Cal AI founder shares influencer-driven growth playbook at TechCrunch Disrupt

At TechCrunch Disrupt on October 15, 2026, 19-year-old Cal AI founder Zach Yadegari detailed how his AI-powered calorie tracking app achieved rapid viral growth through a large-scale influencer strategy.

Cal AI, founded in 2024, generated over $30 million in revenue within two years and was acquired by MyFitnessPal in March 2026 for an undisclosed amount. Yadegari said an early sign of success came when one influencer post brought roughly 1,000 new users in two days.

The company then recruited influencers aggressively, negotiating payouts based on reach and requiring continued posting until agreed exposure levels were met. Many influencers, he noted, are “broke college kids” who “just want cash.” He also credited finding influencers with tight communities as a key factor.

Earlier this month, Yadegari launched Persona, a new AI agent startup that has raised $10 million. He described the mission as making computing seamless with human life, with a personal AI assistant accessible across messaging, email, phone calls and an app, plus a planned hardware ecosystem.