What happens if the app you started in high school becomes popular?
For Zach Yadegali, the answer was over 15 million downloads, $30 million in annual revenue, and an acquisition by MyFitnessPal. All of this was before my 20th birthday. Yadegari was just 17 years old when he co-founded Cal AI, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app that lets users track what they eat by taking photos.
But these numbers leave out something that most founders want to know. So, how did Cal AI garner such viral attention in the first place? And how did the company make the most of that momentum after millions of people joined in?
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, Yadegari will be on the Builder stage for a fireside chat called “How to Create and Capitalize on Viral Growth.” He details Cal AI’s rapid growth, the resulting product pressures, and the challenges of turning explosive attention into lasting retention and long-term company building.
Looking to beat a crowded market? Save up to $200 when you secure your pass by September 25th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Also, hear what Yadegari learned building groundbreaking consumer apps. Do you have a colleague who would like to join? Second passes are available at 50% off.
How did Cal AI turn viral growth into a $30 million business?
Cal AI is built around the simple suggestion of taking a photo of your meal. The app uses image recognition and your phone’s depth sensor to calculate calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fat.
Zach Yadegali was just a high school senior when he co-founded Cal AI, but it was no stranger to engaging large audiences online. When he was 16, he sold Totally Science, the gaming platform he founded that attracted more than 5 million users during the COVID-19 pandemic, for six figures.
Cal AI moved even faster. In less than two years, it had more than 15 million downloads and generated more than $30 million in annual revenue. MyFitnessPal took note of this and acquired the company in a deal that is expected to close in December 2025. The deal kept Cal AI as a standalone app, kept its seven-person team, and left Yadegari in control.
At Disrupt, Yadegari will share what Cal AI has learned about building distribution-driven markets where products can quickly gain mass audiences, and what it takes to capitalize on viral growth when it happens.
Chasing your own breakout moment? Get your Disrupt ticket and learn from Cal AI’s story. Save up to $200 on a pass and get a second pass at 50% off on select ticket types. Secure your tickets by September 25th at 11:59pm PT.
What can founders learn from Cal AI’s rapid growth?
For founders chasing growth, Yadegali’s story illustrates both sides of a viral break: how a product gains a huge audience, and what it takes to turn that attention into lasting retention and long-term company building.
Yadegari’s Fireside Chat is one of more than 200 sessions across six industry stages at Disrupt, taking place October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. More than 10,000 founders, investors, executives, and technology leaders will attend, and there will be more than 250 speakers, roundtables, breakout sessions, and more than 300 startup exhibitors.
Beyond the agenda, matchmaking, dealmaking, and networking give founders the opportunity to connect with investors, potential customers, partners, and other builders working on many of the same challenges.
Last two days to save up to $200 on your Disrupt pass. Get 50% off your second pass on select ticket types when you secure your ticket by September 25th at 11:59pm PT. Secure your savings and listen to Zach Yadegari share the lessons behind Cal AI’s viral success.
If you make a purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This does not affect editorial independence.
