Youth Innovation Challenge Kicks Off in Rajshahi: SystemsEdge Solutions and Skincare AI Named Runners-Up
The Youth Innovation Challenge 2025 has commenced in Rajshahi, providing a platform for young local innovators to exchange ideas and showcase their startup solutions. The day-long conference took place on Thursday at Rajshahi University, where entrepreneurs and innovators from both Rajshahi and Rangpur participated. Eight selected teams presented their innovative concepts before a panel of judges.
The competing teams included SystemsEdge Solutions, HealthLink, ACE, AnandaPath, Eco Pedal, Algain, GuideNow, and Skincare AI. Based on the judges’ evaluation, AnandaPath was named the champion, securing a cash prize of 300,000 BDT. SystemsEdge Solutions emerged as the first runner-up, receiving 200,000 BDT, while Skincare AI claimed the second runner-up position with a prize of 100,000 BDT.
The winners were announced by Professor Mohammad Main Uddin, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of Rajshahi University, and Professor Md. Farid Uddin Khan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Rajshahi University. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Saleh Hassan Nakib, Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University, accompanied by Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh.
The flagship event, organized by Startup Bangladesh Limited, a state-run venture capital firm under the ICT Division, focused on financial inclusion, urban transport, healthcare accessibility, energy solutions, education, climate change, and food security. Participants showcased their innovative ideas, prototypes, or Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).
The event also featured a masterclass on the fundamentals of startups, covering essential aspects of business creation and growth. It was conducted by Shuvo Al-Faruk, CEO of Yantrik. Additionally, Mahir Asef, General Secretary of Startup Rajshahi and Co-founder/COO of Youth Upskill Network (UNET), shared inspiring success stories of promising startups in Rajshahi.
A fireside chat titled “The Startup Journey: An Inspiring Story of Building a Business from the Ground Up” featured Wasim Alim, CEO of Chaldal. Two panel discussions were also held:
- “From Idea to Scale: How Ecosystem Enablers Can Accelerate Your Startup,” moderated by Dewan Adnan, Investment Manager at Startup Bangladesh, with panelists Bijon Islam (CEO, LightCastle Partners), Naim Hossain Saikat (Managing Director, DuboTech), Md. Ahsan Habib (CEO, Area71 Venture Limited), and Rafidul Islam (Vice President, Startup Rajshahi).
- “From Pitch to Investment: Navigating the Funding Landscape,” featuring Shuvo Al-Faruk, Wasim Alim, Bijon Islam, and Sadia Haque (CEO, ShareTrip).
The conference was supported by Rajshahi University Career Club (RUCC) as the campus partner, Startup Rajshahi as the community partner, and LightCastle as the knowledge partner.
