Orange Corners Bangladesh, a global initiative dedicated to building entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems for youth, successfully hosted the Ideation Challenge 3.0 Grand Finale at the Orange Corners Mohakhali Hub in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The challenge's theme was centered around SDG 7, “Affordable and Clean Energy.”A two-day bootcamp on May 24-25 provided practical knowledge from industry experts to 30 selected teams from over 230 applicants across 55 Bangladeshi universities.
The event, with over 50% female representation in the founding teams, supported the push for more women-led businesses.
The grand finale was graced by the presence of the seven finalist teams, representatives from the Dutch Embassy, all partners of Orange Corners Bangladesh, instructors of the capacity building sessions, and esteemed guests from the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Tahsinah Ahmed, executive director of BYLC, addressed the audience, sharing her insights and encouraging young entrepreneurs to continue striving for excellence and innovation in their respective fields.
Shamima Akhter, director—corporate affairs, partnerships and communications, Unilever Bangladesh, a private partner of Orange Corners Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of corporate support in fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bangladesh.
Chief guest Irma Van Dueren, ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, delivered a keynote speech highlighting the significance of sustainable entrepreneurship and the Netherlands' commitment to supporting young innovators.
Team Veni Vidi Vici, a startup leveraging NutriSpark Tech by converting banana waste into power plants, won first place in the competition, securing a prize of Tk1 lakh.
Team Rockefeller, transforming kitchen waste into biodiesel, was named the first runner-up, winning Tk50,000.
Team SIR, aiming to turn algae into an eco-friendly solution for our future, claimed the second runner-up position, winning Tk25,000.
Orange Corners is a global initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands that supports young entrepreneurs across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East in starting and growing sustainable businesses.
The program is implemented by Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC), YY Ventures, SAJIDA Foundation, and Unilever Bangladesh Limited as the private partner in Bangladesh.
The Pre-Incubation program by Orange Corners Bangladesh focuses on encouraging the youth of Bangladesh, especially aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators aged 18-35 years, to participate in solving local challenges.
This initiative includes various activities such as Ideation Challenges, campus-based startup talks, women-focused PowHER events, and the Campus Coordinator program.
