Dhaka : North South University (NSU), the country’s premier private academic institution, successfully hosted the launch of the 3rd Cohort of NSU Startups Next (NSUSN), its flagship startup incubation program, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at its campus in Dhaka, according to a press release.
The event marked the formal induction of a new group of high-potential startup teams into NSUSN’s structured incubation track. The launch brought together an esteemed gathering of government officials, investors, corporate leaders, startup founders, and members of the academic community, reinforcing the university’s central role in advancing Bangladesh’s innovation ecosystem. As a pioneering initiative in university incubation, NSU Startups Next has emerged as a nationally recognized platform offering mentorship, business development support, market access, and capital facilitation to early-stage entrepreneurs. With over 25 startups supported across its previous two cohorts, the program is transforming academic innovation into scalable ventures that address real-world challenges. This year’s cohort features startups from diverse sectors including healthtech, edtech, logistics, fintech, and social enterprise. The event spotlighted NSUSN’s roadmap for 2025 and beyond, emphasizing enhanced industry-academia collaboration, greater access to global startup resources, and stronger linkages across policy, capital, and corporate networks. Notable guests from the government and investment sectors included Murtuza Zulkar Nain Noman, Joint Secretary (Project Director) at Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA), ICT Division; Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, Project Director, DEIED Project, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA); and Siddhartho Goswami, Head of Operations at iDEA, ICT Division. From the investment community, Rahat Ahmed, Founder & Managing Partner at Anchorless Bangladesh, and Waiz Rahim, Venture Partner (Bangladesh) at Sturgeon Capital, were present. From North South University, Board of Trustees members M. A. Kashem and Benajir Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, and Treasurer & Pro-Vice Chancellor (IC) Prof. Abdur Rob Khan were also in attendance. Speaking at the event, representatives from the NSU administration and NSUSN emphasized the university’s enduring commitment to cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset among students and alumni. Samuel Mursalin, Director (In-Charge) of NSU Startups Next, stated: “The resilience of Bangladeshi founders gives us great hope. Even when we start 50 meters behind our regional peers, our entrepreneurs have the grit, creativity, and ambition to catch up, and often stand shoulder to shoulder. That’s the spirit we nurture at NSUSN.” Rahat Ahmed, Founder & Managing Partner at Anchorless Bangladesh, remarked: “The female consumer market is one of the fastest-growing segments globally, and in Bangladesh. To unlock its potential, we need more female founders who understand and represent this dynamic market.” Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University, stated: “As an institution, we prioritize entrepreneurship development. Through initiatives like NSU Startups Next, we are creating a structured environment where innovation thrives and students are empowered to become
job creators rather than job seekers.” They also acknowledged the crucial support of national agencies such as iDEA under the ICT Division, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, and prominent figures from the investment and corporate innovation landscape. The 3rd Cohort Launch marks a significant step in advancing NSUSN’s mission to build a university-based startup ecosystem that empowers the next generation of changemakers. Through programs like Founders Lab, Flagship Incubation, and Post-Graduation Support, NSUSN provides a full-cycle framework to support founders from ideation to investment readiness.
