Together We Build Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Bangladesh

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2025 is not only a week of celebration in Bangladesh. It is the reflection of a national movement powered by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Bangladesh, its innovation hub GEN Campus Dhaka, and the wider Daffodil ecosystem, all working together to empower innovators, youth, women and rural communities.
K M Hasan
Ripon

Together We Build Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Bangladesh: How GEN Bangladesh Is Leading a Nationwide Movement for Innovation and Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2025 is not only a week of celebration in Bangladesh. It is the reflection of a national movement powered by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Bangladesh, its innovation hub GEN Campus Dhaka, and the wider Daffodil ecosystem, all working together to empower innovators, youth, women and rural communities.

Under the leadership of Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman of GEN Bangladesh and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Daffodil International University (DIU), and Dr. K. M. Hasan Ripon, Managing Director of GEN Bangladesh, the country has activated a powerful nationwide campaign to bring entrepreneurship, innovation and digital empowerment to the frontlines of development.

Dr. Md. Sabur Khan shared his vision by saying,
"Bangladesh is full of talent, creativity and determination. Our responsibility is to give people the platform, the mentorship and the confidence to turn their ideas into meaningful solutions. GEW is not just a celebration. It is a national commitment to build a generation that can innovate, compete and lead at the global level."

GEN Campus Dhaka: A 24,000 sq. ft. Innovation Hub for the Nation

GEN Campus Dhaka operates as a 24,000 square foot innovation hub dedicated to startups, founders and aspiring young entrepreneurs. The space includes a modern incubation center and a coworking zone where up to 150 startups can work, collaborate and access mentoring, training and investor connections.

GEN Bangladesh’s flagship acceleration program SparkLab launches this November and will run until November 2026. During this period, GEN Campus plans to build 2,000 AI Agents in collaboration with the Daffodil Institute of Professional Training (DIPTI). These AI Agents are designed to enhance early stage startups, small businesses and young professionals with AI powered capabilities to improve productivity and competitiveness.

GEN Bangladesh expects to expand its membership to 500 dedicated members by the end of 2026 and aims to help at least 200 startups secure local and international funding.

A vital resource partner in this work is KnowledgeVale, which supports GEN Bangladesh in managing and delivering high quality coworking space operations and innovation management.

A National Mission Rooted in Innovation, Heritage and Social Good

GEN Bangladesh frames entrepreneurship in a broad and inclusive way. Innovation at GEN is not limited to technology, but includes reviving national heritage, supporting creative industries and promoting social businesses that address community challenges.

GEN Bangladesh has built strong partnerships to support this mission:

  • Brac Bank supports founders with financial literacy, advisory services and pathways to capital.

  • Bangladesh Venture Capital Limited helps high potential founders access early stage funding.

  • DIPTI provides hands-on skill development in technology, digital tools and AI skills.

  • Bangladesh Skill Development Institute (BSDI) provides specialized training in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts.

  • KnowledgeVale contributes workspace experience and operational support for GEN Campus.

One of the most impactful examples comes from a Ministry of Finance funded project implemented by BSDI and GEN Bangladesh. This project has trained 600 women, many of whom were housewives, and supported them in starting small hospitality and food businesses. Collectively, they have generated nearly BDT 1 million in revenue and created more than 1,000 jobs. This reflects the practical meaning of “Together We Build.”

Women in Entrepreneurship

Empowering women has remained one of GEN Bangladesh’s strongest commitments, and GEW 2025 highlights the impact of this work at a national level. In partnership with BSDI and with funding support from the Ministry of Finance, GEN Bangladesh has trained 600 women in hospitality, food production and small business management. These women, many of whom were housewives, have collectively generated nearly BDT 1 million in revenue and created more than 1,000 new jobs in their communities.

Beyond economic impact, this initiative has given women confidence, dignity and financial independence. Women entrepreneurs are now launching catering services, home-based food ventures and local tourism businesses. Through mentorship, training, incubation and market linkage, GEN Bangladesh is ensuring that women are not only participants but also leaders in the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Market of Tradition (ঐতিহ্যের হাট): Celebrating Heritage Through Modern Entrepreneurship

One of the most vibrant highlights of GEW 2025 in Bangladesh is the Market of Tradition (ঐতিহ্যের হাট), a national movement designed to promote traditional culture, youth creativity and modern entrepreneurship under one umbrella. Organized by the Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (DIE) of DIU in collaboration with GEN Bangladesh and GEN Campus Dhaka, this is the country’s largest cultural entrepreneurship festival.

The event will take place on 23 November 2025, running from sunrise to sunset, and is expected to welcome more than 50,000 entrepreneurs, youth creators and innovators from all 64 districts of Bangladesh. Millions more will participate digitally across the country.

ঐতিহ্যের হাট is more than a marketplace. It is a cultural celebration that brings together heritage crafts, traditional foods, folk creativity, student innovations and modern startup products. The festival includes workshops, performances, networking sessions and entrepreneurship awareness activities. The initiative reflects GEN Bangladesh’s mission to connect heritage with innovation and to encourage founders to build ventures that honor national identity while generating economic opportunity.

A Historic MoU with National University

A major milestone during GEW 2025 has been the signing of a partnership between GEN Bangladesh and National University (NU), the largest public university in Bangladesh with more than 4 million students across 2,500 affiliated colleges.

Through this MoU, GEN Bangladesh will work with National University to establish Entrepreneurship Cells across affiliated institutions and launch large scale entrepreneurship awareness programs for NU students nationwide. This collaboration represents one of the largest university based entrepreneurship initiatives in the country’s history.

Professor Dr. ASM Amanullah, Vice Chancellor of National University, stated,
"Entrepreneurship education is no longer optional. It is essential for our students. With this partnership, we want to ignite the entrepreneurial mindset in millions of young people across Bangladesh so they can become innovators and job creators."

A Strong Push for Polytechnic Innovation

Polytechnic education is another critical area for Bangladesh’s growth. GEN Bangladesh has partnered with the Daffodil Polytechnic Network to support diploma engineers who want to develop innovations or start their own ventures.

During GEW 2025, this partnership organized an innovative project showcase across the network and recognized three outstanding engineering projects with national awards. The goal is to transform diploma graduates from job seekers into job creators by providing incubation, mentoring and prototyping support.

School Children in Entrepreneurship

A major breakthrough in GEW 2025 is the inclusion of primary school children in the national entrepreneurship movement. Through a collaborative initiative between GEN Bangladesh, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and Daffodil International School, entrepreneurship awareness, financial literacy and innovation thinking are being introduced at the earliest stage of learning.

During this year’s celebration, GEN Bangladesh is working with 200 rural primary schools to help children develop the ability to identify problems, think creatively and propose simple yet meaningful solutions. By planting entrepreneurial seeds in childhood, Bangladesh is nurturing a generation that will grow up confident in experimentation, curious about technology and capable of becoming future innovators and leaders.

Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy, Advisor (Minister), Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, said,
"Our aim is to build problem solving skills from the earliest years. When children learn to think, create and take initiative, they grow up ready to contribute to society. This partnership with GEN Bangladesh is a powerful step toward that future."

From Student Projects to Sustainable Startups

This year, GEN Bangladesh supported 200 innovative student and youth projects, many of which were showcased during GEW. GEN Bangladesh and GEN Campus Dhaka, with academic support from DIU, will help these young founders move toward sustainability through:

  • Acceleration programs

  • Incubation

  • Mentorship and coaching

  • Access to coworking facilities

  • Investor linkage and global exposure

The goal is to transform promising ideas into revenue generating, job creating ventures.

A Team That Lives the Message: Together We Build

Behind these initiatives is a 45 member core team of GEN Bangladesh and GEN Campus. Guided by the vision of Dr. Md. Sabur Khan and the operational leadership of Dr. K. M. Hasan Ripon, the team works every day to support founders, strengthen institutions and connect Bangladesh to global entrepreneurship networks.

For GEN Bangladesh, “Together We Build” is not a theme. It is a daily practice and a long term national commitment. They are building people, building skills, building startups and building a more inclusive and innovative Bangladesh.

GEW 2025 Impact: A Nationwide Movement Reflected in Powerful Numbers

The impact of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025 in Bangladesh is visible not only in events and partnerships but in the numbers that show how deeply the movement has reached communities across the country. Through seminars, conferences, workshops and fairs, more than 80,000 youth and women were reached directly. Digital and social media engagement surpassed 3 million people, making GEW one of the most widely shared entrepreneurship campaigns in the nation. The SparkLab Acceleration initiative trained 2,500 participants in person, and the wider GEN Bangladesh ecosystem contributed to the creation of 1,500 new businesses, of which nearly 20 percent have already begun generating early revenue. These new enterprises have produced 10,000 direct jobs across sectors. More than 350 partners were mobilized, along with 100 leading business figures, to guide and inspire young founders. During GEW 2025 alone, 10 MoUs were signed with key institutions, strengthening long term national collaboration. Importantly, 70 percent of supported businesses remain active, and 90 percent of participants reported a significant shift in their perception of entrepreneurship, reflecting the transformative impact of GEN Bangladesh’s efforts.