1. From 0to20M in 10 Months
- Zach’s App, Cal: A calorie-tracking app that uses AI to analyze food photos and provide nutritional info. It’s 90% accurate, outperforming FDA nutrition labels.
- Growth Strategy: Zach leveraged influencer marketing, reaching out to fitness influencers on Instagram and TikTok. The app grew rapidly through viral content and paid promotions.
- Revenue: In just 10 months, Cal hit $20M in annual revenue, with over 30% profit margins. The app is entirely bootstrapped, with no outside funding.
2. Sold First Business for $100K at 16
- Unblocked Gaming Website: Zach created a site that allowed students to play games in school by bypassing school firewalls. He grew it to 5M users and sold it for $100K at 16.
- Early Entrepreneurial Spirit: Zach started teaching coding lessons at a young age to earn money, showing his drive for independence and financial freedom.
3. Influencer Marketing Playbook
- Pitching Influencers: Zach’s team used a simple DM pitch: “Paid promo? Our app lets you track calories by taking a picture of your food. Interested?” This approach optimized for quick, attention-grabbing messages.
- Predicting ROI: They analyzed influencers’ past performance, engagement rates, and community strength to predict ROI before paying for promotions.
4. Being Worth $30M at 18
- Valuation: Zach estimates Cal is worth close to 100M,makinghimwortharound100M,makinghimwortharound30M at 18.
- Mindset: Despite his success, Zach feels surreal about his achievements and views Cal as a stepping stone to building a company that impacts billions.
5. How to Find Problems to Solve with AI
- AI as a Tool for Innovation: Zach looks at existing tools and asks, “Can AI make this more efficient?” Examples include AI-powered calendars, note-taking apps, and fitness trackers.
- Aha Moments: He focuses on creating a “magic moment” where AI performs a task that feels revolutionary (e.g., taking a photo of food to get calorie info), then builds a sticky product around it.
6. IDEA: AI Journal
- Concept: A journal app where users input entries (voice or text), and AI periodically provides insights to improve their life (e.g., “You had bad days when you hung out with Sally”).
- Therapy Trend: With therapy becoming more normalized among younger generations, an AI therapist could be a game-changer, offering affordable, accessible mental health support.
7. IDEA: iOS to Android Project Converter
- Problem: Building and maintaining apps for both iOS and Android is time-consuming and expensive.
- Solution: An AI-powered tool that converts iOS codebases to Android (and vice versa), reducing development time and costs. This could be a huge win for startups.
8. IDEA: Remotely-Configurable Onboarding Flows
- Problem: Custom onboarding flows for apps are time-consuming to build and update.
- Solution: A system that allows companies to remotely configure and A/B test onboarding flows without needing to submit app updates, saving time and improving user conversion rates.
9. Running Away from Home at Age 10
- Early Independence: Zach’s desire for freedom led him to run away from home at 10 after his mom wouldn’t let him cook scrambled eggs. This drive for independence has fueled his entrepreneurial journey.
10. Being Peerless
- Lack of Community: Zach notes there aren’t many high schoolers building businesses like him. He’s part of a small group of young entrepreneurs who are leveraging AI and TikTok to scale consumer apps.
- Future Plans: Zach plans to attend college for the social experience but may drop out after a semester or two to focus on his business.
11. Who Zach Admires
- Inspiration from the Dead: Zach is more inspired by historical figures (e.g., Steve Jobs, Elon Musk) than living people, as he feels they’ve already “finished the race.”
- Podcast Influence: He credits podcasts like My First Million for inspiring him to pursue entrepreneurship.
12. Gen Z Trends
- Octob Buddy: A phone accessory with suction cups that’s become a status symbol among high school girls, even if they don’t use it as intended.
- Drinking Culture: Drinking is common among Zach’s peers, though he personally avoids drugs and alcohol.
13. Aging Out as a Prodigy
- Fear of Irrelevance: Zach and other young entrepreneurs worry about losing their “prodigy” status as they age. However, the real game is shifting from impressing others to finding personal fulfillment.
- Growth for Growth’s Sake: Zach is reminded that growth shouldn’t be the sole focus—happiness and relationships are equally important.
14. Keeping a Beginner’s Mind
- Naivety as an Asset: Zach’s lack of awareness about what’s “impossible” has been a key driver of his success. He balances this with seeking advice from people 10 steps ahead, not 100.
- Parsing Advice: Not all successful people give good advice. Zach emphasizes the importance of filtering advice from those who are both successful and happy.
Notable Quotes
- On Growth: “Growth for growth’s sake is the ideology of a cancer cell.”
- On Success: “The only way to win the game is to realize that the act of doing things is rewarding, not the rewards of impressing people.”
Actionable Advice
- Leverage AI: Look for existing tools and ask how AI can make them more efficient.
- Influencer Marketing: Start with a simple, attention-grabbing pitch and optimize for ROI by analyzing influencers’ past performance.
- Build Sticky Products: Focus on creating a “magic moment” with AI, then build a product that keeps users engaged long-term.
Final Thought
Zach’s story is a testament to the power of combining technical skills with marketing savvy. His success at such a young age is inspiring, but his humility and focus on long-term impact are what truly set him apart. Whether you’re building an app or just looking for your next big idea, Zach’s journey offers valuable lessons in innovation, persistence, and the importance of staying curious.
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