of 10 million and generating $30 million in annual revenue. Yadegari attributes the decision to sell to open discussions among the founders about their personal goals and priorities. "It came down to a framework that helped us reach a consensus on what we all wanted," he explained. For him, that meant achieving financial independence and the freedom to explore new ventures. "While I want Cal AI's legacy to endure, my mission in life extends beyond just calorie tracking," he stated from his home base in Miami. Before the success of Cal AI, Yadegari had already made waves in the tech industry by selling his first app, Totally Science, for $100,000 at just 16 years old. Following the acquisition, he gathered a team to embark on a new project: Flow. This brand aims to provide a range of products designed to enhance productivity and promote healthier lifestyles. One of Flow's flagship products, the Flow Alarm Clock, launched in March to address the common issue of snoozing alarms and endless morning scrolling. The device requires users to tap their phone on a dock to disable the alarm, simultaneously blocking selected apps to encourage a more focused start to the day. The app also offers features for tracking sleep patterns and recording sleep sounds. Yadegari wanted to create a tangible product that did not require extensive R&D, aimed at solving his own struggles with morning distractions. "I often find myself scrolling for 30 minutes after waking up," he shared. Transitioning to physical products presents new challenges for Yadegari, particularly in terms of manufacturing and logistics. He recognizes the complexities involved, stating, "We have to manage our inventory and navigate potential shipping delays, which can be challenging." Yet, his past experience in running a successful startup gives him the confidence to venture into this new domain. The health and wellness sector is thriving, with the Global Wellness Institute reporting that the wellness economy reached $6.8 trillion in 2024, expected to grow to $9.8 trillion by 2029. Yadegari is enthusiastic about working in areas that significantly impact people's lives, saying, "Health, productivity, and wellness are my favorite categories to focus on."