Teen AI innovator launches new startup with $10m investment

Zach Yadegari, 19, the co-founder of Cal AI, has launched Persona, a new AI assistant startup, and secured $10 million in funding. Vine Ventures led the round, with Z Fellows founder Cory Levy and Collective Global participating. In March 2026, MyFitnessPal acquired Cal AI for an undisclosed sum, prompting Yadegari and his co-founders to sell after achieving over $30 million in annual revenue in under two years. Yadegari left MyFitnessPal in June 2026 to focus on Persona, a personal AI assistant with a $179 wearable band. The device, unlike Amazon’s Bee, won’t be ambient AI and will require user activation. Yadegari emphasized privacy, with data encrypted and stored in the cloud. Persona’s business model includes ads but promises unbiased recommendations. The wearable is set for release in December 2026, with a free beta available via iMessage. Yadegari envisions a future where Persona integrates daily tasks into a single AI super app.