The 116th Social Business Design Lab organized by Yunus Centre took place today on 17th September 2015 at the Grameen Bank Auditorium. Around 150 participants and observers, from national and international organizations with diverse background attended the program, including a large number of international participants.
The Design Lab was chaired by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. He opened the lab with welcoming remarks to the audience including those tuning in via live stream. Professor Yunus explained the process of the Lab, to review and assess social business plans of entrepreneurs. He reported that to date since January 2013, a total of 1672 projects have been presented during last 116 Design Labs of which 1666 projects were approved for investment, and most of these already in operation.At today’s Lab, six new social business plans were presented. All of them were Nobin Udyokta businesses presented by young entrepreneurs coming from Grameen Bank borrowers’ families. It includes a range of interesting businesses with colorful products including Sopnopuri Store selling grocery items by MD Shahin Alam Babu, Famous Herbal & Beauty Parlor providing skin care by Musammat Shamsun Naher, M B V Hosto Shilpo Karkhana producing and selling handicraft by MD Nur Alam Islam, Daliya Fabrics and Tailors producing ladies clothing by Mosammat Daliya, M/S Nusrat Enterprise running flower own cultivation business by MD Imamul Hossain and Zannat Trading Corporation selling wide range of consumer goods by MD Zakir Hossain Khan.
These business plans were presented by each of the young entrepreneurs including all details of project plan, marketing plan, and sustainability plan. There were several rounds of discussions on how each social business could be improved and strengthened during the main session as well as in breakout sessions. All six of the social business projects were approved for funding from various social business funds. These projects would be reviewed in the upcoming Labs, and through regular reports on Social Business Pedia.
Professor Yunus thanked the participants for the innovative social businesses and noted that it was exciting that so many ideas were now a reality and how impressive it was that entrepreneurs coming from so far away could present their business plans and defend them in front of distinguished international audience. Professor Yunus also invited participants to join next Social Business Design Lab, to be held on 20 October 2015. – Yunus Centre press release
