Zach Yadegari, a remarkable high school student, launched the AI-powered calorie tracking app Cal AI, achieving $20M in just 10 months. He shares his incredible journey from selling his first business at 16 to navigating the challenges of youth entrepreneurship. Zach discusses his influencer marketing strategies and reveals how he innovatively solves problems with AI. With a unique perspective on leadership and the importance of adaptability, he emphasizes the need for mentorship while balancing school and business.

Zach Yadegari, a 17-year-old tech whiz, created Cal AI, an AI-driven calorie-counting app that rakes in over $1 million a month. He shares his entrepreneurial journey, from coding at a young age to taking on CEO responsibilities. Yadegari discusses creative influencer marketing strategies that skyrocketed his app's visibility and revenue. He also delves into the importance of user onboarding, navigating AI limitations, and the distinct challenges young entrepreneurs face in the tech landscape. Zach's ambition and innovative mindset offer inspiration for aspiring creators.

Join me as I chat with Zach Yadegari, Co-Founder of Cal AI, as we discuss his frameworks and strategies for building and scaling viral AI Apps. Learn his step-by-step formula creating viral apps. 00:00 - Intro01:40 - Concept Behind Dr. AI and App Feature Overview05:37 - Designing the User Experience08:42 - Inspiration and Primitives in App Design11:10 - User Experience and Simplicity16:05 - Gamification and User Engagement17:26 - Shareability and Marketing Potential20:07 - History Feature and User Retention21:14 - Symptoms Quiz Design23:58 - Incorporating Sources and References24:39 - Chatbot Functionality25:33 - Marketing Strategy and Influencer Outreach28:34 - Prompting for AI Responses33:15 - Go-to-Market Strategy Discussion37:14 - Identifying Target Influencers41:04 - Pricing Structure and Revenue Models1) The Core App Features:• Skin scan for diagnosis• Symptoms quiz• Medical chatbot• History trackingKey insight: Keep it SIMPLE. Basic features done well better than complex features done poorly.2) UX Design Strategy:- Start with basic wireframes• Copy "primitives" from successful apps• Design for influencer marketing• Put app name on key screens• Make results instantly digestiblePro tip: Design screens thinking about how influencers will showcase them in content.3) Growth Strategy:Target audience = concerned parentsBest channels:• Mom influencers• Family content creators• Parenting communitiesLook for creators with 250k+ views/videoBudget: $4-5k per 1M views4)Monetization Structure:Weekly pricing model works best:• $4-7/week• No free trial initially• A/B test different prices• Optimize for repeat usersStrategy: People will delete/resubscribe when needed5) Technical Implementation:- Use ChatGPT API with custom prompts• Bypass medical disclaimers creatively• Build clear diagnosis displays• Include danger levels (1-5)• Add sources for credibility6) Marketing Angles:- Target anxious parents• Focus on peace of mind• Show quick diagnosis stories• Emphasize "should I see a doctor?" use case• Leverage influencer storytelling7) Key Success Factors:• Heavy disclaimers• Accurate diagnostics• Simple UX• Clear value prop• Strong retention hooksWant more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideasLCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.coFIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND ZACH ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/zach_yadegari