Nusaiba’s venture to make science interactive gains global recognition
The use of Augmented Reality (AR) in Anondopath allows students to interact with educational content in ways traditional classrooms cannot
When she was in school, Nusaiba Binte Mamun always wondered how science actually worked in real life. In Bangladesh, students read about experiments and only imagine them but rarely get to see how they work in practice. As a result, they often struggle in higher studies and jobs.
Nusaiba is a final year student in the Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET). Out of frustration with the lack of practical science education, she built a venture named 'Anondopath'.
Nusaiba is not the sole face behind it though. Other co-founders are Abrar Faiyaz Anan Chowdhury from the Department of Mechatronics Engineering, RUET, and Saraf Lamyia from the Institute of Education and Research (IER), Dhaka University.
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Today, the project has gained global recognition. Nusaiba was recently named a Kofi Annan Changemaker 2025 and became the first fellow from Bangladesh in the Generation Connect Young Leadership Program (GCYLP), organised by the UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Huawei.
"It's a one-year programme that's not just about the project; it provides training, access to global mentors and personal guidance to help us grow as individuals while making a positive impact in our communities. I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity," Nusaiba told TBS.
Using AR to make learning interactive
Imagine mixing chemicals in a virtual laboratory or solving math problems with real-world examples, like calculating how much paint you need for your room. That is exactly the experience Anondopath offers.
Anondopath uses Augmented Reality (AR) to make science education interactive and accessible. It allows students to conduct virtual experiments rather than just memorising theories. The use of AR in Anondopath allows students to interact with educational content in ways traditional classrooms cannot.
"With AR, students can actually do experiments, beyond just reading. It's about understanding not just the 'what' but the 'why' and 'how' behind what you're learning," Nusaiba said.
The journey of Anondopath
The journey of Anondopath began merely as a university project. However, it did not take long for Nusaiba and her team to prove the potential of their idea. In May 2024, they won first place in the Smart Unibator Competition at RUET, earning pre-seed funding that fueled their vision.
From there, momentum built rapidly. By September, Anondopath had already stepped beyond campus boundaries, ranking among the top 12 game-changing teams in the Investment Readiness Round of the Turtle Venture Accelerator.
"Sometimes it feels like we're too small to change anything. But if each of us just plays our part, in our own corner, things begin to shift. We can change our surroundings and slowly make the world the beautiful, liveable place it's meant to be. So don't stop, just start right where you are."
National recognition continued to follow. On 3 November 2024, Anondopath joined the E-19 Cohort of the Accelerating Bangladesh – Startup and Scale-up Program at the High-Tech Park. Just months later, in early 2025, the team triumphed at the Youth Innovation Challenge during the Youth Startup Summit for Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Soon after, they successfully graduated from the Accelerating Bangladesh programme with a finalist pitch before top investors.
The journey reached a defining moment on 8 April 2025, when Nusaiba and her team proudly represented Bangladesh at the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 – Startup Connect. There, Anondopath not only clinched the Championship Award but also secured fresh funding, cementing its place on both the national and global innovation map.
"I believe that Anondopath grew quickly because its mission resonated widely due to its universal need," Nusaiba noted.
Being a young female founder in Bangladesh
Entering the Bangladeshi startup scene as a young female founder has not been easy for Nusaiba.
"Sometimes people ignore me just because I'm young or because I'm a girl," she mentioned.
"In meetings, they would talk to the guy next to me instead. It was frustrating and disheartening, but I learned to speak up. My parents always told me to believe in myself, so I kept showing up and proving my work. Don't wait for permission — take your space if you know you have the ability and knowledge to do the work," she added.
On the global stage, Nusaiba herself achieved groundbreaking milestones. In May-June 2024, she was chosen as a young fellow in the GCYLP. She was the first Bangladeshi ever selected, standing out among 5,249 applicants worldwide. This opportunity included international funding and a fully funded seven-day training in Geneva.
"Representing Bangladesh at the ITU in Geneva was a turning point. I realised that anyone — even from a small city — can have a global voice. The training there taught me how to design solutions specifically for rural communities, the people who need these tools the most. It made my mission feel grounded and real," she said.
Nusaiba has ambitious plans for Anondopath, with her team set to pilot it in 10 schools starting in January 2026, prioritising underserved schools first.
"We're working on partnerships to bring Anondopath to more schools, especially underserved ones. We also want to expand beyond borders because joyful learning shouldn't have boundaries," She said.
"Sometimes it feels like we're too small to change anything. But if each of us just plays our part, in our own corner, things begin to shift. We can change our surroundings and slowly make the world the beautiful, liveable place it's meant to be. So don't stop, just start right where you are," Nusaiba concluded with her message to young aspirants.
