Frankfurt Student Anton Baranov Wins Apple Developer Award with "Pitch Coach"

A special feature is the use of the motion sensors in Apple AirPods: via the ear-worn headphones, the app registers the user's posture and provides feedback, for example when the posture seems too tense. According to Apple, all computations run on the device itself, without the need to send data to the cloud ("ohne den Bedarf, Informationen in die Cloud schicken zu müssen").

Baranov offers the app free of charge. However, he could imagine "irgendwann zusätzliche Funktionen in einem Abo-Modell zu vermarkten." With the help of artificial intelligence, he had the interface translated into more than 20 languages, making the app available to a broad international audience.

Recognition from Apple CEO Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook praised Baranov's work ahead of WWDC as a "wonderful example of how technology can help people achieve things they themselves did not think were possible" ("wundervolles Beispiel dafür, wie Technologie Menschen helfen kann, Dinge zu erreichen, die sie selbst nicht für möglich hielten"). This recognition underscores the importance Apple attaches to young talent in its developer ecosystem.

Baranov is completing a dual study program in software technology at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen in cooperation with Deutsche Bank. His degree program combines theory and corporate practice; his parallel work at the bank feeds into his developments. His success at Apple shows that students at German universities can produce internationally competitive products.

Background: Studies and Career Path

Baranov has a German father and a mother from Russia. His biographical background — the move from Yekaterinburg to Germany at 18 — is reflected in the international orientation of his app. More than 20 languages make "Pitch Coach" usable for a global audience.

The technology industry is currently debating the extent to which AI models such as those from OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, and competitor Anthropic could write software themselves in the future. Baranov does not fundamentally share this concern: he is convinced that people will continue to play a controlling role and will use AI as a tool whose results they monitor.

Data Protection Through Local AI Processing

Technically, the app is based on Apple's own AI models, which run directly on the iPhone. This sets "Pitch Coach" apart from many cloud-based services and responds to a growing need for data protection and local data processing. For users, this means their voice recordings never leave the device.

The competition, which Apple holds annually ahead of WWDC, is considered one of the most important platforms for young developers. Baranov's award strengthens the visibility of Frankfurt and Central Hesse as locations for practice-oriented software development. It could also encourage other students to submit their own projects to major international competitions.