Hult Prize at RUET concludes

The highly anticipated Grand Finale of the Hult Prize On-Campus 2024-25 at Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET) successfully concluded at the Mechanical Seminar Room, marking a significant milestone in student entrepreneurship and innovation.

This year's competition featured 134 teams and 527 participants, with six finalist teams advancing after rigorous idea submissions and compelling elevator pitches. The event serves as the gateway to the global $100,000 Hult Prize and was co-power sponsored by Shams Engineering, with Tiller and City Engineering and Technologies as associate partners.

The finalist teams included Team The Decipher, Team AlgaeN, Team AGRIVEST, Team GreenLoop, Team Waste 2 Wealth, and Team Ulta Palta. Following an intense final round, Team GreenLoop was crowned champion, while Team Ulta Palta and Team Waste 2 Wealth secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively. The winners received a Tk10,000 prize pool and a chance to compete in the national round. Additionally, Team AlgaeN was awarded the Viewers' Choice Award for their engaging presentation.

A distinguished panel of judges evaluated the competition, comprising Md Wahidur Rahman, Senior Manager of Administration (R&D Center) at Nabil Group of Industries; Md Shibly Islam Kanon, Senior Territory Manager at Unilever Bangladesh Ltd.; Md Jahidul Islam, Head of Business at Nabil Group of Industries; and A.I. Md Shoib, Executive of Digital Marketing and Brand Marketing at Nabil Group of Industries. An expert panel also provided valuable insights, featuring Dr Md Abdullah Al Mahmood, Associate Professor, Department of Glass and Ceramic Engineering and Deputy Director of Students' Welfare; Miraz Ahmed, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering; Oishi Jyoti, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Sajib Day, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering; and Md Abu Ismail Siddique, Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering.

Dr Md Masud Rana, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Advisor of the Hult Prize at RUET, expressed gratitude for the initiative, urging students to integrate technology and entrepreneurship. RUET Vice-Chancellor Professor S M Abdur Razzak and Professor Dr Md Rabiul Islam Sarker, Director of Students, extended their best wishes to the participants.

The success of the Hult Prize at RUET 2024-25 was made possible by the support of various partners, including Shahin Physics as the education partner, Udvash Unmesh Sikkha Poribar as the logistics partner, Anondopath as the learning partner, Rupali Bank PLC as the alliance partner, Macaw as the food partner, Jamuna.tv as the media partner, and The Business Standard as the online media partner.

The Hult Prize at RUET continues to foster student-led innovation, providing a platform for young entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business solutions for pressing global challenges. The event concluded with a prize-giving ceremony and photo sessions among the organisers and participants.