Unilever and Orange Corners host ‘Ecosystem in Action’
Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL), in collaboration with Orange Corners Bangladesh (OCB), successfully hosted Ecosystem in Action: Powering Future Builders—an event aimed at enhancing private sector engagement with youth-led innovations in Bangladesh. Held at The Westin Dhaka, the event brought together entrepreneurs, private sector leaders, government representatives, development partners, and diplomats to strengthen support for emerging businesses driven by Bangladeshi youth.
The programme served as a dynamic platform for early-stage businesses supported by OCB to connect with private sector leaders, investors, and ecosystem enablers—facilitating opportunities for investment, mentorship, and market access.
A key feature of the event was a fireside chat with Kamal Quadir, Founder and CEO of bKash, and Zaved Akhtar, Chairman and Managing Director of Unilever Bangladesh, moderated by Sarah Iqbal, Head of Impact Partners at SAJIDA Foundation. The discussion covered leadership, entrepreneurship, decision-making under uncertainty, regulatory trust-building, and the private sector's role in scaling impact-driven enterprises.
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The Trailblazer Gallery showcased five innovative businesses from the Orange Corners portfolio: BD Recycle Technologies, Drip Irrigation BD, Polka Flex, Aqualink Bangladesh, and Watt Motors. These ventures presented solutions in areas such as climate resilience, agri-tech, green mobility, and circular economy, ranging from on-demand recycling services and solar-powered irrigation to biodegradable flex banners, environmental monitoring tools, and lightweight electric vehicles.
Chief Guest Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, congratulated the young entrepreneurs for their contributions to social progress and economic development. He highlighted the importance of youth entrepreneurship in driving inclusive growth and called for greater collaboration across government, private sector, and entrepreneurship support organisations.
H.E. Andre Carstens, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, stressed that ecosystems are critical for the growth of startups and praised the role of Orange Corners in connecting early-stage entrepreneurs with private sector expertise, capital, and networks.
In his remarks, Zaved Akhtar reaffirmed Unilever's commitment to fostering purpose-led entrepreneurship that addresses real-world challenges. He emphasised the role of the private sector in nurturing ecosystems that enable innovative, market-ready solutions.
The event concluded with a networking session, facilitating discussions between entrepreneurs and potential partners, clients, and investors, paving the way for future partnerships and broader visibility within national and international ecosystems.
