Zach Yadegari, the 19-year-old Miami-based entrepreneur who previously co-founded Cal AI, has announced a US$10 million funding round for his new startup, Persona. The investment, revealed on October 8, was led by Vine Ventures with participation from Cory Levy, Collective Global, WHOOP, and Eight Sleep. Persona is developing an AI assistant and wearable wristband designed to handle everyday tasks without requiring users to take out their phones.
From Cal AI to a New Venture
Yadegari co-founded Cal AI, an app that estimates calories from meal photos, and helped it generate more than US$30 million in annual revenue in less than two years. MyFitnessPal acquired Cal AI in March 2026 for an undisclosed sum, and Yadegari initially stayed with the larger company to continue development. He left in June 2026 to build Persona alongside a co-founder whose identity has not been announced.
How Persona Works
The startup has launched a free AI assistant that users can access through iMessage and is accepting pre-orders for a US$179 wristband, with deliveries planned for December. The assistant can book flights, schedule appointments, respond to emails, and arrange meetings, moving between websites, emails, and phone calls to complete multi-step tasks. Yadegari said the mission is to make computing seamless with human life, and physical hardware enables that experience.
Users will activate the wristband through a button or wrist movement rather than relying on continuous ambient recording. Persona says personal data is encrypted in transit and at rest, users can delete their information, and purchases will require approval. Payment handling will occur through external providers such as Stripe Link, and the agent cannot see a user’s credit card details.
Business Model and Ambition
Rather than charging subscriptions, Persona plans to generate revenue partly through sponsored product recommendations. Yadegari said the assistant will present unbiased recommendations because it will not know which items are advertised. For example, when researching office chairs, the agent will show chairs that match a user’s preferences, with some sponsored results included.
Yadegari ultimately envisions an assistant that anticipates users’ needs rather than waiting for instructions. He explained that Persona can help solve problems before users recognize they have one. "It can offer help and solve problems before you even know you have a problem, and overall be more seamless with your life," he said.
Competition
Yadegari is entering a crowded market where OpenAI, Meta, and multiple startups are already building AI agents. He said he initially hesitated to pursue the idea because of the competitive landscape. After a month of ideating, he concluded the opportunity was obvious despite the presence of larger and well-funded technology companies.
Early Traction
Persona has attracted a few thousand beta users since launching its free iMessage assistant, and wristband pre-orders have generated more than US$10,000 in revenue. Deliveries are expected to begin in December, with an app also in development. The new capital will cover AI computing costs, team expansion, and manufacturing ahead of the planned launch.
Persona’s US$10 million raise and early product launch suggest growing investor interest in screenless AI assistants. With his track record at Cal AI and support from established hardware and venture investors, Yadegari is positioning Persona as a more proactive alternative to phone-based apps. Deliveries later this year will test whether consumers are ready to hand everyday tasks to a wearable AI agent.
Source: TechCrunch