WWDC 2024: How a 22-year-old Indian programmer amazed Apple CEO Tim Cook

With the start of WWDC 2024, Apple CEO Tim Cook had the opportunity to meet Akshat Srivastava, a 22-year-old student programmer from India. Srivastava, currently studying at BITS Pilani KK Birla College in Goa, was among the featured winners of the Apple Swift Student Challenge for his novel MindBud app.

Akshat’s journey as a programmer started when he was a teenager in Varanasi. His entry, MindBud, was inspired by time spent with his nephew and aims to introduce kids to classic games and activities from his own childhood. The app contains four engaging mini-games designed to develop children’s analytical and imaginative thinking, making it enjoyable for the whole family.

Tim Cook’s admiration

Tim Cook expressed his admiration for Akshat and other developers from India, stating: “When I visited India last year, I met so many amazing developers and saw so much excitement about how technology can enrich people’s lives. This was equally wonderful. catch up with Akshat this week and see how he created a whole up-to-date way to share his love of classic games with the next generation.”

The Swift Student Challenge recognizes the best programming talents from around the world. This year, 50 students were recognized for their unique app playgrounds, which were recognized for innovation, creativity, social impact and inclusivity. The winners, including Akshat, were invited to a three-day in-person experience at Apple Park during the WWDC event.
Recalling his experience, Akshat shared, “The highlight of my trip was presenting my project to Tim Cook, which felt like a dream come true. His genuine interest and insightful comments were incredibly inspiring and made all of my tough work worthwhile. This unforgettable experience confirmed my passion for technology and motivated me to constantly push boundaries and make an impact.”

What is MindBud?

MindBud uses Apple tools such as SwiftUI, AVKit, PencilKit and FileManager to provide a velvety and immersive experience. Akshat plans to publish MindBud on the App Store, with the goal of reaching a wider audience and inspiring more children with its imaginative and educational games.

Akshat is part of a growing generation of Indian developers making a significant impact in their communities and around the world. During the Covid-19 crisis, it developed an app to track available hospital beds via social media posts, demonstrating its commitment to using technology to solve real-world problems.