University of Chittagong to host National Round of Hult Prize on 17 May

For the first time in Bangladesh, the University of Chittagong will host the National Round of the Hult Prize, widely known as the "Student Nobel Prize" on 17 May 2025.

The full-day event will bring together 50 finalist teams from the on-campus rounds of 45 universities across the country. Selected from over 3,500 competing teams, these finalists reflect the growing spirit of social entrepreneurship and purpose-driven innovation among Bangladeshi youth. Participants will showcase sustainable, impact-oriented business models addressing urgent social challenges, as they vie for the chance to represent Bangladesh on the global stage.

The programme will be graced by Professor Dr Muhammad Yahia Akhter, Honourable Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chittagong, as Chief Guest. Professor Dr Muhammad Shamim Uddin Khan and Professor Dr Kamal Uddin, Pro-Vice Chancellors, will attend as Special Guests. The event will be presided over by Professor Dr Muhammad Shahab Uddin, Adviser of the Hult Prize at the University of Chittagong and faculty member of the Department of Management.

KDS has joined as Title Sponsor, underscoring its commitment to empowering youth-led innovation for a sustainable future. Other key partners of the event include Education Hub as the Powered by partner; A.K. Khan Group and Sam Bond, a product of Samuda Group, as Co-sponsors. Channel 24 is the TV Media Partner, The Business Standard is the Print Media Partner, TBS Graduates is the Youth Engagement Partner, Markedium is the Digital Media Partner, and Chittagong Live is the Online Media Partner. These collaborators will play a key role in amplifying the voices of student innovators and their entrepreneurial journeys.

The Hult Prize is a global platform that challenges university students to launch for-profit startups tackling the world's most pressing issues. Operated in partnership with the United Nations and the Clinton Global Initiative, the competition awards USD 1 million in seed capital to the winning team. Previous Hult Prize winners have developed solutions such as affordable educational technology, climate-smart agricultural tools, and mobile apps for early disease detection—demonstrating the transformative potential of mission-driven enterprises.

The National Round in Chattogram marks a pivotal milestone for the selected teams. Winners will progress to the International Hult Prize Accelerator, joining leading teams from more than 21 countries for intensive mentorship, training, and global networking.