Tale of an app that rivals Excel

When Ornob Barua left Dhaka for Sydney, he carried with him more than just student dreams and a packed suitcase. He brought a quiet conviction that time spent in university doesn't have to be just about lectures and deadlines, but can be the launchpad for something much bigger. Today, that belief is manifesting in the halls of Victoria University, Sydney, where Ornob's app has officially replaced Microsoft Excel for staff rostering.

Yes, Excel - the global standard for spreadsheet management has been sidelined by something built not by a billion-dollar company, but by a Bangladeshi undergraduate armed with passion, skill, and persistence.

A product built to last: Ornob's product SRG Rostering App, under his tech brand named ‘Avocadoo’, was developed to simplify shift planning and volunteer hour tracking at the university's Student Representative Group (SRG). With a sleek drag-and-drop interface, built-in AI assistant, live prompt system, and advanced features like live chat, approval system, real-time calculations and PDF exports, it's not just a spreadsheet replacement but it's a full-stack, purpose-built rostering solution. Instead of spending four to five hours per week making rosters, managers or universities can now generate, approve, and track everything in minutes through his app.

"This isn't just a one-time tool. It's built to last, year after year," Ornob posted on social media. His tone was playful - "I just made something that's taking over Bill Gates' Microsoft Excel!" - but the achievement was anything but casual. Victoria University, Sydney formally recognised his contribution in an internal communication, praising his app for transforming the way their SRG community operates.

The recognition reflects more than a clever software hack; it signals a shift in what universities now expect from students. Not just performance in exams, but contributions to systems and structures. Ornob's story makes one thing clear: innovation isn't waiting for graduation anymore.

From Dhaka classrooms to Australian code: Ornob's educational journey began in Dhaka. He studied at Motijheel Model High School, then Notre Dame College. Now a student of Bachelor of Information Technology at Victoria University Sydney, majoring in Web and Software Development and minoring in Network Management, Ornob describes himself as a self-taught developer. Before Avocadoo, he had already built over 50 websites and tools for clients and startups. For most students, that might have been enough. But Ornob had something more audacious in mind - creating a SaaS platform that could genuinely solve day-to-day inefficiencies.

The time you waste could build the next big thing: University is often viewed as a holding pattern. It often goes like a few years spent absorbing knowledge until you're deemed ready for professional work. But Ornob's journey challenges that assumption. Innovation doesn't have to wait until after graduation. He is a person with high agency and ambition. If you're solving real problems, building real products, and delivering real impact, then you're already part of the world beyond campus.

Too often, students drown in the inertia of routine with lectures, part-time jobs, social distractions, and screen time. Ornob shows that these same years can instead be the most fertile ground for innovation, provided one uses them wisely.

"I believe in building tools that simplify life and reduce unnecessary work," he explained. Avocadoo reflects that principle at every layer from the AI assistant that interprets natural language prompts to the backend logic running shift simulations and time calculations using Python's Pandas library.

And he's not stopping there. Plans are already underway to expand the brand globally, with new tools like AvoText and Logic Sheet in the pipeline. So what's his dream? His dream is to build a world-class tech company starting from the soil of Bangladesh.

Takeaways for young innovators: What can young innovators learn from Ornob's story?

First, those skills trump degrees. Ornob's foundation in commerce didn't stop him from becoming a software developer. Passion, consistency, and self-learning can override academic background.

Second, things should be built for use, not applause. Avocadoo wasn't made for a poster project or class credit; it was built to replace something broken. And it succeeded.

Third, you don't need to wait for permission. Ornob didn't need a funding round or a team of ten. He saw a problem, sketched a solution, and iterated until it worked.

Finally, understand that where you're from doesn't limit where you can go. Whether it's Dhaka or Sydney, innovation is borderless - as long as you're willing to put in the hours. And lastly, one does not need a garage in Silicon Valley. Sometimes, a university corner in Australia or a room in Bangladesh or anywhere is enough to start the next big thing.

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