Why this teen founder walked away from his multimillion-dollar company

Zach Yadegari, 19, sold his AI-powered calorie-tracking app, Cal AI, to MyFitnessPal late last year. The app launched in May 2024, amassed 10 million users, and generated $30 million in annual revenue. The founders reached the sale after honest conversations about their priorities and goals.

"Ultimately, it came down to us discussing everyone's priorities and goals in life," Yadegari said. He said the deal offered financial freedom and the space to pursue new projects: "We want the legacy of Cal AI to live forever and continue to grow," he added, "At the same time, my life's mission isn't building a calorie tracking app." Before Cal AI, Yadegari sold his first app, Totally Science, for $100,000 at age 16.

After the acquisition he assembled a team to launch Flow, a brand for productivity and health products. The Flow Alarm Clock, released in March, combines a small portable dock with an app: users set alarms, choose apps to block, and must physically tap their phone on the dock to turn the alarm off and unblock apps.

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