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MyFitnessPal has acquired Cal AI, the viral calorie app built by teens Julie Bort 6:00 AM PST · March 2, 2026 After deal talks lasting almost a year, MyFitnessPal has successfully acquired its up-and-coming rival Cal AI.
Cal AI is the AI calorie counting app startup built by two high school teenagers that soared to over 15 million downloads and over $30 million in annual revenue in under two years, MyFitnessPal tells TechCrunch.
The Cal AI team of seven employees, including its co-founder CEO Zach Yadegari (pictured, above), plus a small team of contractors, have been retained by MyFitnessPal (MFP), according to MyFitnessPal CEO Mike Fisher.
The Cal AI app will remain independent, with its same ease-of-use mission: estimating calories by taking pictures of food. One upgrade for Cal AI users has occurred already since the deal closed in December: The AI app has now been integrated with MFP’s huge nutrition database. That database spans 20 million foods, 68,500 brands, and meals served at 380+ restaurant chains.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed except that Fisher noted that since the Cal AI team didn’t have to sell, they were happy with the offer. With that $30 million revenue number, we can make an educated guess that this was a good outcome for the now 19-year-old co-founders, Yadegari, and his high school friend Henry Langmack.
In fact, the deal took considerable perseverance, Fisher said. The larger company noticed Cal AI as it started to rise in the ranks on the app store, visible through tools like Sensor Tower, he said.
“We watch the entire competitor suite,” Fisher said, which, he said, encompasses some 70 competitors big and small. “They definitely caught our eye, I would say, early last year, and we have been talking to them ever since, on and off.”
Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400. Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit 1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately Offer ends March 13. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW MyFitnessPal CEO Mike Fisher Image Credits: MyFitnessPal What convinced Fisher and team to pursue the acquisition wasn’t just watching Cal AI rise on app download charts (the two are neck-and-neck in the top rankings in their category on Sensor Tower) — he was also impressed with the focus of the team run under its young CEO.
“They got a lot of media attention because they’re pretty young, and it’s easy to dismiss,” he said, “You have a conversation with them, like I did late spring last year, and you walk away saying this is an impressive young man.”
For instance, Cal AI’s regular stand-up meeting occurs on Sunday night. Because the founders are still in school, Yadegari works all weekend on his startup and his team is dedicated enough to join him on Sundays for a weekly check in.
“So it’s small, small details like that, that when you put them together, you say, this is someone who’s not doing this as a hobby,” Fisher said. “They’re really serious about it.”
Fisher declined to specify how long the retention period was for the founders and team to remain at MyFitnessPal post-acquisition. Four years is a pretty industry-standard term, often tied to payouts, though again, he wouldn’t comment on it, even when pressed.
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