Imagine being an 18-year-old at the helm of a multimillion-dollar technology company, deftly managing a global team spread across four continents, all while striving to complete high school assignments. Now, picture this same individual applying to some of the world's most prestigious universities, only to face rejection from nearly all of them. This seemingly paradoxical scenario is the real-life story of Zach Yadegari, a young entrepreneur whose journey challenges conventional narratives of success and education.

Zach Yadegari's fascination with technology blossomed at a remarkably young age. By seven, he was already immersed in the world of coding, diligently watching YouTube tutorials and teaching himself the intricacies of app development. This early passion quickly bore fruit; at the age of 12, he published his first app, Speed Soccer. His entrepreneurial spirit continued to flourish, and by 14, he launched Totally Science, a gaming website. During the pandemic, Totally Science attracted over 5 million users, and Zach subsequently sold the platform for a six-figure sum when he was just 16 years old.

However, Zach’s ambitions did not pause there. Driven by a personal frustration with the cumbersome nature of existing calorie-tracking applications that demanded tedious manual data entry, he co-founded Cal AI in 2024. This revolutionary application leverages artificial intelligence to estimate the calories and nutritional content of food simply from a photograph, eliminating the need for laborious typing or guesswork.

Within a few months of its launch, Cal AI experienced phenomenal growth, amassing over 5 million downloads and projecting an impressive $30 million in annual revenue for 2025. As CEO, Zach Yadegari leads a dedicated team of 17 employees situated across four different continents. This demanding role involves late-night business calls to accommodate various time zones, all while he meticulously maintained a 4.0 GPA at Roslyn High School on Long Island, showcasing an extraordinary ability to balance his academic and professional life.

Despite his astounding entrepreneurial achievements and impeccable academic record, which included a score of 34 on the ACT, Zach Yadegari embarked on the daunting process of applying to 18 highly selective colleges. His list included all eight Ivy League institutions, as well as other prestigious universities such as Stanford, MIT, and Duke.

The outcome was startling: Zach was rejected by 15 of these esteemed institutions. This raised questions about how such schools evaluate applicants, particularly those with significant entrepreneurial success. Zach himself believes that admissions officers may not fully appreciate or understand the depth of entrepreneurial endeavors. His college essay, which boldly questioned traditional views on education and celebrated his independent spirit, also became a subject of viral debate online, with opinions divided on whether it was too blunt or refreshingly honest. In a tweet preceding the rejections, he had even shared his application letter, which expressed an initial reluctance towards attending college.

Shortly after receiving the rejections, Yadegari took to social media to voice his frustration publicly. In an open letter addressed to all three Ivy League institutions, he directly challenged the structure of their admissions processes. He poignantly wrote, “If someone like me, who has demonstrated both academic and professional success, cannot gain admission, what does this say about the accessibility and inclusivity of higher education?” Despite the setback, Zach took the rejections in stride, later tweeting, “I wanted to cultivate a community. I guess it’s their loss. I’ll find somewhere else to do it.”

Ultimately, Zach Yadegari chose to attend the University of Miami. This decision allows him to combine the traditional college experience, including the social aspects he felt he missed while building his startup, with his ongoing entrepreneurial ambitions. He continues to run Cal AI while pursuing his studies.

Far from resting on his laurels, Zach is actively working on enhancing Cal AI. He is already planning new features for the app, including the capability to scan body composition directly from photos, further pushing the boundaries of AI-driven nutrition and fitness technology.

Zach Yadegari's story serves as a compelling example of Gen Z entrepreneurship—characterized by tech-savviness, ambition, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. His experiences raise significant questions: Are elite educational institutions adequately prepared to value and recognize unconventional forms of success? Can the worlds of dedicated entrepreneurship and traditional academia truly coexist harmoniously within the same applicant profile? Zach’s journey strongly suggests that the future of education may need to evolve to better accommodate and nurture the very innovators it aims to cultivate.

The tale of Zach Yadegari is undeniably inspiring, tinged with a touch of irony, and ultimately quite fun. It stands as a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most significant achievements and personal growth come from boldly forging one's own path, even when the traditional gatekeepers of success may not immediately recognize the brilliance of one's genius.