North South University (NSU) has officially launched the third cohort of its flagship business incubator program, NSU Startups Next, aimed at nurturing the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. The launch ceremony was held on the university campus in Dhaka, bringing together aspiring founders, faculty mentors, and industry leaders. NSU Startups Next is a structured pre-seed accelerator program designed to guide early-stage startups founded by students, alumni, and young innovators. The initiative provides access to mentorship, business development training, technical support, and networking opportunities to help participants transform ideas into viable businesses. This third cohort will support eight promising startups across various sectors, including edtech, healthtech, sustainable fashion, and AI-powered services. Each selected team will undergo a 16-week incubation journey featuring one-on-one mentoring, workshops, prototype development support, and pitching sessions. Speaking at the event, NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Atiqul Islam emphasized the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among youth. “Innovation is the key to economic progress, and our students have the potential to become change-makers. Through NSU Startups Next, we are creating a platform for ideas to turn into impactful ventures,” he said. The program is run in collaboration with NSU Startups Next Lab and supported by local and international partners from the tech and startup ecosystem. In previous cohorts, several startups secured early-stage funding and recognition, demonstrating the effectiveness of university-led innovation platforms. Participants in the new cohort will receive guidance from successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and domain experts. The curriculum is designed to cover essential startup topics such as product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, financial modeling, and investment readiness. NSU Startups Next stands out as one of the few academic incubators in Bangladesh actively building a startup pipeline directly from campus. The initiative aligns with Bangladesh’s growing startup momentum, where young entrepreneurs are increasingly solving local challenges through technology and innovation. The university plans to scale the program further in the coming years, with goals to host demo days, connect participants with angel investors, and offer post-incubation support. This reflects NSU’s broader mission to become a hub for entrepreneurship and research-driven innovation in South Asia. By empowering students to think beyond traditional career paths, the NSU Startups Next program is fostering a generation of bold, socially responsible entrepreneurs ready to shape Bangladesh’s future economy.
