Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), in collaboration with Sylhet Technical School & College, with the technical support from Skills 21 Project of ILO, Dhaka, organized and conducted a day-long Incubating Entrepreneurs’ “PITCH WORKSHOP” with startup entrepreneurs on 24 February 2022 at Conference Hall, Sylhet Technical School & College (STSC), Sylhet.

The objectives of the program were to (i) present business ideas by the startup youth entrepreneurs in front of an expert panel comprising bankers, employers, BSCIC and Govt. officials, and (ii) facilitate the learning and experience sharing of the boot camp participants to pitch their startup ideas. Mr. Joha Jamilur Rahman, Sr. Training Coordinator, BEF and Mr. Ruman Ishtiak Rafeen, CMSME Specialist, moderated the workshop. 17 incubates presented their start-up ideas. The resource panel evaluated all the ideas and announced the top 3 participants as champions.

The program followed a hybrid mode. Mr. Farooq Ahmed, Secretary-General & CEO, BEF, Ms. Lotte Kejser, CTA, Skills-21 Project, ILO, and Md. Anisuzzaman, Program Officer, ILO, virtually attended the event.

Mr. Mohammed Rehan Uddin, Regional Director, DTE, Sylhet Division graced the event as the Chief Guest while Mr. Tahmin Ahmed, President, The Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI) attended as the Special Guest. Mr. Champak Kishor Datta, SPO/Manager, Agrani Bank, Engr. M. Suhel Howlader, DGM, BSCIC, and Mr. Ahmad Zamy, Managing Director, Suntech Energy Ltd., attended as evaluators. Mr. Gunjan Dallakoti, Deputy Country Director, ILO, Dhaka, attended as the mentor. The closing session was chaired by Engr. Santush Chandra Debnath, Principal, Sylhet TSC. 17 participants (Female-2, Male-15) attended the program as incubates.