The Brief
- A Long Island teenager named Zach Yadegari developed an application called Cal AI, which tracks calories and has been downloaded more than five million times. It is anticipated to generate around $30 million in revenue for this year.
- Even with a perfect 4.0 GPA and an impressive 34 ACT score, Yadegari mentions that he was turned down by 15 out of 18 universities, including several Ivy League institutions.
- Following his post on X regarding the rejections, Yadegari’s narrative has surged in popularity, igniting discussions on whether top-tier educational institutions truly appreciate entrepreneurial achievements.
NEW YORK
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A teenage developer from Long Island has crafted an innovative calorie-counting application driven by AI technology, which has generated millions in revenue. However, even with this remarkable success, he was turned down by the majority of Ivy League institutions.
What we know
Zach Yadegari, who is 18 years old today, has been recognized as a coding genius since he was just 7 years old.
Zach Yadegari, CEO of Cal AI, stated, “I would watchYouTube videos non-stop.”
When he was 16 years old, he sold his initial website to an international gaming firm for a seven-figure amount.
His most recent project, Cal AI, is a calorie-counting application born from his dissatisfaction with current nutrition apps. This app has surpassed 5 million downloads and is anticipated to generate $30 million for the year.
Yadegari explained that this method would be significantly more precise compared to your visual estimation alone.
With the application, users can scan any food item, and Cal AI analyzes the image to estimate its calorie content along with proteins, carbs, and fats.
“I think this balance between a human and AI interaction is really where the future is headed,” Yadegari said.
Even though he oversees a team of 17 full-time staff members, many of whom are older than him, Zach is wrapping up his final year at Roslyn High School with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Ivy League Rejections
Despite having a 34 ACT score, Yadegari mentioned that he was turned down by 15 out of the 18 institutions he applied to. He wondered if entrepreneurial achievements are genuinely valued by top-tier universities and shared this sentiment on X. Since then, the post has gained significant traction, amassing over 28 million views.
“I was hoping to nurture a community. It seems like it’s their loss though. I’ll just look for another place to make it happen,” Yadegari stated.
Zach also offered guidance to those thinking about pursuing a career in coding: “I always suggest beginning right away.”
