Dhaka: Governor Ahsan H Mansur today announced that the central bank is preparing to launch a special fund amounting to approximately Taka 800 crore to Taka 900 crore to bolster startups. "This fund will be distributed through commercial banks," he stated during a panel discussion at the inaugural session of the 'Bangladesh Startup Connect 2025' held at Hotel Intercontinental.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event, organized by Startup Bangladesh Limited, the ICT Division, and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), is part of the Bangladesh Investment Summit-2025. It highlights the burgeoning startup ecosystem in the nation and its critical role in the global investment arena. The summit commenced with a formal inaugural ceremony and a keynote address by Tanveer Ali, Chairman of Constellation Asset Management Company Limited and Independent Director of Startup Bangladesh Limited, focusing on the theme: "Empowering Innovation, Connecting Opportunities."
The panel discussion featured notable figures, including Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for ICT Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Executive Chairman of BIDA Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, and Secretary of the ICT Division and Chairman of Startup Bangladesh Limited Shish Haider Chowdhury, with moderation by CEO of Share Trip Sadia Haque. Governor Mansur emphasized the potential for significant growth in Bangladesh's startup sector, citing the success of bKash and expressing a desire to see at least 10 unicorns emerge in the country.
Shish Haider highlighted the ongoing efforts to establish a 'Fund of funds', intended to support early and growth-stage startups by providing necessary resources for expansion, internationalization, and sustainability. He reiterated Bangladesh's dedication to becoming a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship through initiatives like 'Startup Connect 2025'.
The event's agenda includes startup pitches, policy roundtables, and sectoral sessions focusing on various industries such as FinTech, SaaS, Logistics, Health Tech, AgriTech, EdTech, and AI, alongside broader themes like gender lens investing and public-private partnerships. A highlight of the summit is the Youth Innovation Challenge 2025, featuring 15 youth-led ventures presenting their ideas to top investors, demonstrating the government's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship from grassroots to a global level.
The second day of the summit is geared towards investors, offering startup office tours, ecosystem immersions, and curated matchmaking sessions with high-growth ventures. The Startup Speed Connect Program, hosted by MOAR, facilitates one-on-one meetings, high-intent engagements, and funding opportunities.
Closed-door dialogues with founders, accelerators, and VCs will provide insights into the opportunities and challenges within Bangladesh's innovation economy. "Bangladesh is no longer speculative about its strategy," remarked a visiting investor, emphasizing the country's readiness for regional leadership and global significance. The success of Bangladesh Startup Connect 2025 underscores the strength of public-private collaboration.