Apple CEO Hails 22YO Indian Developer Who Made Edu-Game For Kids

Apple CEO Tim Cook met and praised 22-year-old Indian student developer Akshat Srivastava before the WWDC 2024 event. 

Srivastava created the app MindBud, which aims to enhance children's analytical and creative thinking and was one of the 50 winners of the Swift Student Challenge.

“I met so many extraordinary developers when I visited India last year, and I saw so much excitement for the many ways that technology can enrich people’s lives. And it was equally wonderful to meet Akshat this week, and see how he’s created a whole new way to share his love of classic games with the next generation,” Cook said on meeting Srivastava.

Srivastava submitted an app for Apple’s Swift Student Challenge. 

MindBud features four mini-games designed to foster analytical and creative thinking in kids and was inspired by his childhood.

WWDC 2024:

Srivastava has been invited to the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2024) as one of the 50 Distinguished Winners for building outstanding app playgrounds. These winners will have a three-day in-person experience at Apple Park, including tailored programming and a special event at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference. 

Srivastava travelled to Cupertino as a winner of the challenge and had the opportunity to present his project to Tim Cook, which he described as a dream come true. 

Meeting Cook left him inspired and confirmed his passion for technology.

“Akshat is part of a growing generation of developers from all across India who are bringing their best ideas to life through coding, and making an important impact in their communities and around the world,” Cook said in his meeting with the student developer.

This isn’t the first app Srivastava has created. During the Covid-19 crisis, he developed an app to track vacant beds at hospitals via social media posts on X and Facebook.