A Bangladeshi startup will participate in the Asian Entrepreneurship Award (AEA) 2021 for the first time after being selected by the AEA steering committee as one of the 30 semi-finalists from 13 Asian countries.
Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) facilitated the process of the selection for the 10th AEA to be held on October 27 and 28 online like last year.
Ghost Kitchen Bangladesh, an online restaurant platform, is selected for its innovative ideas to connect customers, restaurants and delivery partners etc, according to the JETRO Dhaka office.
The AEA has been organised since 2021 with the aim of 'establishing an innovation eco-system in Asia.'
The AEA 2021 will bring together 30 selected startups from Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam for providing solutions in the areas of healthcare, work and lifestyle reform, and sustainability.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Muhammad Yunus will attend the AEA 2021 as the keynote speaker and share his vision of social businesses -- businesses established to address specific social or environmental problems -- and next-generation leadership.
During the event, the startups will deliver business presentations showcasing their services and products, with the winners being selected on the basis of a wide range of criteria.
These will include innovativeness, the social and economic impact of their products and services, their commercial viability, the potential for collaboration with Japanese companies, and the opportunity for business expansion in Japan.
AEA2021 will also enhance the online networking and community-building opportunities it offers to participants using the chat tool "Slack", enabling a new online community consisting of more than 200 startups that have participated in previous AEA events as well as Japanese companies, sponsors, and overseas nominators.
This will provide opportunities for ongoing business collaboration between Japanese companies and startups after the event, including the opportunity for direct communication, the chance to build relationships with overseas nominators and to disseminate information about Japanese companies' own efforts in support of startups.
JETRO Country Representative Yuji Ando said the award which would be announced after the two-day event is a recognition and reward innovation for young entrepreneurs and tech startups.
He also said this year the semi-finalists would receive mentoring for one and a half months aimed at brushing up their business plans for the Japan market.
smunima@yahoo.com