Orange Corners Bangladesh celebrated the graduation of its sixth cohort of entrepreneurs through an Alumni Reception held on Monday, 14 September, at Impact Hub Dhaka in Mirpur. The event brought together graduating entrepreneurs, alumni, mentors, coaches, partners, and ecosystem stakeholders to mark the completion of the six-month incubation programme and celebrate the entrepreneurs’ achievements and growth as stated in the Press Release.
The evening opened with welcome remarks from Janna van der Linden, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, who highlighted the importance of nurturing young entrepreneurs and fostering an enabling ecosystem for innovation and sustainable business growth. She said, “To unlock the next phase, we need stronger engagement from local investors, financial institutions and especially corporates, not only as supporters but as real partners providing market access and opportunities to scale.”
This was followed by opening remarks from Shazeeb M. Khairul Islam, Managing Director of YY Ventures, who reflected on the entrepreneurs’ journey and the importance of building businesses that address real-world challenges. He said, “The companies that create the greatest impact are rarely those with the biggest ideas. They are the ones that consistently solve real problems, listen to their customers, adapt to change, and keep moving forward when things become difficult.”
In his closing remarks, Ashraful Hassan, Chairman of Grameen Healthcare Trust, congratulated the graduating entrepreneurs and underscored the importance of collaboration between entrepreneurs, private sector actors, development partners, and ecosystem builders in strengthening Bangladesh’s entrepreneurial landscape.
A Competitive and Diverse Cohort
Cohort 6 attracted 592 applications from entrepreneurs nationwide. Following a rigorous selection process and intensive Selection Boot Camp, only 16 enterprises were selected to participate in the incubation programme, representing an acceptance rate of just 3%. The selected businesses represented a diverse range of sectors, including edtech, agribusiness, circular economy, logistics and IoT, fintech, legal-tech, health-tech, SaaS, and more.
Throughout the programme, participants received intensive entrepreneurship training, one-on-one coaching, mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to finance support designed to strengthen business models and accelerate growth.
Nine Enterprises Successfully Graduate
Following the final evaluation process, nine enterprises successfully graduated from the programme:
• Bhumi Artisan – Handcrafted home décor and lifestyle products
• DigiBox Ltd. – Smart IoT locker solutions for logistics and e-commerce
• ICTBangla Dotcom – AI- and VR-enabled education technology platform
• Madam’s – Sustainable footwear and fashion creating employment opportunities for women
• Potro – Sustainable landscaping and urban greening solutions
• Robodemy – STEM and robotics education platform
• Taan Limited – Ethical fashion celebrating indigenous craftsmanship
• Tanis Bangladesh – Eco-friendly slow-fashion and lifestyle products
• Mangold – Freeze-dried fruit snacks made from Bangladeshi produce
The graduation rate of 56% reflects the entrepreneurs’ dedication to meeting programme requirements and advancing their enterprises toward sustainable growth. Beyond celebrating graduation, the reception provided an opportunity for Cohort 6 entrepreneurs to connect with the wider Orange Corners Bangladesh network, building relationships that can support collaboration, learning, and business growth in the years ahead.
The event concluded with a networking session and refreshments, where guests engaged with the graduating entrepreneurs and explored product displays showcasing the enterprises’ innovations and achievements. As they move into the next phase of their entrepreneurial journey, the graduates join a growing community of Orange Corners alumni contributing to Bangladesh’s economic development through innovation, job creation, and sustainable enterprise.
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