Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) recently hosted the final pitch presentation day of the University Innovation Hub Program (UIHP), providing a platform for young innovators to turn their ideas into practical solutions. After nearly three months of intensive mentorship and prototype development, participating teams presented their innovative projects to a panel of judges.
The event was held on Friday, October 24, at the conference hall of the central library of BAU. The chief guest was Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, Project Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA). Other distinguished guests included Dr. Zowarder Faruk Ahmed, President and Focal Point of BAU Innovation Hub, faculty members Dr. M. Shahiduzzaman and Dr. M. Rostom Ali, UIHP University Innovation Hub Manager Zakera Rahman, and BAU students. The program was overall conducted by UIHP Senior Program Officer Nahian Bin Abdullah.
The program at BAU began on August 1 with 18 teams participating in the third and fourth cohorts. After three months of mentorship, 12 teams—six from each cohort—presented their final projects with prototypes before the jury board. A total of BDT 550,000 in funding was awarded, with cohort 3 winners receiving BDT 280,000 and cohort 4 winners receiving BDT 270,000. The first and second cohorts had already concluded successfully, and the fifth and sixth cohorts are scheduled to begin in January.
The jury for the final presentation included Abdullah Al Mamun from DEIID, Dr. Zowarder Faruk Ahmed from BAU, Md. Nizamul Alam from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, and Md. Mahabul Alam, Acting Assistant Project Director of DEIID from BHTPA.
In Cohort 3, the champion team ‘Shohojayan’ received a pre-seed fund of BDT 50,000, while Cohort 4’s champion team ‘iFishGuard’ was awarded BDT 55,000 as pre-seed funding.
Speaking at the event, chief guest Monjur Mohammad Shahriar emphasized that receiving pre-seed funding is not the ultimate measure of success. “The real achievement is how far we have progressed in developing our ideas and translating them into business solutions. The knowledge gained about commercializing an idea is what matters most. I encourage all of you to continue advancing your ideas and contributing to Bangladesh’s innovation ecosystem,” he said.
The University Innovation Hub Program is a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority. It is currently active in 11 universities across the country, aiming to convert technology-driven innovative ideas by young people into viable entrepreneurial ventures.
