DHAKA, BANGLADESH – The Finance and Accounting Club (FINACT) of BRAC University successfully hosted EXCELERATE 2025, one of the country’s largest finance-based Excel competitions, presented by Pubali Bank PLC. The national-level event brought together undergraduate students from universities across Bangladesh, highlighting the growing importance of data-driven financial skills in today’s corporate landscape.
Designed as a comprehensive learning experience rather than a conventional contest, EXCELERATE 2025 provided participants with a platform to apply analytical thinking, financial modeling, and business intelligence tools to real-world scenarios.
A Three-Stage Analytical Challenge
The competition unfolded through three intensive rounds, each designed to test different dimensions of participants’ expertise.
The opening round, Grid Master (8–11 December 2025 | Online), assessed speed, accuracy, formula mastery, and structured problem-solving through Excel-based challenges.
This was followed by Data Dynamics (14–19 December 2025 | Online Submission & Offline Presentation), where teams analyzed real-life datasets, developed actionable insights, and presented their findings before a panel of expert judges.
The final round, The Dashboard Duel (23–28 December 2025), saw shortlisted teams design advanced business dashboards using Excel or Power BI, combining data visualization, storytelling, and strategic interpretation.
Industry Leaders Grace the Grand Finale
The Grand Finale was attended by Md. Anwar Hossain, Secretary, Ministry of Science & Technology, who joined the event as the Chief Guest. The occasion was further enriched by the presence of several distinguished Special Guests, including Muhammad Ali, Managing Director of Pubali Bank PLC; Salim Rahman, Managing Director of KDS; Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of PRAN; and Md. Mahbub ur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC.
A distinguished judging panel comprising senior professionals and academicians from Bangladesh Bank, UCB, ICMAB, and BRAC University evaluated the competition, ensuring industry-relevant assessment standards.
Rewarding Excellence in Analytics
EXCELERATE 2025 featured a total prize pool of BDT 2,50,000 along with a Gold Bar, positioning it among the most rewarding student competitions in the finance and analytics domain.
The Godfathers emerged as Champion, securing BDT 1,10,000, followed by Absolute Reference as 1st Runner-Up with BDT 80,000, and Data Dominators as 2nd Runner-Up, receiving BDT 60,000. Winning teams also gained access to two professional workshops and special recognition awards.
Building Skills Beyond the Classroom
Open to teams of 1–4 members, with cross-university participation encouraged, the competition fostered collaboration among students nationwide. Participants demonstrated strong professionalism and analytical rigor by transforming raw datasets into meaningful insights and confidently presenting them before seasoned industry experts.
Presented by Pubali Bank PLC, powered by KDS, co-powered by PRAN-RFL Group, and hosted by FINACT, BRAC University, EXCELERATE 2025 set a new benchmark for student-led finance and analytics competitions in Bangladesh.
The event concluded as a celebration of learning, innovation, and emerging talent—reflecting the growing demand for analytical excellence in Bangladesh’s future workforce.
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