Grand finale of Creaventure 4.0 celebrates youth-led innovations

The grand finale of Akij Resource Presents Creaventure 4.0: National Idea Pitching Competition, Powered by Shwapno in Association with CFMOTO Bangladesh, was held on July 11, 2026 at Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre, to celebrate the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of young innovators across Bangladesh.

The event was graced by chief guest Prof. Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Dhaka University. The programme brought together distinguished industry leaders, academics, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem stakeholders to recognise the country’s emerging startup talents.

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Organised by the Dhaka University Entrepreneurship Development Club (DUEDC), Creaventure 4.0 witnessed an overwhelming response with 1,066 registered participants forming 348 teams from 62 districts across Bangladesh. The competition began with an online idea submission round, followed by the quarter-final round where teams advanced through an assessment process. From 33 selected teams, 20 teams moved forward to the semi-final round, where participants competed through online pitching and Q&A sessions. Finally, the top 8 finalist teams earned their place in the grand finale through rigorous evaluation.

The top 8 finalists presented their ideas through live pitching and Q&A sessions at the grand finale. After a highly competitive final round, “Startup Grid” emerged as the champion of Akij Resource Presents Creaventure 4.0, while “Startup Matis Plus” secured the 1st runner-up position and “Startup Metis” was announced as the 2nd runner-up. The winners were awarded from a total prize pool of over BDT 130,000+, including cash prizes, gifts, and facilities worth over BDT 11,000. The champion team received BDT 50,000, while the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up teams received BDT 30,000 and BDT 20,000, respectively.

The finalists represented diverse and impactful sectors including AgriTech, FoodTech, ClimateTech, Circular Economy, Social Enterprise, Sustainable Fashion, CleanTech, Sustainable Consumer Products, IoT, SafetyTech, Smart Home, Artificial Intelligence, B2B SaaS, Supply ChainTech, ManufacturingTech, HealthTech, FemTech, Wearable Medical Devices, Waste Management, Environmental Technology, Industry 4.0, Industrial IoT, and Decision Intelligence.

Through their innovative solutions, the finalist teams addressed a total of 10 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event was attended by several distinguished guests and industry leaders, including Dr Hasina Sheykh, Professor & Former Chairman, Department of Banking & Insurance; Rashed Mujib Noman, Country Director, Augmedix Bangladesh; Dr Ahmed Armaan Siddiqui, CEO, Grameen HealthTech Limited; Rezaul Karim, CEO, CFMOTO Bangladesh; Syed S Kaiser Kabir, CEO & Managing Director, Renata PLC; Dr Rudaba Khondker, Country Director, Bangladesh Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN); Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, Project Director, Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development, ICT Division; Nusrat Tabassum, SVP and Head of Human Resources & Training, Guardian Life Insurance; Hasi Rani Bepari, EVP & Head of CRM, Community Bank PLC; Osman Haruni, Senior Policy Advisor, Agriculture and Food Security, Trade and Business Development, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Norihide Furukawa, Head of Education, UNESCO Dhaka. Expressing hope for continued cooperation from UNESCO in entrepreneurship development, Norihide Furukawa said, “We look forward to strengthening collaboration to support young innovators and foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

In his welcome speech, Dr Alfasane mentioned, “The glorious history of leadership that Dhaka University has – language movement, freedom movement – ​​Dhaka University Entrepreneurship Development Club is going to maintain the continuity of that leadership.”

Prof. Dr Rafiuddin Ahmed, Chief Patron of DUEDC, said, “Bangladesh needs more job creators than job seekers. At the same time, families must encourage young people to pursue entrepreneurship with confidence, just as they do traditional career paths.” 

Prof. Dr Mohammad Toufiqul Islam, Chairman, Department of Management, Dhaka University, and Moderator, DUEDC, said, “Creaventure is more than a competition. It is a learning platform that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge, mentorship, and industry connections needed at every stage of their startup journey, helping them bridge the gap between innovative ideas and market realities.”

A special panel session was held at the event, moderated by Dr Rafiuddin Ahmed and Dr Siddiqui, with Syed S Kaiser Kabir, Rashed Mujib Noman, and Rezaul Karim as speakers.

In the panel session, the guests mentioned in their valuable remarks, “To be an entrepreneur, you have to look for opportunities, differentiate yourself from others, and be prepared for the future.”

The esteemed judges of the grand finale were Dr Rafiuddin Ahmed; Sadia Haque, Co-Founder & CEO, ShareTrip; Tajdin Hassan, Chief Business Officer, The Daily Star; and Shoeb Hassan, Chief Business Officer, Nextjobz Limited.

This initiative's title sponsor was Akij Resource, Co-sponsors were Shwapno and CFMOTO and supported by Modhumoti as Gold Sponsor, BYLC as Strategic Partner, and several other partners including Fun, Sunquick, Wonder, Mithai, Nescafé, Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre, Pushti, Bonik Barta, Jugantor, Arunima Resort Golf Club, Excellence Academy, The Graduates, Klin Mart, KPS, Shutter Lens Production, COATPIN bd, Ekushey TV, The Business Standard, and Daily Sun.

The Grand Finale of Creaventure 4.0 marks a significant milestone in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable solutions among the youth of Bangladesh.