Influencers Helped Cal AI Reach $30 Million in Revenue

Cal AI’s growth relied heavily on influencer marketing, founder Zach Yadegari said at TechCrunch Disrupt. The calorie-tracking app was founded in 2024 and became widely known online through a strategy of recruiting influencers to promote it.

Yadegari said one early post brought about 1,000 new users over two days. The company then recruited influencers quickly, paying them to post and tying compensation to a promised reach. He described the approach as a clear, fast-moving formula in which each post drew viewers who converted into users.

He said Cal AI focused on influencers with tightly connected communities and reach that could be measured. Yadegari also said the company generated more than $30 million in revenue over two years. It was acquired by MyFitness in March for an undisclosed amount.

Yadegari, who is 19, also credited his family with giving him room to pursue his ambitions. He said college’s main appeal was its social experience.

Earlier this month, Yadegari launched Persona, an AI agent startup that has raised $10 million. He said its personal AI assistant is intended to work wherever there is an internet connection, including iMessage, an app, email and phone calls. He also described plans for a hardware ecosystem around the app.