Bangladesh students now have a bigger stage to turn ideas into real businesses as Entrepreneurs’ Organization Bangladesh has launched the 10th Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, a national contest made for university and college students who run active ventures while studying. The launch gathered mentors, campus leaders and business supporters and was opened by Mostafa Quamrus Sobhan, who said the programme gives young founders practical coaching, useful contacts and clear steps to grow. The competition will help students showcase products, sharpen pitches and win mentorship that can turn a small project into a stable business. Organisers stress that the award is more than a contest: it offers guided feedback, networking with seasoned entrepreneurs and links to regional and global stages where winners can meet investors. The national champion will represent Bangladesh at the global finals in Cape Town and compete for a large prize package that can fund real expansion. Local winners will receive seed support to test ideas, hire their first helpers and buy essential tools, while the platform runs workshops and mentoring sessions that teach simple methods for customer research, pricing and cash management. Applications are open now and a step-by-step screening will narrow the field before semi-finals and a national final; teachers and mentors are encouraged to help eligible students enter and prepare. For students who balance study and running a business, the contest offers a low-cost way to get expert feedback and meet partners and customers without long travel or large fees. The event also aims to build a stronger startup community by encouraging colleges to put entrepreneurship on campus calendars and by inviting local firms to look for new suppliers and ideas. Organisers named experienced business leaders and academics to support judging and coaching, and they said the programme places equal weight on honest progress, learning and the business case rather than polished sales talk. Beyond prizes, the main value is practical learning: test an idea, get feedback, improve, and then find early customers or funding. The platform suits students from tech, services and small manufacturing and is simple enough for beginners to keep improving with each round. By connecting student founders with mentors, trainers and a global network, the awards can help more young people move from prototypes to steady income, local jobs and confident plans. The launch shows a growing push to back youth entrepreneurship and gives a clear, supported path for students who want to turn good ideas into real livelihoods with help, funding and wider connections. The global finals offer a combined prize package worth one hundred thousand dollars, while the national winner receives ten lakh taka in seed support to grow operations. Mentoring continues after the contest to help growth sustainably.
