Canadian University of Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA), ICT Division, successfully organized the University Activation Programme on 28 September 2025 at the university auditorium. The event was designed to inspire students in idea generation, innovative planning, and entrepreneurship development, while also guiding them to take their first steps towards a startup journey through government pre-seed funding.

A total of 120 students participated in this engaging programme. From the university, 18 innovative ideas were submitted, among which four were shortlisted and presented in front of the distinguished guests and experts. This pitching session became the central highlight of the event, as students showcased their creativity and received constructive feedback on how to transform their ideas into real ventures with the support of iDEA.

Among the presenters, Laila Akter Keya from the BBA department was declared the champion for her outstanding idea, KIND-BD: A digital platform to build social heroes and remove social problems with just one click. Her concept received much appreciation for its social impact and scalability. All four finalist teams received certificates in recognition of their efforts and participation.

The programme began with a welcome speech by Mr. A.S.M.G. Faruk, Registrar of Canadian University of Bangladesh, followed by an entrepreneurship masterclass by Redwan Ferdous, Managing Director of FronTech Ltd, and a practical session on pitch deck development and funding guidance by Siddhartha Goushami, Senior Consultant of the iDEA Project.

The distinguished guests who graced the event included Prof. Dr. H M Jahirul Haque, Vice Chancellor of Canadian University of Bangladesh, as the Chief Guest; Major General Salahuddin Islam (Retd.), Chairman of SFIL, as the Guest of Honour; and Md. Hasanuzzaman, Chairman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at CUB, as the Special Guest. Their inspiring speeches and guidance encouraged students to think innovatively and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

The programme concluded with closing remarks by Murtuza Zulkar Nain Noman, Joint Secretary and Project Director of the iDEA Project. All participants of the event were awarded certificates, marking the successful completion of a truly impactful initiative.