Teen Prodigy Builds $30 Million AI Fitness Startup After Selling First App at 16
At just 16 years old, Zach Yadegari, a young innovator, sold his first app, Totally Science, an unblocked gaming platform for students, for nearly $100,000. What began as a creative way to bypass school restrictions turned into a launchpad for a multimillion-dollar journey.
Driven by personal challenges, he and his cofounders created Cal AI, an AI-powered calorie-tracking app designed to help people achieve their fitness goals.
After spending a summer in San Francisco at age 17 building their startup from the ground up, the team grew to 30 employees and now generates around $30 million in annual revenue.
The teen entrepreneur, who began coding at seven thanks to a summer camp and YouTube tutorials, says his success comes from curiosity, persistence, and the courage to start early. He has since enrolled at the University of Miami, balancing college life with overseeing his rapidly expanding company.
He urges young people to embrace technology and self-learning: “Ignore the noise. Get started. There’s never been an easier time to build something.”
This story reflects the child’s right to education, creativity, and participation in the digital age. It highlights how access to learning resources, mentorship, and digital tools empowers young minds to innovate, solve real-world problems, and shape the future responsibly.
