Nineteen New Social Business projects presented at the 15th Design Lab
The 15th Yunus Centre Social Business Design Lab took place on May 03, 2014 at the Grameen Bank Auditorium, participated by 200 representative of national and international organizations.
At the 15th design lab, nineteen new social business plans were presented. These included eighteen Nobin Udyokta projects, businesses launched by young entrepreneurs who are the children of Grameen Bank families. The ones selected for presentation were Meghla Beauty Parlour by Morzina Akter Meghla; Dairy Foods, a social business to produce sweet meats employing members of the Santal community and implemented by Lustre; Lima Tailors, a social business selling different items of clothing and tailored products where the entrepreneur is the 18 year old Lima who is daughter of Grameen Bank members; Nimai handicrafts producing bamboo and cane related products made by a young man from Dalit community named Sree Nimai Chandra Roy; Faisal Fish Farm project implemented by a young entrepreneur named Faisal to produce 4 different types of fish in several ponds. Another Nobin Udyokta project is Meghna Carrom Board Factory was presented by Md. Yeasin who is a Grameen higher education loanee. Yeasin had a well developed business plan, and assembled a carrom board on the spot in front of the audience. This project got on the spot approval for funding by Grameen Trust.
All the projects were discussed in details in breakout groups after which participants reconvened to hear how the businesses might be improved or refined and scoring was done by group on the quality of the projects. Groups also gave their recommendations for funding of the projects.
In between sessions, Professor Yunus participated in Q and A with the online viewers from different countries. Usually participants between 60 and 80 countries view each Lab.
Professor Yunus thanked the participants for the innovative social businesses and noted that on this occasion that half the businesses presented were by women, which is a trend he hoped would continue. He also invited participants to the Social Business Day which will be held on 28th of June this year at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka at which the next Design Lab will be held.