A dating app for readers; Tax break for edtech players
Hello,
Move over, T20 and ODI cricket—it’s the turn of spreadsheet wizards to be in the spotlight. Microsoft Excel, typically the go-to tool of data crunchers and office workers, just transformed into an unlikely competitive sport.
For the first time in its four-year history, the Microsoft Excel World Championship moved from screens to a live arena, featuring 12 elite contestants and 400 passionate spectators. The victor didn’t just claim the $5,000 prize and the coveted title of the “world’s best spreadsheeter”—they also took home a wrestling-style championship belt, proving that Excel masters can flex more than just their formula skills.
Speaking of Microsoft, its boss Satya Nadella has grabbed the top spot in the inaugural HSBC Hurun Global Indians List 2024, which featured 226 Indian-origin leaders heading some of the world’s most valuable companies.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan secured the second and third positions on the list.
Moving on, the Moon will soon get a data centre.
On SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, space startup Lonestar Data Holdings will launch a fully assembled data centre by integrating it with Intuitive Machines’ moon lander, Athena, late next month.
Cheaper rocket launches and abundant solar energy, according to Reuters, have led to a race among startups that want to make the Moon a data hub capable of meeting the demands of AI computation.
Meta is reportedly working on a technology that can translate speech from multiple languages in real time.
Turns out, the Babel fish from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy could very well be a real thing!
In today’s newsletter, we will talk about
Who wrote the novel Tarzan of the Apes?
In 2024, Shruti Sah and Harsh Snehanshu decided to bookmark their relationship and love for books, quite literally. Along with two other friends, Sid Zadaun, and Avrojyoti Das, they launched Bookmark, a dating app that connects people based on the books they like, in addition to other personal preferences like distance, the type of relationship they are seeking, and the gender.
Find out how the popular Cubbon Reads sessions in Bengaluru led to the genesis of Bookmark.
Design: Nihar Apte
Education companies are demanding more as we gear up for this year’s budget. The growing chasm between education, skilling, and employability remains a challenge—and the industry is calling for bold measures to bridge the gap and empower India’s workforce of tomorrow.
The sector is also hoping for tax breaks, expanded work-integrated learning programmes, better digital infrastructure, increased sector funding, and enhanced innovation—aimed at driving the sector’s growth.
Influencer marketing has become a cornerstone of digital advertising, capturing a significant portion of a brand’s marketing budget. However, the industry continues to face challenges, including detecting fake followers, managing campaigns efficiently, and ensuring measurable returns on investment.
To address these issues, Krishna Priya Akella and Aravindha Bollineni co-founded Starbuzz.ai in 2021. The Hyderabad-based startup uses AI to simplify and enhance the influencer marketing process for brands.
Who wrote the novel Tarzan of the Apes?
Answer: Edgar Rice Burroughs.
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