Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Teen Entrepreneur Raises $10 Million for New AI Startup
Zach Yadegari is a 19-year-old entrepreneur who has started several businesses.
His newest company is called Persona, and it works in artificial intelligence.
Persona has raised $10 million from investors.
Vine Ventures led the investment, and Cory Levy and Collective Global also took part.
Yadegari previously co-founded a calorie-tracking app called Cal AI.
MyFitnessPal acquired Cal AI in March 2026.
Yadegari also became widely known after sharing that 15 of the 18 universities he applied to turned him down.
The articles do not say what Persona plans to do with the money.
Nineteen-year-old Zach Yadegari raised $10 million for his artificial intelligence startup, Persona.
The funding round was led by Vine Ventures, with participation from Cory Levy and Collective Global.
Yadegari co-founded Cal AI, a calorie-tracking app, and has built and sold two businesses.
MyFitnessPal acquired Cal AI in March 2026.
Yadegari drew attention after saying 15 of the 18 universities he applied to had rejected him.
- Who
- Zach Yadegari, founder of the AI startup Persona.
- What
- Persona raised $10 million in funding.
- When
- The articles do not specify when Persona's funding round took place.
- Where
- The article says Yadegari grew up on Long Island, New York; it does not specify where the funding round took place.
- Founder
- Zach Yadegari, 19
- Startup
- Persona, an artificial intelligence startup
- Funding raised
- $10 million
- Lead investor
- Vine Ventures
- Other participants
- Cory Levy and Collective Global
- Previous venture
- Cal AI, a calorie-tracking app co-founded by Yadegari
- Cal AI acquisition
- MyFitnessPal acquired Cal AI in March 2026