Bangladesh holds strong potential for investment, but concerns remain around infrastructure gaps, limited access to finance, and regulatory challenges, said business leaders at the opening day of Bangladesh Startup Connect 2025.
The event, which began yesterday alongside the Bangladesh Investment Summit, aims to spotlight local startups, build cross-border partnerships, and open new doors for global investment.
Tanveer Ali, chairman of Constellation Asset Management Company Ltd, delivered the keynote speech, stressing Bangladesh’s growing appeal to investors. He pointed to the country's youthful workforce, strategic geographic location, and increasing digital connectivity as key strengths.
A plenary session followed, moderated by Sadia Haque, co-founder and CEO of Sharetrip. Among the high-profile panelists were Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of BIDA, Ahsan H Mansur, governor of the Bangladesh Bank, and Shish Haider Chowdhury, secretary of the ICT Division.
The session focused on the government’s role in shaping startup-friendly policies and also highlighted ongoing barriers such as financing hurdles and regulatory red tape.
The day saw the launch of the Infusion Partners Fund, introduced by Abdul Muktadir, founder of Incepta Pharma, aimed at boosting the growth of local startups.
Another panel discussion, led by Mirza Salman Hossain Beg, founder and CEO of Stealth Startup, centered on why Bangladesh should be on every investor’s radar. Speakers Rahat Ahmed, founder of Anchorless Bangladesh, and Oussama Glilah, director at Razor Capital, emphasized untapped potential in sectors like tech, consumer goods, and healthcare. However, they also pointed out challenges, especially in infrastructure and venture capital availability.
Sarah Iqbal of SAJIDA Foundation later moderated a session on how businesses can become more investment-ready. Craig Bristol Dixon of Accelerating Asia highlighted the importance of scalability and a long-term vision for attracting serious investors.
Another key panel, led by Sadia Hossain of YY Ventures, discussed the evolving fundraising landscape. Speakers touched on alternative funding models like crowdfunding and strategic partnerships as important avenues for startups struggling to raise capital.
In a separate keynote, Shahir Chowdhury, founder and CEO of Shikho, spoke on how educational technology (EdTech) could help fix gaps in Bangladesh’s education system. He outlined how tech can democratize learning and improve outcomes, especially for young people.
A subsequent panel, moderated by Ayman Sadiq of 10 Minute School, took a deeper look into the EdTech sector. Key voices such as Sarim Aziz from Meta and Fahim Mashroor of BDjobs.com explored how education-focused technologies can also drive job creation. They emphasized the need for public-private partnerships to scale sustainable EdTech solutions.
The opening day drew over a thousand participants, including founders, investors, top officials, and thought leaders.
Md Abdur Rashid Sohag, founder and CEO of Pupil School Bus, said the event has been incredibly fruitful. “It’s surreal. We’ve connected with more investors in one day than we normally would in one or two years,” he said. “Some investors even invited us to personal networking events, where we can present our ideas in more depth.”
At a later press briefing, BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury said the response to the event has been overwhelmingly positive. “This is exactly the kind of space startups and investors need to come together. Over 25 venture capitalists had a chance to meet startups today,” he noted.
He also mentioned that Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, has formally submitted an application to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) after receiving initial approval from BIDA.
Bangladesh Startup Connect 2025 continues over the next few days, with more panels and networking opportunities aimed at transforming the country’s startup ecosystem.
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