Our Orange Corners Programme Manager Erik Parigger just wrapped up an exciting visit to Bangladesh, where he took center stage at the opening panel ‘Start Local, Scale Global: How Youth Are Driving the Future of Social Business’ of the Social Business Youth Summit 2025. In his contribution, Erik spoke about what the world can learn from Bangladesh and the other way around, the importance of mentorship and partnerships, and the chances and challenges around scaling and internationalising businesses.
The panel followed a keynote by the Chief Advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus. A Nobel Peace Prize winner for his work in the field of microfinance, professor Yunus is regarded by many as one of the “fathers” of social business. NL Youth Ambassador Jurriaan Middelhoff was also present, contributing a fireside chat about Youth at Heart.
Later that day, Erik officially announced the launch of the Orange Corners Innovation Fund in Bangladesh – a game-changer for young innovators looking to turn big ideas into reality. This fund is all about backing bright minds with the resources they need to create real impact.
