The Hult Prize at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) successfully concluded its Grand Finale, celebrating student-led innovation and impact-driven entrepreneurship.

The event was organised with the academic leadership and strategic support of the Department of Human Resource Management (HRM), School of Business & Entrepreneurship (SBE), IUB, whose involvement played a vital role in mentoring participants and ensuring a rigorous, industry-aligned competition framework.

The Grand Finale featured an esteemed panel of judges from leading organisations and academia, including Sayed Azaz Ahmed, General Manager, Brand Partner, Marketing Division at bKash Limited; Farhana Islam, Director and Head of ESG at Grameenphone; and Dr Ikramul Hasan, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Human Resource Management, SBE, IUB. Their diverse expertise ensured a comprehensive evaluation of innovation, feasibility and social impact.

The event was further honoured by the presence of distinguished university leaders, including Professor Raisul Awal Mahmood, Dean of SBE; Professor Daniel W. Lund, Pro Vice-Chancellor; and Professor M. Tamim, Honorable Vice-Chancellor of IUB. In their remarks, they highlighted the importance of youth leadership, sustainability and an entrepreneurial mindset in shaping the future.

Following an intense pitching and evaluation session, the winners were announced. Team Sunk-Cost Fallacy emerged as Champion, demonstrating exceptional innovation and scalability. Automate Class secured the position of First Runner-up, while Team Bhorosha became Second Runner-up, with both teams recognised for their impactful solutions and strong entrepreneurial vision.

The Hult Prize at IUB Grand Finale reflected the university’s commitment to nurturing future changemakers, with the HRM Department’s contribution reinforcing the role of academic excellence in advancing sustainable innovation and social impact.