SDG - 1
Local Start-up Assistance and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
DIU institutionalizes entrepreneurial higher education through dedicated programs and essential financial and infrastructural support, directly creating pathways out of poverty (SDG 1) and fostering economic growth (SDG 8).
Institutional Infrastructure and Mentorship
The university provides the necessary framework for students and local youth to launch and scale their ventures.
Department of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (DIE): DIU established the DIE to develop real entrepreneurs capable of generating job opportunities and contributing to socio-economic change. The department has successfully supported over 300 students in launching their own startup companies.
Daffodil Business Incubator (DBI): The Daffodil Business Incubator offers office space and other official support services to both students and local youth entrepreneurs. This initiative is crucial for those who do not have their own office space. Entrepreneurs can use the DBI address as their business address, benefiting from an established infrastructure that helps in scaling their ventures. This support structure is instrumental in fostering a nurturing environment for startups to grow and thrive.
Showcase and Market Access: DIU organizes the Daffodil Startup Market, a vibrant platform where innovative student startups can showcase and sell their products. This event, managed by the Department of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, fosters collaboration and networking among budding entrepreneurs. More than thirty students or groups have participated, gaining real-world business exposure and experience.
Industry Partnership: The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BCIC) launched an Entrepreneurial Support Center at DIU. This collaboration, under the Ministry of Industries, is aimed at nurturing student entrepreneurs and promoting small and medium-sized industries. The initiative aligns with the goal of fostering economic growth and industry innovation, providing additional mentorship and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Financial Assistance and Investment
DIU provides targeted financial support to overcome capital barriers, enabling students to scale their entrepreneurial ideas into sustainable businesses.
Entrepreneurial Development Fund (EDF): This fund provides interest-free loans to students specifically for business development and initiation, empowering young innovators to scale their ventures without financial constraints.
Direct Investment and Scaling: DIU actively invests in student-founded businesses, illustrating successful scaling:
DIU actively invests in student-founded businesses that show potential for financial and social sustainability. For instance, Russell's plus-size fashion business "TYLO" secured venture capital funding of Rs 40 lakh, enabling significant business expansion and the creation of job opportunities. Similarly, student entrepreneur Tamsa Chakma expanded her f-commerce business into a physical outlet with the financial backing of DIU. These cases illustrate how DIU's financial assistance programs foster entrepreneurship and drive economic development.
Support for Freelancers: Financial assistance has been provided to students transitioning from freelancing to entrepreneurship, such as Tanveer Suraj, who built a business generating TK 5 lakhs per month, thereby creating jobs and contributing to the local economy.
Welfare Safety Net: In partnership with Prime Islami Life Insurance Limited, DIU provided financial support to 40 students affected by the sudden demise of a guardian. Each student received 3 lakh TK, underscoring DIU's commitment to student well-being and mitigating poverty-related disruptions.
Training, Workshops, and Global Outreach
Training programs focus on social business, sustainability, and global exposure, ensuring entrepreneurs are equipped with future-ready skills.
Social Business Education: DIU integrates the "3 Zero Vision" (zero poverty, zero unemployment, zero net carbon emissions) of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus into its curriculum:
- The Social Business Students' Forum hosted a workshop on "A World of Three Zeros" at the Yunus Centre. The workshop introduced participants to Dr. Muhammad Yunus's concept of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. Students participated in a brainstorming session and presented innovative solutions aligned with the three zeros concept.
- A delegation from the DIU Yunus Social Business Center and Social Business Students Forum joined the 9th Social Business Youth Summit (SBYS) 2024, which was a gathering of young minds and leaders from 21 countries. The summit, which was organized by YY Ventures, aimed to "Change the Country, Change the World" and featured Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. This participation is a key component of promoting social business as a tool for change, which supports SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
- The 13th Social Business Exposure Program (SBEP 2024) aimed at inspiring students with Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus's "3 Zero Vision" (zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions). The event also included a prize-giving ceremony for the winners and a cultural program, which highlights the university's commitment to social business education, which aligns with SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
National Competitions: DIU hosted the Grand Finale of the 2nd National Social Business Case Competition 2025, which saw 664 students from 28 universities present innovative social business solutions. The event was organized to promote youth-led innovation and social change, with Team Silkonomist from the University of Rajshahi being crowned champion. The competition fosters a culture of innovation and social entrepreneurship, which aligns with SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.