Project Name: Chattogram Entrepreneurship Pilot Programme (CEPP)
Duration:
Funded by: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Summery:
The Chattogram Entrepreneurship Pilot Programme (CEPP) was launched to foster youth entrepreneurship beyond Dhaka, successfully establishing a replicable model for regional ecosystem development. The initiative significantly surpassed its targets, mobilizing 168 applications against a goal of 100 and providing intensive training to 27 teams. The program’s core achievement was the deep-level incubation of five high-potential ventures, with a focus on sustainability and circular economy models. This support, which included 11 expert-led sessions and rigorous KPI tracking, culminated in BDT 700,000 in seed funding awarded to three ventures: Polyjute (Champion), FishBooth Lab, and SusTire. Success was driven by strategic collaboration with ten local partners (five academic and five ecosystem enablers), ensuring contextual relevance and effective outreach. The program maintained a strong commitment to responsible conduct, achieving 100% gender inclusion across all teams, with at least one female member on each team. Post-program monitoring indicates strong potential for venture sustainability, with all incubated teams demonstrating measurable progress in prototype development, customer validation, and cost efficiency. Key lessons learned, including the critical need for flexible scheduling and hybrid mentorship models, provide a valuable blueprint for scaling this initiative to other regions. CIC has not only validated a demand for entrepreneurial support in Chattogram but has also laid a foundational framework for building a self-sustaining, inclusive innovation economy across Bangladesh’s secondary cities.

Programs: Chattogram Ideation Challenge (CIC)