Bangladesh’s First Innovation Startup Hub Opens

The first time a non-govt innovation startup hub in the country has been launched at the Kaliakair Hi-Tech Park in Gazipur, marking a new initiative to support technology-driven entrepreneurship. The EATL Innovation Hub Startup Pitch Contest 2026 has begun with a total prize pool of Tk10 million. The competition aims to help young innovators and emerging startups turn promising ideas into viable businesses through mentorship, investor connections and national-level exposure.

The contest was inaugurated on Saturday afternoon, November 14, at a colourful ceremony at the hi-tech park. The Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology could not attend because of an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister. The opening ceremony was held in the minister’s absence, with confetti marking the launch.

The innovation hub has been developed through a joint initiative involving the ICT Division, the World Bank and the National University. EATL Innovation Hub Director Nafisa Khan delivered the welcome address. Two young entrepreneurs with international experience also presented their technology-based ventures: Nafiur Mohammad, founder of Canada-based Nova Labs, and Rumman Chowdhury, founder of Dubai-based startup Alfahan.

The programme was chaired by Muhammad Abdul Karim, Chairman of EATL Innovation Hub. Speakers included Nurul Hai, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Startup Bangladesh Limited; Manzur Mohammad Shahriar, Project Director of the Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development (DEIED) project under the ICT Division; Hosna Ferdous Sumi, World Bank PRIDE Project Team Leader and Senior Private Sector Specialist; Professor Md Mokhtar Ali, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Frontier Technology, Bangladesh; and EATL Managing Director M A Mubin Khan.

Speakers expressed optimism that encouraging young people to address real-world problems through entrepreneurship would create new jobs. They said Bangladesh could move from brain drain to brain gain by creating opportunities for talented people to build businesses at home. They also stressed stronger cooperation among government, private-sector and international stakeholders to turn innovative ideas into viable businesses.

Organisers said the competition would have two categories. The ‘Idea Contest’ is designed for early-stage innovative concepts, with a total prize pool of Tk2.5 million. The champion will receive Tk1 million, the first runner-up Tk500,000 and the second runner-up Tk300,000. A combined Tk400,000 will be awarded to the fourth- and fifth-place participants, while Tk300,000 will be shared among those finishing sixth to tenth.

The ‘Startup Contest’, aimed at established and growing startups, carries a total prize pool of Tk7.5 million. The champion will receive Tk3 million, the first runner-up Tk2 million and the second runner-up Tk1 million. Participants finishing fourth and fifth will share Tk1 million, while those placed sixth to tenth will share Tk500,000. The combined prize money for both categories stands at Tk10 million.

EATL Managing Director M A Mubin Khan said that with proper guidance, technological support and access to international markets, the talent and innovative potential of Bangladesh’s young generation could help them become job creators and global entrepreneurs rather than remaining job seekers.

He said the core objective of EATL Innovation Hub was to build a sustainable startup ecosystem where promising ideas could develop into successful businesses. He added that the initiative would focus on finding practical solutions to real social problems by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and emerging technologies.

Nafiu Osi Warekhua Mohammad, co-founder of Canada-based Nova Labs, presented the overall framework and future plans for the initiative. He said Nova Labs would work with EATL to support the advancement of Bangladesh’s technology sector. The company, he explained, would operate as an integrated technology services engine.

Drawing a comparison with Scale AI, he said the company initially began by labelling images and text for autonomous vehicles before expanding into expert-led services, response grading and model evaluation for major AI laboratories. Nova Labs aims to apply this combination of data labelling and expert services to deliver world-class technology services from Dhaka to global markets.

Hosna Ferdous Sumi, World Bank PRIDE Project Team Leader and Senior Private Sector Specialist, said the World Bank had been supporting Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem for a long time and would continue to do so. She noted that job creation was a major priority not only for Bangladesh but also globally. Developing entrepreneurs and providing comprehensive support to startups, she said, were effective ways to achieve that goal.

She said that alongside Startup Bangladesh Limited and Startup Investment Company, domestic investors and venture capital firms were also showing interest in investing in startups. However, a strong and effective financing pipeline was needed to make the sector more dynamic. Plans were also underway to bring international-standard accelerator programmes to Bangladesh so local entrepreneurs could take their startups towards commercial success and the next stage of growth in line with global standards.

Organisers said participants would receive mentorship and opportunities to connect with potential investors. The national platform would allow them to present their ideas and work towards transforming them into successful businesses.

The DEIED project under the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority of the ICT Division is co-organising the competition. Prothom Alo is the association partner. The National University is the strategic academic partner, while Startup Bangladesh Limited is the strategic and ecosystem partner. The ICT Industry Skills Council (ICT ISC) is the skills partner. The World Bank is also associated with the initiative.

EATL Innovation Hub works with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality and virtual reality. Its core objectives include developing skills in these fields, promoting research and nurturing new entrepreneurs to build a sustainable innovation and startup ecosystem.

//DBTech/IH/SCDE/FOED//