The application deadline for the third round of Bangabandhu Innovation Grant has been extended from April 22 to April 30. As a result, by taking this opportunity to extend the application period of Bangabandhu Innovation Grant 2023, the iDEA Project Project Director and Joint Secretary Md Altaf Hossain requested the interested startups to apply online within this period.
Sohag Chandra Das, coordinator and communication consultant of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Academy Establishment Project (iDEA) said on Tuesday that the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Academy was established under the Bangladesh Computer Council under the Information and Communication Technology Division, based on the large number of requests from interested parties and considering the need for additional time for the preparation of the applicants. The BIG 2023 organizing authority organized by the Institutionalization Scheme (iDEA) has extended this deadline.
He also said that more than 5 thousand applicants have already registered in BIG 2023 which has created a very competitive environment among the participants. Aiming at BIG 2023, the iDEA Project has undertaken various activities to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. 6 online road shows were organized with the cooperation of various clubs, youth organizations and community influencers of the university with the interested people from 8 departments of the country. Apart from this, the iDEA project directly organized 3 BIG 2023 activation campaigns in collaboration with Dhaka University Entrepreneurship Development Club (DUEDC), North South University Startups Next (NSUSN) and Startup Chittagong.
The organizers believe that through these campaigns, promising startups will connect with industry experts as well as create an opportunity for startups to learn from their experience.
The initial selection phase will begin soon after the BIG 2023 application deadline, with the next step being boot camps for startups. Later, at the final stage, the best startup will be given a grant of taka1 crore according to the experienced judges. Each of the remaining 50 startups will be given a grant of taka 10 lakh. Besides, there are various opportunities for startups, including investment, special honor certificate, mentoring, in the organization of BIG 2023.
It is to be noted that, BIG 2023 for Startups is a very prestigious initiative that aims to recognize talented entrepreneurs in the country as well as support them by providing a platform to grow their ventures. On March 28, 2023, the 3rd edition of the Bangabandhu Innovation Grant- BIG was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology Division of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, with the motto “Dare to Stand Big”.
