‘The App-etite Boy’ Who Became Apple’s Registered App Developer

Kolkata: If ‘catch ’em young’ was the motto for tapping the finest brains from the farthest corners of the globe, then the world’s technology giant certainly has the penchant for converting it into a reality.

Meet Rishav Kumar – a Class VIII whiz kid in Kolkata who cracked a worldwide online examination to become one of the youngest registered app developers with Apple Inc.

Rishav, a student of The New Town School, appeared for the Worldwide Developer’s Conference Examination in March 2017. He secured an enviable 4308th rank out of nearly nine lakh examinees.

Since November last year, he has published four apps on the iPhone and iPad App Store.

“My son started developing apps when he was in Class V. We bought him some books and he self-trained himself with the help of search engines. Without any formal training he is now a registered app developer with Apple Inc. We are proud of him,” Rishav’s father Dr B Kumar, a medicine specialist, said.

Explaining how Rishav started developing interest towards gadgets and software, he said, “I own a diagnostic centre and he developed a billing software for me. He developed it with the help of a few books. He then developed a software on prescriptions.”

Rishav thanked his parents and everyone in his school for shaping his dream. "My next target is to participate in World Robotic Olympiad and will try to perform well. I am also working on a gaming App and on an iPhone software,” he said

Principal of The New Town School, Satabdi G Bhattacharjee, said: “He did a commendable job at this young age and we wish him all the best in future. In our school, we give our best to understand young minds to give them direction towards their respective goals.”