Rajshahi hosts Divisional Youth Startup Summit 2026
The Rajshahi Divisional Youth Startup Summit 2026 was held at the Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium, University of Rajshahi, marking one of the largest youth-focused entrepreneurship events in northern Bangladesh.
The day-long summit was jointly organised by YOUReach (Youth in Research and Action for Social Change) and DEIED, with the objective of strengthening startup culture, promoting innovation, and empowering young entrepreneurs from regional universities. The event ran from 9:00am to 6:00pm and attracted nearly 1,000 students and young entrepreneurs from universities across the Rajshahi division.
The summit received financial support from the World Bank and the ICT Division of the Government of Bangladesh, reflecting national commitment to youth entrepreneurship and innovation-driven economic growth.
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Participation and structure
Participants took part in the summit under three segments:
- General participation sessions
- Business idea competition
- Startup showcase
Students and young entrepreneurs from both public and private universities presented innovative ideas and early-stage startups addressing challenges in healthcare, sustainability, education, governance, and technology.
Distinguished guests and keynote
The keynote address was delivered virtually by Shish Haider Chowdhury, NDC, Secretary of the ICT Division, who attended as the chief guest. He highlighted the role of startups in national development and youth empowerment.
"Startups play a vital role in creating entrepreneurs and employment opportunities. However, success requires strategic support, industry networking and active government cooperation. The ICT Division remains committed to providing policy and institutional support so that innovative ideas can grow into sustainable ventures," he said.
He urged young innovators to focus on scalability, technology adoption and long-term impact, aligned with national development priorities.
Professor Dr Saleh Hasan Naqib, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rajshahi and special guest, stressed that ideas are the key capital in today's knowledge economy. He noted that social, economic, and psychological barriers, along with limited access to finance, often discourage entrepreneurship, adding that platforms such as the summit help change mindsets.
Professor Dr Khademul Islam Mollah, Vice-Chancellor of Varendra University, also attended the event and encouraged universities to play a stronger role in nurturing regional innovation ecosystems.
Business idea competition
The Business Idea Competition was a core attraction of the summit. Around 100 teams participated in the preliminary round, with 10 teams selected for the final pitching session before a panel of academics, industry professionals, and startup mentors. The total prize pool stood at Tk2 lakh.
- Champion: MedTros (Varendra University) – IV Bag Monitoring and Clamp Regulator Automation System
- First runner-up: Shadow Syndicate (University of Rajshahi) – Mango seed–based natural skincare products
- Second runner-up: Team SHUNNO – Biodegradable products made from sugarcane waste and natural tree sap
Startup showcase
A Startup Showcase Zone was set up outside the auditorium, where 25 startups displayed their products and prototypes. Of these, five startups were recognised for innovation, scalability, and impact:
- JOMIJOG (Jomijog.com) – PropTech platform for land services
- The Economic Tree – Sustainable products from date palm resources
- PippaQuiz – Digital exam and assessment platform
- Artificial Intelligence Bangladesh – Robotics and programming education for school students
- PROBAHI – No-code platform for launching educational websites and apps
Organisers' remarks
Tahfim Hasan Mehedi, Co-Founder of YOUReach, said the summit aimed to develop a regional startup ecosystem by connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with industry experts and established startups.
Dr Md Nurul Momen, Director of Career Counselling and advisor to YOUReach, highlighted the importance of financing and institutional backing, saying that with proper support, innovative ideas can contribute significantly to regional and national development.
The Rajshahi Divisional Youth Startup Summit 2026 provided a collaborative platform for youth innovation, academic insight, and entrepreneurial networking, highlighting the potential of regional talent and the importance of decentralised startup ecosystems beyond the capital.
YOUReach said it will continue organising such initiatives to empower youth, foster innovation and support the development of a sustainable startup culture across Bangladesh.
