Grand finale of Creaventure 4.0 held in capital

The grand finale of Creaventure 4.0 national idea pitching competition took place at a hotel in the capital on Saturday.

to celebrate the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of young innovators across Bangladesh. Organised by Dhaka University Entrepreneurship Development Club (DUEDC), Akij Resource presented the competition, which was powered by Shwapno in association with CFMOTO Bangladesh.

Chief Guest Prof Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, pro-vice chancellor (Administration) of the University of Dhaka, graced the event alongside industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and entrepreneurs who gathered to recognize emerging startup talents.

The competition drew an overwhelming response from 1,066 registered participants who formed 348 teams across 62 districts. Following an online idea submission round, 33 teams advanced to the quarter finals. From there, 20 teams moved to the semi-finals for online pitching and Q&A sessions. Ultimately, the top eight finalist teams earned their spots in the grand finale to pitch their ideas live.

Startup Grid emerged as the champion of the competition, while Startup Matis Plus secured the first runner-up position and Startup Metis became the second runner-up.

Organisers awarded the winners from a total prize pool of over Tk130,000, which included cash prizes, gifts, and facilities worth Tk11,000. The champion team received Tk50,000, while the first and second runners-up took home Tk30,000 and Tk20,000, respectively.

The finalists represented diverse sectors including AgriTech, FoodTech, ClimateTech, circular economy, social enterprise, sustainable fashion, CleanTech, and artificial intelligence, addressing a total of 10 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Distinguished guests attended the event, including Prof Hasina Sheykh, former chairman of the Department of Banking and Insurance; Rashed Mujib Noman, country director of Augmedix Bangladesh; Ahmed Armaan Siddiqui, CEO of Grameen HealthTech Limited; Rezaul Karim, CEO of CFMOTO Bangladesh; Syed S Kaiser Kabir, CEO and managing director of Renata PLC; Rudaba Khondker, country director of Bangladesh Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN); Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, project director at the ICT Division; Nusrat Tabassum, senior vice-president at Guardian Life Insurance; Hasi Rani Bepari, head of CRM at Community Bank PLC; Osman Haruni, senior policy advisor at the Embassy of the Netherlands; and Norihide Furukawa, head of education at UNESCO Dhaka.

Furukawa expressed hope for continued cooperation from UNESCO in entrepreneurship development, stating, “We look forward to strengthening collaboration to support young innovators and foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

In his welcome speech, Prof Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane said, “The Dhaka University has a glorious history of playing key leadership roles in epoch-making events including the language movement, and freedom movement. Dhaka University Entrepreneurship Development Club is going to maintain the continuity of that leadership.”

Prof Rafiuddin Ahmed, chief patron of DUEDC, noted that Bangladesh needs more job creators than job seekers. He added, “At the same time, families must encourage young people to pursue entrepreneurship with confidence, just as they do traditional career paths.”

Prof Mohammad Toufiqul Islam, chairman of the Department of Management at the University of Dhaka and moderator of DUEDC, described the competition as a learning platform that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with knowledge, mentorship, and industry connections to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and market realities.

Prof Rafiuddin Ahmed also moderated a special panel session featuring Ahmed Arman Siddiqui, Syed S Kaiser Kabir, Rashed Mujib Noman, and Rezaul Karim. During the panel, the speakers remarked, “To be an entrepreneur, you have to look for opportunities, diferentiate yourself from others, and be prepared for the future.”

Prof Rafiuddin Ahmed, along with ShareTrip Co-Founder and CEO Sadia Haque, The Daily Star Chief Business Officer Tajdin Hassan, and Nextjobz Limited Chief Business Officer Shoeb Hassan, served as the judges for the grand finale.