BYLC awards grants to young entrepreneurs for climate-conscious ventures

Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC), in partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, hosted the closing ceremony of the Chattogram Ideation Challenge (CIC) at The Peninsula Chittagong. The event recognised the journey of five youth-led finalist teams who have spent the past eight months developing sustainable, climate-conscious ventures to address pressing local and global challenges.

The programme brought together representatives from the private sector, academia, and development organisations. It featured live pitching, jury evaluations, product showcases, and networking sessions, culminating in the announcement of the CIC Champion, Promising Idea, and Special Recognition Award. The champion team received a grant of Tk 500,000, while two awardee teams received Tk 100,000 each to further scale their initiatives.

Launched in January 2025, CIC engaged young innovators through campus activities at five Chattogram universities and collaboration with partner organisations, generating 168 applications. From these, 27 teams participated in a two-day entrepreneurship bootcamp, leading to the selection of five finalists for an incubation programme that included mentorship, industry visits, and capacity-building workshops.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ejaj Ahmad, Founder and Executive Chairperson of BYLC, said: "The young entrepreneurs we have supported through CIC are not only building businesses, they are building hope for a greener, more resilient Bangladesh. Their courage and creativity demonstrate that Chattogram has the potential to be a national hub for sustainable entrepreneurship."

Tim Spaans, First Secretary at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka, emphasised the importance of youth-led innovation. "Bangladesh needs young innovators to turn ideas into enterprises that not only create jobs but also protect the planet. Initiatives like CIC are vital in bridging entrepreneurship with sustainability and connecting youth to global opportunities," he said.

Chief guest Dr Shahadat Hossain, Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, said: "Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center is empowering young entrepreneurs in Chattogram to build businesses that contribute to a greener city. Chattogram Ideation Challenge stands as a shining example of cross-sectoral collaboration, accelerating the growth of young entrepreneurs. Today, we celebrate not only their ideas but also their resilience and dreams to shape a better Chattogram."

The evening concluded with the announcement of winners, cheque handovers, and a networking dinner that facilitated dialogue between entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

With the successful completion of the first CIC, BYLC and the Kingdom of the Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to empowering youth, strengthening Chattogram's entrepreneurial ecosystem, and supporting Bangladesh's journey towards an inclusive and sustainable economy.