Orange Corners Bangladesh onboards second cohort of startups

Orange Corners, a global initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, is making significant strides in empowering young entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. Commissioned by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh in partnership with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, Orange Corners Bangladesh is the first hub in Asia dedicated to fostering innovation, skills development, and financial support for young businesses. Spearheaded by YY Ventures, in partnership with the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) and SAJIDA Foundation, and with the support of Unilever Bangladesh Limited and the DBL Group, Orange Corners Bangladesh has recently onboarded 16 enterprises for their second cohort.

Orange Corners Bangladesh seeks dynamic, early-stage entrepreneurs with innovative business solutions. The programme offers a rapid growth trajectory through an intense and immersive learning experience spanning six months through skills development, mentorship and coaching, networking opportunities, tailored support, free office space, and funding opportunities of up to 50,000 euros through matching grants and soft loans after successfully graduating from the Incubation programme.

The incubation programme is implemented by YY Ventures, an incubation and investment social business that supports early-stage entrepreneurs who are fighting carbon emissions, poverty, and unemployment. Founded in 2016, YY Ventures have launched and managed more than 15 innovation programmes for social entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship support organisations in the Asia Pacific and East Africa, and will soon commence work in Latin America!

The first cohort, comprising 13 exceptional businesses across diverse sectors, with over 60 per cent led by women, graduated in December 2023. Working across 11 different sectors in Bangladesh, the first cohort included BD Recycle Technologies Limited (BRTL), TOYO, HydroSense_BD, Countree Agro, MasterCourse, Boichitro.shop, Vertical Innovations Limited, Shapla, Drip Irrigation BD Ltd, ToguMogu Pvt. Limited, Science Bee, Ecolery, and CarboBang.

In September 2023, Orange Corners Bangladesh launched the call for early-stage entrepreneurs to join Cohort 2 of the Incubation programme. By the application deadline on December 16, 2023, 206 applications were received from businesses across Bangladesh. After a rigorous selection process, the top 16 enterprises with the highest potential for impact were invited to join the incubation programme starting in January 2024. This cohort is expected to shape the future of entrepreneurship in Bangladesh, contributing positively to innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. Sharing his hopeful outlook, Shazeeb M Khairul Islam, managing director of YY Ventures, commented, "We're thrilled to support these entrepreneurs as they build their businesses to solve the most pressing social issues of our time. Who knows, one day, one of them might just change the world."

The Cohort 2 Incubatees are Agronochain, Banglar Math, BD Highway Turbine, Esscre, Herb Bangla, JRC Board, Khelboo, Nodes Digital Limited, Nutri+, PathWork, PouleX, ReplyMind AI Ltd., Sasthya Seba, ShunBoi, Supplyline B2B Pte. Ltd., and ZEROOZEN.

Applications for the incubation programme for the third cohort will open soon. This presents a golden opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to be part of a dynamic ecosystem that fosters growth, innovation, and meaningful connections. Interested people can visit the Orange Corners Bangladesh website to learn more about the programme and keep an eye on the social media page to find out when applications open. Orange Corners welcomes applications from Bangladeshi entrepreneurs under 35 based anywhere in the country, leading both for-profit and not-for-profit entities, start-ups, and SMEs. The founding team must have at least one female founder or a woman in a leadership role. Whether already registered or in the process, enterprises addressing any one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh are encouraged to apply.