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The internationally acclaimed business reality show, Shark Tank, has officially opened the doors to its Bangladeshi adaptation, inviting enterprising individuals from across the nation to participate in its first season.
Sony Pictures Entertainment and Bongo BD have inked a deal to introduce the popular reality show in the country with Robi on board as the ‘Title Sponsor’, supported by Startup Bangladesh as the ‘Powered by’ collaborator.
Registration Link: https://tu.bongobd.com/STBD

The globally acclaimed business show, ‘Shark Tank’, which has aired in over 40 countries, is set to have a localised version in Bangladesh. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Bongo has inked a deal to introduce the popular reality show in the country with Robi on board as the ‘Title Sponsor’, supported by Startup Bangladesh as the ‘Powered by’ collaborator.

The show’s premise involves budding entrepreneurs presenting their business ideas to a group of investors, dubbed the ‘Sharks’. These investors, who usually are accomplished entrepreneurs themselves, decide on whether to invest based on the potential they see in the pitch. Entrepreneurs could be showcasing anything from a novel product prototype, an existing product or service, or even a firm seeking capital to upscale its operations. The ultimate goal for these entrepreneurs is to secure investment and transform their ventures into recognisable brands.

Bongo is soon to reveal a panel of local ‘Sharks’, representing diverse sectors and industries, with the announcement slated for a future date.

The directorial reins for ‘Shark Tank Bangladesh’ have been handed to Gazi Shubro. Additionally, Bongo is collaborating with SBK Tech Ventures, drawing upon their deep-rooted experience with investments and startups in the country, to enhance the show’s production quality.

Ahad Bhai, Bongo’s CEO shared, “We are a very entrepreneurial and resourceful country, and as a proud Bangladeshi I felt that this show is the perfect platform to combine entertainment with improving the lives of our people. We are very proud and excited to get this off the ground.”

Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh stated, “Shark Tank Bangladesh is poised to make waves in our entrepreneurial landscape, and we’re thrilled to bring this global phenomenon to our country. This initiative aligns perfectly with Startup Bangladesh’s mission of fostering innovation, supporting startups, and creating opportunities for our talented entrepreneurs to shine on a global stage. We believe that Shark Tank Bangladesh will not only inspire but also empower our local innovators to take their ideas to the next level, ultimately contributing to the growth and prosperity of our nation.”

In a press handout, Shihab Ahmad, Chief Commercial Officer of Robi, echoed similar sentiments and emphasised Robi’s pride in partnering with Bongo to launch ‘Shark Tank’ in Bangladesh and hopes it will inspire the nation’s youth.

Aspiring participants can submit their applications through sharktank.bongobd.com or the myrobi app. Bongo will also be organising open auditions nationwide, with further details to be disclosed soon.

Source:https://www.thedailystar.net/tech-startup/news/shark-tank-comes-bangladesh-3441421

Catalyzing Local Impact: Startup Bangladesh Collaborates in SDG Localization Consultation and Field Engagement for Sustainable Development in Dumuria Upazila, Khulna.

The General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission under the Ministry of Planning organized the “SDG Localization Consultation Meeting” on September 18th in Dhaka, followed by a visit to Dumuria Upazila, Khulna, on 19th September to assess SDG progress and engage with local focal persons. GED stressed the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders for successful SDG localization. Startup Bangladesh participated in both events, bringing 10 startups to collaborate with Dumuria Upazila stakeholders and initiate pilot projects for business expansion.

Startup Bangladesh Limited, the pioneering venture capital company under the ICT Division, has announced a strategic investment in Bongo, the leading digital entertainment platform in Bangladesh. Startup Bangladesh co-led the Series B round with North Base Media, a firm specialized in global digital-media investments, and other high net-worth individuals and family offices. This collaborative endeavor aims to grow the landscape of online entertainment and content consumption in the country.

A formal agreement was inked between the two entities, for an investment of Five crore Bangladeshi Taka into Bongo’s growth and expansion plans, says a press release.

The signing ceremony took place in Dhaka, witnessed by distinguished guests including Honorable State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, ICT Division, Md. Shamsul Arefin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Startup Bangladesh and Senior Secretary of ICT Division; along with key figures such as Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh; and representatives from Bongo including Mr. Navidul Huq, Co-founder, Mr. Fayaz Taher, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mushfiqur Rahman, Chief Content Officer and Mr. Mamun Atik, Chief Business Development Officer among others.

Bongo has rapidly emerged as the go-to digital platform for entertainment, offering a vast array of local blockbuster originals and international content to millions of users across Bangladesh. From engaging web series, riveting dramas, to captivating movies and much more, Bongo has captured the hearts of the masses through its innovative approach to streaming.

“This partnership with Bongo exemplifies Startup Bangladesh’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting homegrown startups that cater to the diverse needs of our population. Bongo’s success story resonates with the vision of a Smart Bangladesh, and we are excited to play a role in amplifying their impact of home-grown solutions,” said Honorable State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, ICT Division.

“We are embarking on a transformative journey, driven by innovation and collaboration, as we partner with Bongo to reshape the digital entertainment landscape of Bangladesh. This strategic investment underscores our commitment to nurturing homegrown startups and fostering technological excellence, aligning with our vision of a Smart Bangladesh that thrives on cutting-edge solutions and enriching experiences for all.” Said Md. Shamsul Arefin, Secretary of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division.

Bongo’s journey in revolutionizing the entertainment industry aligns seamlessly with Startup Bangladesh’s mission to empower local startups that drive economic growth and technological advancement.

“We believe that Bongo’s innovative approach to entertainment delivery has the potential to redefine how Bangladeshi audiences consume content. Through this partnership, we aim to provide Bongo with the resources and support needed to further innovate and revolutionize the entertainment industry,” emphasized Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Limited.

“The collaboration between Startup Bangladesh and Bongo marks a significant milestone in our quest to transform the digital entertainment landscape of Bangladesh. We are thrilled to join hands with a partner that shares our vision of enriching lives through cutting-edge content and streaming technology which is all home grown,” stated Navidul Huq, Co-Founder of Bongo.

Startup Bangladesh’s investment in Bongo is a testament to its dedication to nurturing startups that push boundaries and contribute to a dynamic startup ecosystem in the country. This collaboration is expected to enhance Bongo’s technological infrastructure, expand its content library, and elevate the overall digital entertainment experience for its users.

With this strategic alliance, Startup Bangladesh and Bongo are poised to pave the way for a new era of digital entertainment, driving economic growth, technological advancement, and ultimately, contributing to the realization of the Smart Bangladesh vision.

Source: https://www.daily-sun.com/

Startup Bangladesh Limited, the flagship venture capital company of the ICT Division invested in MedEasy, a leading online pharmacy startup in Bangladesh. This platform delivers authentic medicine at an affordable price all over Bangladesh.

An agreement was signed recently between the organizations in Dhaka to invest BDT 1 crore.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Md. Shamsul Arefin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Startup Bangladesh & Secretary of ICT division.Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Sami Ahmed, Head of Portfolio Investment Hasan A. Arif and Chairman of MedEasy Md. Nazmul Hossain and Managing Director of MedEasy M.M. Arefin Zaman and other stakeholders were present on the occasion.

MedEasy is one of the most popular digital health platforms in Bangladesh. Their primary focus lies in delivering authentic and affordable medicines to customers’ doorsteps, sourced directly from trusted manufacturers. In a short span of just two years, MedEasy has successfully won the trust of over 150,000+ users, a testament to their commitment to providing top-notch healthcare solutions to the masses. With access to a diverse panel of 100+ licensed doctors, the customers can avail themselves of convenient video consultations for a wide range of medical needs from the MedEasy App. Additionally, they provide the facility of home sample collection for lab tests, partnering with leading hospitals to ensure accurate and reliable results.

Startup Bangladesh is the flagship venture capital company of ICT Division. Under the visionary guidance of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Startup Bangladesh – the only venture capital fund sponsored by the government of the people’s republic of Bangladesh started its journey on March 2020 with an allocated capital of BDT 500 crore. In this effort to enable the nation to innovate faster, Startup Bangladesh has decided to invest 1 crore BDT in MedEasy after recognizing the potential of this startup.

“The work that MedEasy is doing in the Healthtech industry is highly commendable and the investment from Startup Bangladesh on MedEasy will help it to reach out to more customers. I hope that they will be able to make a deep impact in Smart Bangladesh implementation as a Startup. The ICT Division is working diligently in changing policies that assist the emerging and growing startups in many aspects.” mentioned Md. Shamsul Arefin, Secretary, ICT Division and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Startup Bangladesh.

“Startup Bangladesh aims to support homegrown startups to grow and reach heights that generate higher standards for more foreign Investment. We believe that MedEasy provides a solution that the Bangladesh market greatly needs. With the right strategy and focus, MedEasy should be able to make remarkable impact in the lives of the people of Bangladesh.”, said Sami Ahmed, Managing Director, Startup Bangladesh Limited.

M.M. Arefin Zaman, Managing Director of MedEasy said, “We are excited to have Startup Bangladesh Limited join our seed round along with some reputed international investors. Their investment and support will help us accelerate our growth and improve customer experience.”

Startup Bangladesh in its effort to build a vibrant startup ecosystem that nurtures digitalization, has been investing in most promising and impactful startups in Bangladesh and has continued that tradition by investing in MedEasy.

Source: https://en.techvision24.com

স্টার্টআপদের দক্ষতা বৃদ্ধিতে উপযুক্ত প্রশিক্ষণ আয়োজন, উদ্যোক্তাদের কল্যাণে যৌথ গবেষণা কার্যক্রম গ্রহণ এবং স্টার্টআপ সংস্কৃতি গঠন ও উন্নয়নের লক্ষ্যে বিভিন্ন ইভেন্ট পরিকল্পনা ও ব্যবস্থাপনা বাস্তবায়নে আইডিয়া প্রকল্প ও স্টার্টআপ বাংলাদেশ’র মধ্যে সমঝোতা স্মারক স্বাক্ষরিত হয়।

আজ বুধবার (১৯ জুলাই) ঢাকার আগারগাঁওয়ের আইসিটি টাওয়ারে অবস্থিত আইসিটি বিভাগের কার্যালয়ে আইডিয়া প্রকল্প এবং স্টার্টআপ বাংলাদেশ লিমিটেডের মধ্যে একটি সমঝোতা স্মারক স্বাক্ষরিত হয়। সমঝোতা স্মারকে স্বাক্ষর করেন আইডিয়া প্রকল্প পরিচালক (ইনচার্জ) ড. মো. মিজানুর রহমান এবং স্টার্টআপ বাংলাদেশ লিমিটেডের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক সামি আহমেদ। এ সময় উপস্থিত ছিলেন আইসিটি সচিব সচিব মো. সামসুল আরেফিন।

এই সমঝোতা স্মারকের পরিধির মধ্যে রয়েছে উদ্যোক্তাদের কল্যাণে তথ্য, জ্ঞান এবং সর্বোত্তম অনুশীলন বিনিময়ের মাধ্যমে নলেজ শেয়ারিং কার্যক্রম গ্রহণসহ উভয় প্রতিষ্ঠান প্রচারণা বৃদ্ধিতে ব্র্যান্ডিং ও পিআর নিয়ে একসঙ্গে কাজ করবে। এতে দেশের স্টার্টআপ সংস্কৃতির উন্নয়নের গতি ত্বরান্বিত হবে।

সমঝোতা স্মারকে স্বাক্ষর অনুষ্ঠানে আরও উপস্থিত ছিলেন বিসিসি’র নির্বাহী পরিচালক রণজিৎ কুমার, আইসিটি বিভাগের যুগ্মসচিব ড. মুহম্মদ মেহেদী হাসান, আইডিয়া প্রকল্পের জ্যেষ্ঠ পরামর্শক সিদ্ধার্থ গোস্বামী, কমিউনিকেশন্স বিষয়ক পরামর্শক সোহাগ চন্দ্র দাস এবং রিসার্স ইঞ্জিনিয়ার মো. আশিকুল ইসলাম।

Source: https://computerbichitra.com/

Startup Bangladesh Limited, the flagship venture capital company of the ICT Division, invested in Markopolo Ai, an advertisement automation tool powered by AI. An agreement was signed recently between the organizations in Dhaka to invest 1 crore BDT in the Pre-Series A round.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Startup Bangladesh Chairman & Secretary of the ICT division MD. Shamsul Arefin, Managing Director Sami Ahmed, Head of Portfolio Investment Hasan A. Arif and Tasfia Tasbin, CEO of Markopolo Ai and other stakeholders.

Markopolo Ai is a She Loves Tech Bangladesh winner in 2021.

Markopolo.ai is an AI-powered ad automation tool that helps businesses to manage their paid marketing efficiently all under one dashboard. This omnichannel platform helps businesses gain a deeper understanding of their market and customers. With its advanced machine learning algorithms and data visualization capabilities, it has the potential to revolutionize how companies do their digital marketing and stay ahead of the competition.

Startup Bangladesh Limited is the flagship Venture Capital Company of the ICT Division. Under the visionary guidance of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Startup Bangladesh, the first and only Venture Capital Fund sponsored by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, started its journey in March 2020 with an allocated capital of BDT 500 crore. In its effort to enable the nation to innovate faster, Startup Bangladesh has decided to invest 1 crore BDT in Markopolo Ai after recognizing the potential of this startup in the Digital Advertising Industry.

On the occasion, Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, State Minister for ICT Division said, “Bangladesh is rapidly becoming the most lucrative market in the region for private equity and venture capital investments in the startup sector, and Startup Bangladesh Limited is making investments in Startups that are advancing our national goals by developing vital and necessary solutions for a Smart Bangladesh. I hope that Markopolo Ai will soon become a key player in solving industry needs and aid in the creation of digital products and services that can be acquired and purchased by all and keep on making a positive impact in building our Smart Economy of the future.”

Markopolo Ai’s cutting-edge work is not only praiseworthy but also pivotal for the progress of the industry. With Startup Bangladesh’s investment, I am confident that Markopolo Ai will emerge as the frontrunner in revolutionizing the technological landscape. Their potential to make a profound impact in the Smart Bangladesh initiative as a startup is truly remarkable.” mentioned MD. Shamsul Arefin, Secretary, ICT Division and Chairman Startup Bangladesh Ltd.

“At Startup Bangladesh, our goal is to foster a thriving startup ecosystem that empowers innovative ventures to flourish. Markopolo Ai’s potential to make a significant impact in the Artificial Intelligence industry cannot be overstated. With our support and the right strategy, I am confident that Markopolo Ai will not only establish itself as a profitable startup within the country but has huge potential to expand beyond borders. I believe they can also serve as a shining example for others in the ecosystem to be encouraged to join in building a Smart Bangladesh together.”, said Sami Ahmed, Managing Director, of Startup Bangladesh Limited.

“Our vision is to solve problems. And that is exactly what we do at Markopolo.ai, we solve marketing problems for business owners.” We are truly honored to have Startup Bangladesh on board this exciting journey.” said Tasfia Tasbin, CEO of Markopolo Ai.

Startup Bangladesh, in its effort to build a vibrant startup ecosystem that nurtures digitalization, has been investing in the most promising and impactful startups in Bangladesh and has continued that tradition by investing in Markopolo Ai.

Source: https://futurestartup.com/

Sankalp Forum, one of the world’s largest impact enterprise-focused platforms, has come to Dhaka for its first summit here to accelerate the ecosystem building for impact investments.

Aavishkaar-Intellecap Group, the forum initiator, in the 1st Sankalp Dhaka Summit organised at a city hotel on Sunday, has announced the “Bangladesh Green Enterprises Ecosystem Initiative” to raise $250 million for funding a thousand local impact enterprises by 2030 to create 10,000 jobs.

Impact investors back enterprises that have positive impacts against social and environmental problems, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through their business activities that leverage technology.

Aavishkaar Founder and Chairman Vineet Rai in the gathering of some 40 international impact experts, investors and around 200 local startup entrepreneurs and experts presented how the global impact investment group along with its impact advisory arm Intellecap helped create a robust ecosystem in India, Africa and some other markets.

He also spoke about how Aavishkaar Group having $1.3 billion of assets under management has delivered and facilitated impact unicorns in India and across the “Global South”.

Vineet Rai, also a member of the G20 taskforce on startups, said there is a limitless opportunity that startups and enterprises in the region can uncover.

Intellecap’s mission is to enable ecosystems by channelling capital to create and nurture a sustainable and equitable society, said its Managing Director Jayesh Bhatia while announcing the Bangladesh Green Enterprises Ecosystem Initiative.

Sankalp Forum brings its proven success across the Global South to facilitate the creation of an environment of knowledge, capital and networks for entrepreneurial minds.

Over the past 14 years, Sankalp through its 29 summits showcased and discovered more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, and connected them to over a thousand investors, he added.

Bhatia emphasised on partnerships with philanthropic institutions, development finance institutions, private sector institutions to channelize financial capital to small, medium and large enterprises to be people and planet positive as his group has got the world’s top development financial institutions and foundations as the sustainability investors.

Renewable energy, green textile and apparel manufacturing, climate smart and sustainable agriculture, engaging SMEs in the sustainability journey, innovations for a greater access to nutrition and healthcare were among the topics experts discussed in the day-long summit.

ICT State Minister  in the opening session welcomed Aavishkaar Group and Sankalp initiative of Intellicap and extended his support and engagement with the Bangladesh Green Enterprise Ecosystem Initiative.

Sami Ahmed, Managing Director StartUp Bangladesh, spoke about his vision and importance of StartUps in Bangladesh economic development.

Aavishkaar-Intellecap Group founded more than two decades ago works across critical sectors like agriculture, livelihoods, climate change, clean energy, financial services, gender and inclusion, healthcare, water and sanitation and has delivered over 700 global engagements across more than 60 countries.

A large number of local and international organisations partnered with Aavishkaar-Intellecap at the summit.

Source: https://www.tbsnews.net

Startup Bangladesh Limited, the flagship venture capital company of the ICT Division, invested in OpenRefactory, an Application Security company.

An agreement was signed recently between the organizations in Dhaka to invest 1 crore BDT in Pre-Series A round.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Startup Bangladesh Chairman & Secretary of ICT division MD. Shamsul Arefin, Managing Director Sami Ahmed, Head of Portfolio Investment Hasan A. Arif and Mushfique Manzoor, Managing Director of OpenRefactory and other stakeholders.

OpenRefactory is the 1BIG Winner of Bangabandhu Innovation Grant 2021.

OpenRefactory protects companies from the security vulnerability and risks of software failure. OpenRefactory’s flagship product, Intelligent Code Repair (iCR), detects security, reliability and compliance bugs in source code with high precision and automatically synthesizes fixes that can be readily applied. It also offers a Managed Security Audit service. iCR brings in three key benefits over the other static analysis based bug detection tools in the market: (1) iCR detects bugs that other tools miss, (2) iCR detects bugs with dramatically low  (sometimes even 300X fewer) false warnings and (3) iCR is the first and only tool in this space that is able to automatically synthesize fixes for over half of all the detected bugs. Therefore, iCR allows developent teams to operate at premium velocity without compromising the quality.

Startup Bangladesh Limited is the flagship venture capital company of ICT Division. Under the visionary guidance of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Startup Bangladesh, the first and only Venture Capital fund sponsored by the government of the people’s republic of Bangladesh, started its journey on March 2020 with an allocated capital of BDT 500 crore. In it’s effort to enable the nation to innovate faster, Startup Bangladesh has decided to invest 1 crore BDT in OpenRefactory after recognizing the potential of this Application Security startup.

On the occasion, Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, State Minister for ICT Division said, “Bangladesh has become a fertile land for startups and innovation, which is transforming the startup ecosystem. The Government is a strong believer of innovation and technology, and we believe startups are the change-makers and Impact creators in society. To support these innovative startups, Government has established Startup Bangladesh venture capital company. Startup Bangladesh’s role in supporting startup ecosystem through investments in technology startups is vital towards building a Smart Bangladesh. I hope OpenRefactory will make remarkable impact in the industry with this investment.”

“The work that OpenRefactory is doing in the Application Security domain is highly commendable and the investment from Startup Bangladesh on OpenRefactory will help it to be the leader of the industry. I hope that they will be able to make a deep impact in the Smart Bangladesh implementation as a startup.” mentioned MD. Shamsul Arefin, Secretary, ICT Division and Chairman Startup Bangladesh Ltd.

“Our mission is to support and create a vibrant environment in the Bangladeshi startup ecosystem for startups to thrive. Prospective ventures such as OpenRefactory have a substantial impact on Artificial Intelligence sector. With the right approach and focus, Open Refactory will be able to set a remarkable example as a viable and profitable startup in the ecosystem.”, said Sami Ahmed, Managing Director, Startup Bangladesh Limited.

“Till date more than 95% of all fundamental innovations in computer science have been done in the first world countries. For the first time, a company with Bangladeshi talent, technology and capability is bringing an innovative solution to a fundamental problem of computer science. We are truly delighted to have Startup Bangladesh on board this exciting journey.”, said OpenRefactory Managing Director and Co-founder, Mushfique Manzoor.

Startup Bangladesh, in its effort to build a vibrant startup ecosystem that nurtures digitalization, has been investing in the most promising and impactful startups in Bangladesh and has continued that tradition by investing in OpenRefactory.