52 startups get Tk7cr in BIG competition

BSS, Dhaka :
The top 52 startups, selected through the “Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG) 2013” competition, received Tk 7 crore at the grand finale at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city on Sunday.
Tk 2 crore was given to the two startups – Fabrik Lagabe Ltd and Markopolo.ai, which secured the first position jointly at the grand finale, while Tk 5 crore was given to the rest 50 startups, said a press release.
Tk 1 crore was given to each of the champions of the BIG-2023 competition while each of the top 50 startups was given a grant of Tk 10 lakh.
The Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division organized the BIG competition for the 3rd time to inspire young entrepreneurs, aiming at developing a startup ecosystem in the country.

Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman was present at the grand finale of the BIG-2023 as the chief guest and distributed grant money while State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak was in the chair.

ICT Division Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin was present as the special guest at the programme while BCC Executive Director Ranajit Kumar and Startup Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Sami Ahmed were also present at the event, among others.
iDEA Project Director (joint secretary) Md Altaf Hossain delivered welcome speech at the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Salman Fazlur Rahman said many people could not believe that Bangladesh would be transformed into a digital country. “But we made it possible. Currently, we are working to build the ‘Smart Bangladesh’ taking the country’s status to higher position from the digital one,” he added.