Who is David Benaim?
An Excel YouTuber, blogger, trainer and comedian (AKA The Excel Comedian) with the MVP award (considered by Microsoft to be amongst the top 100 or so Excel people worldwide). I run a tech consulting firm called Xlconsulting, where I build systems in Excel. I was born in Bahamas, grew up in Gibraltar and have lived in Cambodia since 2013.
I’m Jewish too, which is a big part of my identity, both my grandparents on the mum’s side were maths teachers, and that’s what kicked off my love for maths and later spreadsheets.
On new year’s 2022 a friend of mine made a pact we would try Stand-Up, so I started it and he had a baby. My second set was about Excel jokes, and since then I started building the blueprint for my show, to eventually put it all together for Dundee Fringe 2024, then Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 where I had a sold-out run, and now Adelaide Fringe in 2026 with Excel Comedy & Mathem-antics. I like doing comedy about various other topics too, not just spreadsheets.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Google Sheets.
Who inspires you and why?
I get inspired by people who take their fate into their own hands. Those who have an idea and go for it, create and if at first they don’t succeed try, try again!
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Find ways to get the creative juices flowing in everyone, free trainings in theatre, stand up, improv, music and provide avenues for artists to flourish like grants in arts programmes.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
City breaks, 2 days where I visit all the things, see all the sights, taste all the food (vegetarian of course), go to all the bars and come back more exhausted than when I left. A big group of friends, like 30 of us. The others wouldn’t see all the things, but I’d meet them back at the bars.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
The history museum. They usually don’t want to go, so it’s for me really, and if they refuse to go I don’t invite them back and go to the museum anyway.
What are you currently reading?
LinkedIn threads from Excel bloggers I follow, especially the biting comments threads.
What are you currently listening to?
David JP Phillips’ YouTube channel. Particularly his three TED talks about storytelling, public speaking and PowerPoint, I’m not usually a TED guy but they’re brilliant and have shaped the way I write scripts, do performances and business presentations.
Happiness is?
That little buzz of serotonin you get when I’ve done a great performance or the even bigger one when someone you’ve trained is succeeding or even the event you’ve put on has given the platform for them to get there.
What does the future hold for you?
I’m excited for taking my show to Adelaide Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe once again this summer, then exploring other avenues for the show. I’m also excited for the third rendition of the small annual festival I organise, 4 days on a beautiful beach in Cambodia every November with live music, Stand-up, theatre, DJs, presentations, excursions, workshops and more, plus of course keeping up with all the Excel updates.
David will present Excel comedy & Mathem-antics at The Austral Hotel, as part of the Adelaide Fringe, from 7 – 22 March 2026. For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.
Image: David Benaim (supplied)