At 18, Zach Yadegari had already built and sold a company generating tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue. Now 19, the Miami-based entrepreneur is taking on a bigger challenge: building an AI assistant that handles everyday tasks without requiring users to pull out their phones.
His new startup, Persona, announced a $10 million funding round on October 8, led by Vine Ventures, with participation from Cory Levy, Collective Global, WHOOP, and Eight Sleep. The funding follows the launch of a free AI assistant accessible through iMessage and pre-orders for a $179 wristband [pictured above].
The idea is that, rather than opening multiple apps, users could ask Persona to book flights, schedule appointments, respond to emails, or arrange meetings. The assistant is designed to complete tasks involving multiple steps, potentially moving between websites, emails, and phone calls.
“Our mission is really to just make computing seamless with human life, and that’s what physical hardware actually allows,” Yadegari shared in an interview with Inc.
Yadegari previously co-founded Cal AI, an app that estimates calories from photos of meals. The company grew rapidly before MyFitnessPal acquired it in March 2026 for an undisclosed sum. According to TechCrunch, Cal AI had generated more than $30 million in annual revenue in less than two years.
Initially, Yadegari [pictured below] stayed at MyFitnessPal but left in June to pursue Persona, alongside another co-founder whose identity hasn’t been announced.
The inspiration came from his own experience moving from Long Island to Miami. Suddenly responsible for scheduling appointments, managing emails, and organizing everyday errands, he began thinking about an assistant that could handle those tasks.
“I knew what I was going to be getting myself into,” he said, acknowledging the intense competition. “But after a month of just ideating, it became very clear to me how obvious this is.”
Persona’s wristband will allow users to activate the assistant through a button or wrist movement, rather than continuously recording their surroundings. The company says personal data will be encrypted, users can delete their information, and purchases will require approval.
The business model is also taking shape. Rather than charging subscriptions, Persona plans to generate revenue partly through sponsored product recommendations.
Early interest is building. Persona has attracted several thousand beta users, while wristband pre-orders have reportedly generated five figures in revenue. Deliveries are expected in December.
Yadegari ultimately envisions an assistant that anticipates users’ needs rather than waiting for instructions.
“It can offer help and solve problems before you even know you have a problem, and overall be more seamless with your life, so that you don’t need to stare at a rectangle in your hand all day.”
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