New Time Africa
At just 18 years old, Zach Yadegari has taken the tech world by storm. The young entrepreneur is the brains behind Cal AI, an artificial intelligence-powered app that estimates the number of calories in food from a simple photo. In under a year since its launch in May 2024, Cal AI has attracted over five million downloads and reached an impressive $30 million in annual recurring revenue.
Zach’s journey started when he was only seven years old, learning to code on his own. By age ten, he was already teaching coding, and by twelve, he had published his first app. In ninth grade, he created a gaming website and later sold it for $100,000 — proving his entrepreneurial potential long before finishing high school.
But what’s truly sparked debate across the tech and education worlds is what happened next. Despite a flawless 4.0 GPA and an outstanding ACT score of 34, Zach was rejected by 15 of the 18 top universities he applied to — including Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and MIT. He was accepted by Georgia Tech, the University of Texas, and the University of Miami, but the rejection from elite schools raised questions.
Zach shared his college rejection journey online, including his application essay that detailed his passion for solving problems through technology. The story went viral, drawing widespread criticism of the current college admissions system, with many questioning how someone running a $30 million tech business could be overlooked.
Cal AI, Zach’s most successful venture so far, has been praised for its user-friendly design and real-world impact. With a 4.8-star average rating on app stores and thousands of positive reviews, it has become a go-to app for fitness enthusiasts, health professionals, and everyday users looking to manage their nutrition more effectively.
While Zach hasn't yet confirmed if he will attend college, one thing is clear — he is focused on growing his company and continuing to innovate. His story is a powerful reminder that success doesn't always follow the traditional path. At just 18, Zach Yadegari is not only changing how people interact with food and technology — he’s challenging how society defines talent and success.