Only 2 days left. The stage is ready. Now all are waiting for the first One BIG Winner Awardee. The final results of the much-anticipated “BIG 2021” will be announced next Saturday, October 30, 2021. “BIG 2021” is being organized by the Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to inspire young entrepreneurs and startups.
To mark the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the name of the winning startup will be announced in the Grand Finale as “One BIG Winner” of “Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG) 2021”. The best of the best winning startup will receive a grant of 1,00,000 US dollars with special honors, which is the biggest reward from the ICT Division for the startups in this Mujib year.
At the end of the campaign in 142 countries, more than 7,000 startups and innovators from 57 countries including Bangladesh, applied to the contest at the initial stage. Subsequently, the best 26 startups were selected through a breathtaking reality show consisting of 13-episode at the end of the boot camp with 65 top indigenous startups. At the same time, the best 10 startups were selected from the international level through a competitive contest. In the BIG 2021 Grand Finale program, 36 startups chosen from home and abroad will receive a total grant of BDT 3 crore 60 lakh where each startup will get BDT 10 Lakh. A total of 46 startups, including 26 local startups selected from the reality show, the top 10 startups at the international level and the top 10 startups of the iDEA Project portfolio, are in the “BIG 2021 Grand Finale”. Finally, the best of the best will be awarded a grant of 1,00,000 US dollars.
The Minister of Finance of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Mr. A H M Mustafa Kamal will be the chief guest at the Grand Finale of “BIG 2021” and the state minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak will preside over the program.
The ICT Division has organized a special program on the occasion of the Grand Finale of this magnificent event on the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and the Mujib year. The venue is being decorated in a colorful way to make it attractive in the BIG 2021 Grand Finale. The winners will be given a red-carpet reception. A special feature of the event is a performance by Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Pandit Sri Ravi Shankar, the architect of ‘Concert for Bangladesh’ during the Liberation war of Bangladesh, recently recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. There are also different arrangements including an excellent musical performance by a popular band of Bangladesh. The organizers said that the event will be held maintaining proper social distance and following the rules of hygiene for the Corona situation.
The entire closing ceremony will be on Facebook live on the iDEA Project’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/LetsStartupBD/ ) from 11 am on the program day. To know more about BIG 2021, visit www.big.gov.bd .
BIG 2021 initiative was associated with partners such as – Department of ICT, Bangladesh High-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA), Office of the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), and A2i along with BASIS, BACCO, BCS, e-CAB, ISPAB, BIJF and TMGB. In addition, the event is sponsored by Walton and in collaboration with Startup Bangladesh Limited.