Apple’s annual developer conference – WWDC – begins tonight. Ahead of Apple’s big event, CEO Tim Cook shared a post on X, in which he revealed his conversation with an Indian student developer. Cook met 22-year-old Akshat Srivastava, who studies at Birla College of BITS Pilani in Goa.
“When I visited India last year, I met so many extraordinary developers, and I saw so much enthusiasm for the many ways technology can enrich people’s lives. And it was equally amazing to meet Akshat this week and see how he has created a new way to share his love of classic games with the next generation,” Cook said after meeting Srivastava.
Srivastava presented an app called MindBud – part of Apple’s Swift Student Challenge – inspired by playful moments shared with his nephew and designed to introduce children to classic games and activities from their own childhood. With a mission to promote analytical and creative thinking, MindBud features four engaging mini-games designed for children to enjoy with family and friends.
Srivastava has travelled to Cupertino as one of the winners of the Swift Student Challenge. “The highlight of my trip was presenting my project in front of Tim Cook, which was a dream come true,” he said. On meeting Cook, he further added that the Apple CEO’s “genuine interest and insightful feedback was incredibly inspiring and made all my hard work worthwhile.” It was an unforgettable experience for the student developer and he added that it “reaffirmed my passion for technology and inspired me to push boundaries and make an impact.” Cook said on his meeting with the student developer, “Akshat is part of a rising generation of developers from across India who are bringing their best ideas to life through coding and making a significant impact in their communities and around the world.”
Tim Cook’s Admiration
Tim Cook expressed his admiration for Akshat and other developers from India, stating, “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. 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.”
The Swift Student Challenge recognizes top student coding talent from around the world. This year, 50 students were distinguished for their exceptional app playgrounds, which were noted for their innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity. These winners, including Akshat, were invited to a three-day ..
Reflecting on 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 feedback were incredibly inspiring and made all my hard work feel worthwhile. This unforgettable The experience confirmed my passion for technology and motivated me to keep pushing boundaries and making an impact.”