DUEDC announces launch of national idea pitching competition Creaventure 4.0

Dhaka University Entrepreneurship Development Club (DUEDC), a student-led organisation at the University of Dhaka, is working to empower students to develop entrepreneurial skills, launch startups and create social impact through business innovation.

CREAVENTURE_COVER

The club operates under the motto “Stepping to Progress” and currently has more than 250 active members at the University of Dhaka.

DUEDC’s mission is to guide students towards innovation, independence and idealism, while developing future leaders who can contribute meaningfully through professionalism, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.

 Keep updated, follow The Business Standard’s Google news channel

Its vision is to support a dynamic, technology-driven job market in Bangladesh, fuelled by young innovators making significant contributions to socio-economic growth.

Three flagship programmes

DUEDC runs three flagship programmes to promote entrepreneurship, business analysis, skill development and idea pitching among university students.

The first is Powerpreneur, a national startup and business analysis competition. In 2025, the programme reached more than 100 universities, bringing together 145 teams and 411 participants from 49 districts. The competition focuses on business planning, analysis and comprehensive startup evaluation.

The second is Skillneurs, a skill development and case competition workshop series. The programme focuses on leadership, communication, negotiation, decision-making and emotional intelligence.

The third is Creaventure 4.0, a national idea pitching competition now being held in its fourth edition. The programme focuses on transforming raw ideas into investment-ready startup concepts through pitching.

Creaventure 4.0

Creaventure 4.0 is a five-week entrepreneurial incubation experience designed to transform student ideas into investment-ready startup concepts through training, mentorship and a multi-stage competition.

The programme is presented by Akij Resources. Modhumoti Agro and Dairy Farm is the gold sponsor.

Other partners include BYLC, Fun, Sunquick, Arunima Resort and Golf Club, Mithai, Bonik Barta, Infogram, Klin Mart and Excellence Academy.

Creaventure 4.0 timeline

Creaventure 4.0 was launched on 11 May 2026.

Registration will continue from 11 May to 5 June. Online training sessions will be held from 6 June to 18 June, with six sessions scheduled for participants.

The idea submission deadline is 20 June.

The quarter-final round will be held on 27 June, where teams will deliver three-minute pitches.

The semi-final will take place on 4 July through online pitching and a question-and-answer session.

An intensive bootcamp is expected to be held from 6 July to 10 July, while the grand finale is scheduled for 11 July.

Competition rounds and rules

In the first round, participating teams will submit a pitch deck or idea document in PDF or PPT format. Judges will evaluate the submissions based on market viability, business model and team capability. The top 30 teams will advance to the quarter-final.

In the quarter-final round on 27 June, 30 teams will deliver three-minute rapid pitches in person. Five judges will evaluate the teams and select mentors. Each judge will mentor up to four teams. The top 20 teams will advance to the semi-final.

In the semi-final round on 4 July, 20 teams will pitch online with an extended question-and-answer segment. Mentors will guide the teams during their preparation. The top eight teams will advance to the grand finale.

In the grand finale on 11 July, eight finalist teams will present on the main stage. Each team will get eight minutes for its presentation and nine minutes for the question-and-answer session. Winners will be announced at the end of the finale.

Eligibility and participation

All university students from public and private institutions can apply for Creaventure 4.0. Students may participate individually or in teams of two to four members. Cross-institutional and multidisciplinary teams are encouraged to apply. No prior experience is required, as training will be provided. Participants must attend at least 75% of the training sessions to compete.

Registration details

Registration for Creaventure 4.0 is open through: https://www.duedc.com/creaventure-4.0

The registration deadline is 5 June 2026 at 11:59pm. The early bird registration fee is Tk650 per team until 28 May. The standard registration fee is Tk800 per team from 29 May to 5 June. Payment can be made through bKash at 01880761137, Nagad at 01605701478 and Rocket at 01857800867. Participants will receive a confirmation email within three working days.

Prizes

Creaventure 4.0 will offer prizes worth more than Tk1.30 lakh.

The champion team will receive Tk50,000 and gifts worth more than Tk11,000.

The first runner-up team will receive Tk30,000 and gifts worth more than Tk11,000.

The second runner-up team will receive Tk20,000 and gifts worth more than Tk11,000.

What participants will receive

Participants will receive six intensive online training sessions, expert mentorship from entrepreneurs, opportunities to pitch before investors, national recognition and media exposure.

They will also receive participation certificates, subject to at least 75% attendance, networking opportunities with founder peers from across the country, business development guidance and potential investor connections.