“Not just if you have an idea, in fact success will come if we take the initiative to make it happen in reality. Idea is just a primary phase of entrepreneurship”- at the concluding address of the Innovation and Entrepreneur Boot Camp organized for girls, Dr. Lafifa Jamal, Professor of Robotics and Mechatronics Department of Dhaka University said this. The three-day “Girl's Innovation and Entrepreneur Bootcamp” organized by Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) at Lalmatia, Dhaka, ended on February 29, by learning the various principles of reaching the peak of success in Entrepreneurship. 

This bootcamp, organized under BDOSN's ongoing project 'Enabling Sustainable Development Goals for Bangladesh', which is aimed at increasing women's participation in technology-based workplaces. 35 Women participated this camp from different parts of the country, who were interested in entrepreneurship or have already become entrepreneurs. They have learned the knack of being an entrepreneur in various sessions for three days. The contestants spend three exciting days at the camp with the idea of ​​problem solving. The residential camp ended with the idea pitching on February 29.

The camp began with the registration at the venue form 8 O’clock in the morning on 27 February, 2020. After the breakfast, participants started their three days journey with an ice breaking session conducted by the General Secratery of BdOSN, Munir Hasan. He said “Every problem in the society has an opposite side. An entrepreneur's job is to find the opposite side and work with it.” After his session, the camp was continued with various activities including Idea Development, Idea Validation, team formation etc.

The three-day session was attended by Farhana Rahman head of the Human Resources Division of the Daily Business Standard, Achia Nila Manging Director of Women in Digital, Shamima Akter Tule Fitness Consultant of Combat Gym, Taslima Mizi founder of Gutipa and Leatherina Company, Nusrat Jahan Managing Director of Interactive Limited, Umme Shayla Rumki Managing Director of The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, Selima Hossain Allen Ambassador of Seedstar Bangladesh, WeBD Founder Sharmin Saj, Managing Director of Wedevs Asif M Rahman, Venture advisor Shawkat Hossain, CEO of Chujhal Zahidul Islam, Professor of Robotics and Mechatronics Department of Dhaka University Dr. Lafifa Jamal, Managing Director of Anupam Info Tech and the Vice Prsident of Bangladesh Women and Technology, Naznin Kamal Supti and many more.

Top ten teams formed in the very first day of the camp worked in next two days on the top ten business ideas. Through three days of sessions, they learned about the various aspects of turning an idea into a business. Based on the instruction of each session, they participated in Idea Pitching on February 29, the last day of the camp. Through the business model canvas, participants described the idea.

At the closing session of the camp on Saturday afternoon, Professor of Robotics and Mathematics Department of Dhaka University and President of Bangladesh Women and Technology Dr. Lafifa Jamal and Managing Director of Anupam Info Tech and the Vice Prsident of Bangladesh Women and Technology, Naznin Kamal Supti were present there. Najnin Kamal Supti said to the participants that, “You have to think yourself not just a women, but also a human being to prove yourself.”

In association with the Manuser Jonno Foundation, the three-day residential innovation and entrepreneurship bootcamp organized by the Bangladesh Open Source Network under the Enabling Sustainable Development Goals for Bangladesh (ESDG4BD) project are partnered by the Association of E-Commerce and Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Daffodil International University.