In this talk, Mercedes Laub explores the surprising similarities between chess and tennis, shedding light on how strategic thinking in one sport can improve performance in the other. Mercedes is a seventh Grader at Saint Andrews, where she has been attending for 1 year. She is originally from Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Florida 3 years ago. You will usually find her playing tennis, painting, and dancing ballet. She also loves reading whenever she has free time. Mercedes loves traveling to Spain, New York, and Germany during the summer with her family. When she's not on the tennis court after school, she typically spends her time studying online, focusing on languages like German and Spanish. She joined TED-Ed to improve her writing and vocabulary skills. She also wants to inform people how her passion can relate to something as common as chess. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In the startup world, "Unicorns" symbolize billion-dollar valuations but at what cost? Udit Goenka challenges the obsession with mythical growth, exposing its hidden risks through real stories like GoMechanic's collapse. He introduces sustainable alternatives "Zebras" and "Camels" startups that prioritize real profits and community impact. Drawing inspiration from Zoho and Zerodha, Udit redefines success as lasting, ethical, and value-driven. He urges entrepreneurs to move beyond the unicorn myth and embrace sustainable business models that prioritize resilience, impact, and true value creation. Because real success is measured in legacy, not just valuation. Udit Goenka is a SaaS and AI entrepreneur who is the founder and CEO of PitchGround, which is a startup-business marketplace. He is also the head of TinyCheque, India's first AI-driven SaaS venture studio, building platforms such as Niyam.ai and QCall.ai. He started entrepreneurship at the age of 18 by launching a WordPress security solution and co-founded Power Up Hosting later on. He has also guided and invested in more than 35 startups based on automation and scalability. A member of the Forbes Business Council, he posts about SaaS growth and digital strategies. His businesses have helped drive more than $14 million in SaaS sales. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

When a woman is empowered, she doesn't just change her own life—she transforms generations. From villages to boardrooms, from artisans to entrepreneurs—women are shaping the future with strength, resilience, and vision. Education, skill, and opportunity fuel this transformation. And when one woman rises, she lifts others with her. In my Ted x talk i want to honor and ignite the power of women. Because empowered women don’t just change their world—they change THE world! Umang Shridhar is Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2019) honoree, is a social entrepreneur and textile designer dedicated to empowering rural artisan women. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

“Nobody is perfect. Nobody can do everything. But everyone can do something. Everyone can fix one thing.” Linda Nhu Laursens mission is to gather and engage people in actions, as repair, longer product lifetime and less waste. To redesign our throw-away-society, making the sustainable and planetary responsible choice is the easiest, pragmatic and most attractive choice for all people. Dr. Linda Nhu Laursen is the Head of Research at AAU Design Lab and an Associate Professor at Aalborg University, Denmark. She has written several books on long-lasting design, repair, and waste materials and has won awards for both her research and leadership. As a passionate advocate for sustainability, she actively shares her ideas and research mission – Design with Staying Power – to inspire change. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Nature holds a vast catalogue of solutions – efficient, multifunctional, and adaptive – all refined by evolution. Every structure, function, and material use follows precise logics shaped over millions of years. These natural rules create systems that seamlessly respond to their environment while evoking deep emotional connections. By understanding and applying these principles, Mikkel Huse moves from seed to systems, designing with nature’s code to create products that merge biological intelligence with modern technology. Designer Mikkel Huse is dedicated to exploring the intricate relationship between nature and design through innovative and functional creations. Specializing in crafting furniture and functional objects inspired by natural systems and biological processes, he leverages advanced technologies and evolutionary programming to reimagine everyday forms, revealing the transformative potential of nature’s solutions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Biodiversity is disappearing right before our eyes, and it’s crucial to keep track of this loss to focus conservation efforts where they are needed most. But how can we do that? By using hedgehog poo, of course! While spending countless nights in the field radio-tracking the lovable European hedgehogs to better understand their decline, Dr. Sophie Lund Rasmussen had an innovative idea: using eDNA analysis of hedgehog droppings to gain insights into their diets and, in turn, the local biodiversity around them. Dr. Sophie Lund Rasmussen is a Research Associate at WildCRU, University of Oxford, a Research Fellow at Linacre College, University of Oxford, and an affiliated researcher at Aalborg University in Denmark. Known affectionately as “Dr. Hedgehog,” She has engaged in hedgehog research since 2011 and is now considered a leading expert on European hedgehogs, working tirelessly to uncover the reasons behind their decline and how to stop it. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx