On Monday, 3rd November 2025, a helpful and interactive session, iDEA Project Presents “University Activation Program 2025” was held at American International University-Bangladesh, to guide fresh graduates about startups, entrepreneurship and industry expectations. The event was organized by AIUB Computer Club and featured speakers from the ICT Division, the iDEA Project and several successful entrepreneurs. The goal was to help students understand how to prepare themselves for the job market, explore opportunities and shape their startup ideas.
The session began at 11:30 AM with welcoming remarks from Mr. Abhijit Bhowmik, Associate Professor and Special Assistant of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), Department of Computer Science, AIUB who thanked the ICT Ministry and the iDEA Project for their support. He explained that although the project offers great opportunities for fresh graduates, many are still unaware of it. He encouraged students to focus on proper documentation and learn what employers really expect. After him, Dr. Khandakar Tabin Hasan, Professor and Head of Graduate Program, Department of Computer Science, AIUB highlighted the importance of guidance. He reminded students that no idea is “silly” and encouraged them to seek help from faculty members whenever needed.
Siddhartho Goswami, Operations Team Lead of the iDEA Project, explained how iDEA supports young entrepreneurs and why many startups fail when founders work outside their domain. He shared that the project has already helped raise over 3086+ crore taka for startups.Following him, Tanvir Ahmed Faheem, Co-Founder & CEO, spoke about entrepreneurship and emphasized that while ideas matter. Execution is what truly brings success.
After a short break, the project presentations started at 1:00 PM.The first project, “Edu Bridge: One bridge to equal education” was presented from AIUB student. His idea focuses on equal education where students can pay according to what they earn and supported by volunteer contributions. The judges appreciated the idea but advised him to speak more clearly and highlight how education quality would be maintained.
The second presentation, “One Pass Transit” addressed problems in public transport, especially fare bargaining. His NFC-based digital fare system aims to make travel smoother. The feedback raised concerns about how this system would differ from the government’s Rapid Pass and suggested that he clarify the business model further.Later, Dr. Saiful Islam, Vice Chancellor of AIUB, gave an inspiring speech. He encouraged students to learn from industry experts and not compare themselves with others. He shared stories from his childhood including how building a simple periscope sparked his interest in space communication.
Finally, Mr. Murtuza Zulkar Nain Noman, Joint Secretary and Project Director of the iDEA Project, explained the importance of truly “observing” rather than just looking. He shared insights about human behavior, game theory and the discipline needed to succeed. The event ended with an exchange of gifts and group photos. Overall, the session was motivational and helped students better understand entrepreneurship, refine their ideas and get a clearer picture of the startup ecosystem in Bangladesh.
