GP accelerator's Jelay Jelay smart uddyokta bootcamp held in Savar

Innovation thrives nationwide, with young minds pushing beyond traditional business to address local challenges.

Yet, many of these promising ideas fade in their early stages due to limited access to essential resources, mentorship, and opportunities needed to reach their full potential. To nurture and empower emerging entrepreneurs, Grameenphone's GP Accelerator is hosting the nationwide boot camp, 'Jelay Jelay Smart Uddyokta,' to equip young talent with the skills and guidance needed for success. The 17th session of this daylong boot camp took place at the National Institute of Youth Development in Savar, Dhaka. Approximately 300 entrepreneurs took part in the boot camp.

The boot camp has been organised primarily to harness the innovative potential of university students and promising young entrepreneurs, providing them with skills, networking opportunities, and guidance in securing funding for new business ventures. This regional boot camp is being held in phases across 20 regions nationwide. Throughout this journey, we have engaged with 4,500 Ideapreneurs nationwide.

The programme was graced by Brigadier General Iqbal Ahmed (Retd), Commissioner of the Engineering and Operations Division of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) as the chief guest. Tanveer Mohammad, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer (CCAO) of Grameenphone, noted personalities and participants, including local community organisers, startup founders, GP Accelerator (GPA) members, experts and trainers from related industries. Muhammad Sohel Rana, Program Lead of GP Accelerator of Grameenphone, conducted the programme.

The programme was divided into two parts. The first part of the day focused on a workshop on design thinking, covering what design thinking is, its steps, product testing, how to conduct market research, financial modelling, and how to create a pitch deck for investment. Detailed training was provided on the topics. In the second part, the final phase of the boot camp, an idea pitching competition was organised where local entrepreneurs presented various ideas. Among them, solving local problems was given the utmost importance.

Tanveer Mohammad, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer (CCAO) of Grameenphone, said, "Grameenphone envisions building an inclusive society where everyone is empowered digitally. To realise this vision, Grameenphone has launched this initiative to nurture talented youth nationwide with opportunities to grow as smart entrepreneurs. By addressing local challenges and generating employment opportunities, these young innovators will play a vital role in the nation's development while contributing to economic growth. This effort allows bright young minds from different parts of the country to showcase their potential and strengthens the nation to keep pace with the digital world."

Since its inception in 2015, GP Accelerator has made significant contributions to the startup landscape in the country. Through 50 startups, it has created employment opportunities for five lakh people. GP Accelerator also plays a significant role in the country's economic development simultaneously. At the programme, the winning team was awarded a prize of Tk one lakh.