Podcast Title: My First Million
Host/Authors: Sam Parr and Shaan Puri
Episode: The High Schooler Making $20M a Year
Release Date: March 17, 2025

Introduction: A High School Prodigy's Success

In this compelling episode of My First Million, hosts Sam Parr and Shaan Puri delve into the extraordinary journey of Zach, a high school student who has built a calorie-tracking app, Calai, generating an impressive $20 million in annual revenue. The conversation begins with playful banter, quickly transitioning to Zach’s remarkable achievements.

Calai: Revolutionizing Calorie Tracking with AI

[00:23] Sam Parr:
"Never look, okay, this kid right here on the screen is making $20 million as a high schooler."

Zach introduces Calai, an innovative app that allows users to take a picture of any meal and instantly receive detailed nutritional information, including calories, proteins, fats, and carbs. Unlike traditional calorie trackers, Calai integrates advanced AI features to enhance accuracy and user experience.

[02:08] Sean Puri:
"Does it work really well? That sounds like a really hard thing."

[02:29] Zach:
"So the scanning is about 90% accurate on average, which is really good. When you look at the data for FDA nutrition labels, they can be up to 20% inaccurate. So it's actually really good there."

Calai stands out by offering high precision, boasting a 90% accuracy rate in calorie estimation, surpassing FDA standards. Zach humorously downplays the app's intended use for extreme fitness enthusiasts, emphasizing its practicality for everyday users.

From Zero to $20 Million: Calai’s Rapid Growth

[03:48] Zach:
"10 months ago, we started with $30,000 in revenue the second month, testing the waters."

Calai's growth trajectory is nothing short of meteoric. Starting from humble beginnings, the app reached six figures in monthly revenue by June, shortly after launch. By the time of the podcast, Calai was on pace to exceed $24 million in revenue within the year, all achieved through bootstrapping without any outside financing.

[12:50] Sean Puri:
"And your first 12 months of full business, what will the revenue be?"

[12:56] Zach:
"Full business? The revenue would have exceeded $10 million from launching in May to coming this month."

This rapid ascent underscores Zach’s strategic marketing and product development, positioning Calai as a significant player in the health and fitness app market.

Strategic Marketing: Leveraging Influencer Partnerships

A pivotal factor in Calai’s success has been its influencer marketing strategy. Zach elaborates on how they collaborated with fitness influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok to promote Calai.

[15:33] Sam Parr:
"So the paid promo is what sticks."

By crafting targeted direct messages and partnering with influencers whose audiences align with Calai’s user base, Zach and his team effectively boosted app visibility and user acquisition. Influencers played a crucial role in validating the app’s utility, leading to widespread adoption.

[21:44] Zach:
"These influencers, they need to be paid, usually in advance, otherwise they won't do it."

The team meticulously analyzed influencer engagement, ensuring that their partnerships were both cost-effective and impactful, contributing significantly to Calai’s exponential growth.

Bootstrapped Beginnings: From Unblocked Games to Calai

Before Calai, Zach launched an unblocked gaming website during his freshman year of high school. The site allowed students to play games in class by bypassing school network restrictions.

[16:58] Zach:
"So before building Calai, I actually built an unblocked gaming website my freshman year of high school."

The gaming platform amassed 5 million users and generated revenue through advertising, ultimately selling the site for $100,000 when Zach was just 16. This initial venture provided the seed capital necessary to fund Calai’s development and marketing efforts.

[19:54] Zach:
"The only thing actually that I've spent the money I've made on, and this was recent, was my 18th birthday party. I flew my friends out to Miami for a weekend trip from high school."

Building a Team: Leadership and Management Challenges

Scaling Calai required expanding from a solo effort to a team of 15 full-time employees, including co-founders Henry Langmach (CTO) and Blake Anderson.

[34:38] Zach:
"I try to be an inspiring leader that helps people that doesn't lead by telling people what to do and just do it. Now I try to inspire them to want to do the work."

Despite being younger than many of his team members, Zach emphasizes inspiring leadership over authoritative management. He acknowledges the challenges of working with older employees and the occasional imposter syndrome but remains committed to fostering a collaborative and organized company culture.

Personal Drive: The Quest for Freedom and Impact

Zach’s entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted in his desire for freedom and independence. He recounts a childhood incident where his yearning for autonomy led him to run away from home to pursue his own path.

[48:28] Zach:
"I was really wired to want freedom. And I think it comes from my siblings. If I wanted to buy something, my parents would have to buy something for all my siblings so they wouldn't do it. I would have to find the way to pay for it myself."

This intrinsic motivation propelled him to teach himself coding, build profitable ventures, and eventually create Calai. Zach aims to achieve financial freedom through Calai, allowing him to focus on impactful projects without the constraints of financial obligations.

[24:30] Zach:
"I view this as a stepping stone. I want to build a company that touches the lives of billions of people, something as ubiquitous as the iPhone."

Future Aspirations: Beyond Calai

Looking ahead, Zach envisions using the success of Calai to launch more impactful ventures. He aspires to create products that have a global reach and positive societal impact, leveraging the financial freedom and experience gained from Calai.

[65:47] Zach:
"I think it's just about building momentum. And I'm pretty obsessed with this idea of making sure that everything I work on will 10x the previous thing, so that I'm always moving forward towards a bigger goal."

He considers Calai a foundation for future projects that align more closely with his passion for scaling positive change rather than just increasing revenue.

Framework for Innovation: Zach’s Approach to Idea Generation

Zach shares his framework for creating new apps, focusing on integrating AI to enhance existing functionalities:

1. Identify Existing Tools: Start with popular apps and services.
2. Integrate AI Enhancements: Determine how AI can improve efficiency or user experience.
3. Create an “Aha” Moment: Develop a standout feature that draws users in.
4. Build for Stickiness: Ensure the app has additional features that keep users engaged.

[35:32] Zach:
"AI has enabled people to basically build on top of and innovate on any tool or company that exists right now... So, I try to look at everything that doesn't already use AI and think, can AI make this more efficient, make this a better process?"

This methodology has guided the development of Calai and continues to inform Zach’s approach to future projects.

Inspirations and Learning: Wisdom from the Past

Zach draws inspiration from historical figures and contemporary influencers, emphasizing the value of learning from those who have left a lasting impact.

[56:35] Zach:
"I love learning about them from audiobooks... I like David Goggins, Mr. Beast, Elon Musk."

He values insights from individuals like David Goggins for their mindset and resilience, and Mr. Beast and Elon Musk for their innovative approaches to business and technology.

Navigating Youth Trends: Understanding the Next Generation

Zach also observes and comments on current trends among young people, highlighting how certain behaviors and preferences might seem unusual to older generations but are perfectly normal within his peer group.

[59:07] Zach:
"There's something really interesting, a really interesting phenomenon I've seen recently... it's called an octobuddy. It's October and it has suction cups on it... it's more of a stylistic accessory status thing than actually functional."

This ability to identify and understand emerging trends allows Zach to stay relevant and connected with his target audience, further fueling the success of his ventures.

Conclusion: A Young Visionary’s Path Forward

As the episode wraps up, hosts Sam and Shaan commend Zach’s achievements and offer encouragement for his future endeavors. Zach remains humble yet ambitious, focused on leveraging his success to make meaningful contributions and inspire other young entrepreneurs.

[72:43] Zach:
"Thank you for having me."

[72:53] Zach:
"I feel like I can rule the world. I know I could be what I want to. I put my all in it like no days off on the road. Let's travel. Never looking back."

Zach's journey is a testament to the power of youthful ambition, strategic innovation, and relentless perseverance. His story serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, demonstrating that age is no barrier to achieving monumental success.

Notable Quotes

• Zach [02:29]:
  "So the scanning is about 90% accurate on average, which is really good."

• Zach [16:58]:
  "Before building Calai, I actually built an unblocked gaming website my freshman year of high school."

• Zach [35:32]:
  "AI has enabled people to basically build on top of and innovate on any tool or company that exists right now."

• Zach [56:35]:
  "I love learning about them from audiobooks... I like David Goggins, Mr. Beast, Elon Musk."

• Zach [65:47]:
  "I'm pretty obsessed with this idea of making sure that everything I work on will 10x the previous thing."

Key Takeaways

1. Innovation Through AI: Leveraging AI can transform existing tools into highly efficient and user-friendly applications.
2. Influencer Marketing: Strategic partnerships with influencers can significantly accelerate app growth.
3. Bootstrapping Success: Early ventures can provide essential funding and experience for future projects.
4. Leadership Skills: Inspiring a diverse team requires humility, organization, and effective communication.
5. Personal Motivation: A strong desire for independence and impact drives entrepreneurial success.
6. Future Aspirations: Financial freedom can pave the way for more meaningful and large-scale projects.
7. Framework for Idea Generation: Combining AI with existing popular apps can create unique market opportunities.
8. Inspiration from Diverse Sources: Learning from both historical figures and modern influencers enriches entrepreneurial strategies.
9. Understanding Youth Trends: Recognizing and adapting to emerging trends ensures relevance in the target market.

Zach’s story is a beacon of what can be achieved with a blend of strategic innovation, relentless drive, and the effective use of modern marketing techniques. As he continues to scale Calai and plan future ventures, his insights offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs of all ages.