The 9th Social Business Youth Summit (SBYS) 2025, held at the InterContinental Dhaka on February 1-2, brought together over 350 entrepreneurs, changemakers, policymakers, youth leaders, and ecosystem builders from around the world to co-design solutions for critical global challenges, including food security, health and education, climate change, gender equality, and sports for social change.
The two-day summit, curated by YY Ventures, co-hosted by Impact Hub Dhaka, and powered by The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, was part of the Festival of Youth 2025: Creating a New Bangladesh, an initiative of the Chief Adviser’s Office, said a media release issued on Tuesday.
The theme of the summit was, "Change the Country, Change the World," and it featured a powerful keynote from Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who emphasized the urgency of youth-led, social business-driven innovation in shaping a better future.
“The world, as it stands today, has no escape route from the crises created by the old system— we need to design a new engine. And social business is key to that change. This room is full of enough people to change the world, not by numbers alone, but through the power of imagination, thought, and execution. I’m not saying everything else should disappear; I’m simply saying: Make space for social business. People will naturally join in because they experience immense joy in solving others' problems. This is a unique expression of commitment—one that leads us toward a world of three zeros. That is our path, and it is achievable,” said he.
The summit commenced with a warm welcome from Sadia Hossain, Director of the Board of YY Ventures and Impact Hub Dhaka, who said that this summit is meant to be a springboard for collective leadership rooted in respect, empathy, courage, and a commitment to leave no one behind.
Thijs Woudstra, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, delivered the Opening remarks underscoring the importance of cross-sector collaboration in empowering young entrepreneurs.
9th Social Business Youth Summit in Dhaka Feb 1-2
He said, “The Netherlands has been active in Bangladesh supporting youth for a long time, for example, supporting young entrepreneurs to build a sustainable business. Public and private organization have to work together on this, because youth is the best investment for the future.”
In the fireside chat, Jurriaan Middelhoff, Ambassador-at-Large for Youth, Education and Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Netherlands, mentioned, "Young people are our most important stakeholder in many countries, like Bangladesh. Therefore, we take a "Youth at Heart" approach in our work, investing in youth, entrepreneurship and creating job opportunities. An important aspect is to ensure that youth voices are involved in a meaningful way in decision-making processes."
The first day of SBYS 2025 also featured discussions on scaling youth-led social businesses, ensuring food security, and zero waste lifestyles. A workshop was held on the global 3ZERO Club initiative, along with a special feature on the Social Fiction Storytelling Competition. Panel discussions explored youth-driven social business, linkages between education, employment and entrepreneurship, and innovations in sustainability.
The Orange Corners Bangladesh Showcase also spotlighted emerging Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, providing them with a platform to present their innovative business solutions to drive social impact. A special segment was the launch of the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) to empower young entrepreneurs to grow and scale their impact enterprises in Bangladesh.
The second day of SBYS 2025 featured dynamic discussions on harnessing AI for social impact, the role of business in accelerating the green transition, and the power of sports in driving social justice. One panel of experts explored talent development for social innovation, while another delved into potential ways of building a world of three zeros. Breakout sessions were held on equity in healthcare, inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems, and gender equity for a balanced world.
Youth Summit Highlights Demands for Policy Focus on Youth Expectations
The event concluded with an inspiring closing keynote by Lutfey Siddiqi, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, who urged participants to turn their ideas into sustained action.
“Young people and nation building. How do we put it all together? We make sure that we— and I include myself in young people— do not let other people set the agenda for us. If someone says it’s one or the other, we should ask: why can it not be one and the other? If someone says we should focus so much on the past rather than the future, we should flip it around. We should spend more time on the future— more dreams than memories,” said he.
Osman Dhali, Chief Operating Officer of YY Ventures, closed the summit with a call for collaboration across different sectors and actors beyond the event.