TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Cal AI’s Zach Yadegari on how to create viral growth and capitalize on it
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Zach Yadegari, the teenage co-founder of Cal AI, will discuss his company's rapid ascent at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. He launched the AI-powered nutrition app while in high school, enabling users to track dietary intake through photo recognition. The platform achieved over 15 million downloads and generated $30 million in annual revenue before being acquired by MyFitnessPal in December 2025. Despite the acquisition, Cal AI remains a standalone entity with its original seven-person team under Yadegari’s leadership. During a fireside chat on the Builders Stage, Yadegari plans to explain how to generate viral attention and sustain it. He will focus on transforming initial breakout momentum into durable user retention and long-term business stability. The event takes place from October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, attracting thousands of tech leaders and founders. Attendees can secure discounted passes until September 25 to hear these insights on building distribution-driven consumer apps.
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