Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) on Monday hosted an Inception Ceremony to officially launch the Chattogram Ideation Challenge (CIC), to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills, mentorship and funding needed to turn their ideas into successful businesses.

The initiative was supported and designed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a press release said here on Tuesday.

The event was presided over by BYLC’s Executive Director, Tahsinah Ahmed, who welcomed distinguished guests including Jurriaan Middelhoff, Dutch Ambassador for Youth, Education and Work, Thijs Woudstra, chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Erik Parigger, programme coordinator of Orange Corners at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

It brought together industry leaders, university representatives and aspiring entrepreneurs to strengthen Chattogram’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, reflecting the growing momentum for a vibrant startup culture in the region.

Speakers at the event stressed the importance of youth-driven innovation in fostering a sustainable and thriving private sector in Chattogram.

Tahsinah Ahmed in her welcome speech said, “We are proud to launch our first-ever entrepreneurship programme in Chattogram, a city that’s not only an industrial powerhouse but also a rising epicentre of young visionaries, ambition and future business leaders.”

“Youth participation in programmes like the Chattogram Ideation Challenge is crucial for securing follow-up funding and driving sustainable innovation, while the private sector can play a consequential role in empowering young entrepreneurs who are the key to generating the 2.3 million jobs Bangladesh needs," said Jurriaan Middelhoff.

A detailed overview of the CIC was presented at the event. The CIC will provide participants with hands-on training, mentorship from industry experts, and a structured process to refine and develop their business ideas.

Young entrepreneurs will compete through a rigorous selection process from where 20 teams will be selected for a 2-day Bootcamp in April 2025.

In the Bootcamp, participants will be trained in design thinking, project management, financial planning, team leadership and product-market fit.

After the bootcamp teams will pitch their businesses to a jury that will choose the best three business ideas.

These three teams will each receive a grant of Tk100,000 and enter an 8-week incubation to develop Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).

In the final pitch round, the top team will get an additional grant of Tk 400,000 to scale up their ventures.

Applications for the CIC will remain open till 8 March. Interested applicants can visit the webpage (bylc.org/cic2025) to learn more.

With the launch of the CIC, BYLC reaffirms its commitment to creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs, driving economic growth and strengthening Chattogram’s startup ecosystem.