One BIG Winner 2021 “OpenRefactory” received a grant of USD 1 Lac
Mohammad Ali Hazari Russell, Dhaka.
The “Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG) 2021” was organized by the Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to inspire young entrepreneurs and startups. One of the aims of this initiative is to create a startup ecosystem in the country by encouraging young entrepreneurs i.e., innovative ideas of startups. At the end of the campaign in 142 countries, more than 7,000 startups and inventors from 57 countries including Bangladesh, participated in the contest at the initial stage. The best of the best winning startup “OpenRefactory” received a grant of 1,00,000 US dollars with special honors as “One Big Winner 2021”, which is the biggest reward from the ICT Division for the startups in this Mujib year. In the BIG 2021 Grand Finale program, 36 startups chosen from home and abroad will receive a total grant of BDT 3 crore 60 lakh where each startup will get BDT 10 Lakh. A total of 46 startups, including 26 local startups selected from the reality show, the top 10 startups at the international level and the top 10 startups of the iDEA Project portfolio, are in the “BIG 2021 Grand Finale”.
In the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and the Mujib year, the grand finale of this special event was held on 30 October 2021 Saturday at the Multipurpose Auditorium of Bangladesh Film Archive at Agargaon, Dhaka. This year’s event of “BIG 2021” concluded with an excellent award distribution ceremony of about three hours.
The Minister of Finance of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Mr. A H M Mustafa Kamal, FCA, MP was the chief guest at the Grand Finale of “BIG 2021” and the state minister for ICT Division Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP presided over the program.
The Senior Secretary of ICT Division Mr. N M Zeaul Alam PAA and the Executive Director and Additional Secretary of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Dr. Md Abdul Mannan, PAA were the special guests of the program. the Project Director (Joint Secretary) of the iDEA Project Md. Abdur Rakib gave a welcome speech on the occasion.
Joining online, Finance Minister Mr. A H M Mustafa Kamal said the government has allocated BDT 100 crore in the current budget to support young innovators. Today’s young inventors will play an important role in the country’s economy. Money is not a challenge, he said. We will move forward in the right direction by transforming the challenge into a possibility. The finance minister said that the journey of the startup ecosystem in Bangladesh started in 2010. Currently, there are more than 2500 startups serving in Bangladesh and they are playing an important role in our economy. There are currently more than 40 accelerator and incubator programs in the country. A number of startups have already received much investment in the country, which is a source of pride for us.” He added that more than 1.5 million people have been directly or indirectly employed through startups. He hoped that Bangladesh would emerge as a developed country in the world by 2041 by harnessing the innovative power of the youth through the hands of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Finally, he said, “BIG 2021” is an initiative that is a clear reflection of the current government’s commitment to building and developing a startup culture.
Speaking on the program, the state minister for ICT Division Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP said that a startup policy would be formulated soon to build an innovative nation by building an innovation ecosystem. He said that as a result of different policies and support of the ICT sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at present the export revenue of the ICT sector is more than 1 billion US dollars. We are working towards the goal of increasing export earnings to 5 billion dollars by 2025 and creating employment for 3 million people. As a result of inclusive development through the use of technology, Bangladesh is now ranked 32nd in the world. In this way, he expressed his determination to build a smart Bangladesh within 2041. Therefore, this goal will be achieved through the innovation of own technology as advised by the Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Mr. Sajeeb Wazed. Already 2500 innovators have been created in the country. Overall support will be provided by the ICT Division for their empowerment. Finally, Palak announced that the “Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG) 2021” contest will be held every year.
In the “BIG 2021” contest, more than 7,000 startups applied from home and abroad at the initial stage, from which a total of 255 projects from 56 countries were accepted internationally. From there, the top 10 international level startups are selected after two rounds of selection, who directly participate in the grand finale. On the other hand, startup selection at the national level is initially in two stages. In the first phase, 28 judges selected 286 local startups through 5 screening boards. 35 experienced judges, both public and private in 6 panels, selected the best 65 startups from these startups, who had the opportunity to participate in a 6-day online boot camp. After grooming at the boot camp, the 13-episode TV reality show started with these 65 startups. In this episode, the contestants faced the established business icons of the country who selected 26 startups out of 65 startups selected from the judges. A total of 46 startups were selected from the reality show, including 26 local startups, the top 10 international startups and the top 10 portfolio startups of the iDEA project.
Through 3 expert judging panels, the final selection process is made by focusing on various issues including startup concept, feasibility, business, technology, finance, the implementation plan of the startup, etc. At the end of the final selection of judges, the winner “OpenRefactory” was announced as the “One BIG Winner 2021” with a grant of 1 lac US dollars. Finally, the winners were handed over the crest, along with other winning startups of BIG 2021.
The venue is decorated in a colorful way to make it attractive in the BIG 2021 Grand Finale. The winners were given a red-carpet reception at the event. A special feature of the event was a performance by Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Pandit Sri Ravi Shankar, the architect of ‘Concert for Bangladesh’ during the Liberation war of Bangladesh, recently recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. There were also different arrangements including an excellent musical performance by a popular band named “Cryptic Fate” of Bangladesh.
BIG 2021 initiative was associated with partners such as – Department of ICT, Bangladesh High-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA), Office of the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), and A2i along with BASIS, BACCO, BCS, e-CAB, ISPAB, BIJF and TMGB. In addition, the event is sponsored by Walton and in collaboration with Startup Bangladesh Limited.
Best 26 startups from the Reality Show:
OpenRefactory, Tinkers Technologies Ltd., Bonton Connect, RadAssist, Boighor trading care, Olwel BD Ltd., Landknock Ltd., Inovace Technologies, Lifespring Consultancy Limited, idea 3d solutions, Captain Earth – be the change, Upskill, Psycure Organization, Plastile, Brailly Tech Ltd., InclusionX, Smart White Cane, Dingi Technologies Ltd., Ghost Kitchen Bangladesh Limited, ANTS Aerial Systems Ltd., Online Sohopathi, Alo, Scientiko Limited, Khelbei Bangladesh, Jobike, RoboLab.
Best 10 International Startups:
ThermoNorth, MyCash Money Pte. Ltd, Agrovisio, Inkspired, WTEAM, SOSO CARE, Grant Master, BioMec, Evreka, Care Form Labs Private Limited.
Best 10 iDEA Portfolio Startups:
AlterYouth, OxyJet, Bloodman, Bhumijo, Jahaji Ltd, GARBAGEMAN LIMITED, Avijatrik, Bike lock, The2HoursJob, Shadhin Music Limited.