Micro Course on Intellectual History on Start-up conducted by Student to Startup Ventures Limited with the overall support of Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development Project under Bangladesh Hi-tech Park Authority has ended at Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center Rajshahi. The Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced the conclusion of this workshop on Thursday. The state minister also officially inaugurated the office space of 2000 square feet reserved for Women and e-commerce trust (WE) at Joy Silicon Tower in Rajshahi in order to promote entrepreneurs in this park. Zunaid Ahmed Palak also inaugurated the startup studio “Smart Bangladesh Launchpad” under “One Family, One Seed” initiative at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park, Rajshahi’s Joy Silicon Tower.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir; Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed; AKAM Fazlul Haque, Project Director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park, Rajshahi; Abul Fattah Md. Baligur Rahman, Director of Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Eco-System Development Project; Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park Rajshahi Project Deputy Project Director Mahfuzul Kabir; WE Trust President Nasima Akhter Nisha and others were present at the event.
In this context, Nisha said that 100 local women entrepreneurs can use the allocated space as a co-working space. At the same time, they can display their products and services. In the opening ceremony, several people displayed their own designs, kantha, saris, clothes, food etc. A painted souvenir was also presented to the state minister along with flowers.
Then, in the closing ceremony of the Micro Course on Intellectual History on Start-up workshop, the ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak,while speaking as the Chief Guest said that the mentors, coaches, trainers and others associated with Smart Bangladesh Launchpad will not only teach by hand about how to create or develop a startup but The entire Smart Bangladesh Launchpad will act as a team for everyone. Set up at Joy Silicon Tower, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park, Rajshahi, Smart Bangladesh LaunchPad will provide free coaching, mentoring, and startup development services as well as co-working space and allocation for everyone.
Ashikur Rahman Rupak, CEO of Student to Startup Ventures Limited said that about 239 students from five campuses under Rajshahi district have registered in this course organized with the aim of creating future start-ups. Students from the five universities that participated are Rajshahi University (RU), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Rajshahi College, North Bengal International University and Barendra University.
A total of 3 sessions are being conducted for the students of these institutions under the overall supervision of Ashikur Rahman Rupak. He said, along with a detailed understanding of the history, evolution and impact of ‘startup’ as a concept and culture, students are prepared on why and how to build a startup through this micro-course.
Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Managing Director (Grade-1) GSM Zafarullah said that a six-month long co-entrepreneurship program will be organized under Smart Bangladesh Launchpad, which aims to create new start-ups and launch them in the market. Students and youth of any level belonging to Rajshahi district who have an academic project, thesis, research or business idea that they want to develop into a business venture will benefit from this Launchpad. Even for any level of students and young people belonging to Rajshahi district who do not have any of the above but want to build their career as an efficient entrepreneur i.e. as a founder or co-founder of a startup, this Launchpad will be an ideal place to develop themselves.
About 251 youth, entrepreneurs and startups have already registered for the batch of October 2023 – March 2024 session. Before this, a Smart Bangladesh Launchpad was inaugurated in CUET on August 27 and one Launchpad will be established in all Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers and each Smart Bangladesh Launchpad will create 50 new startups and launch them in the market in a year, said the concerned personnel.