STARTUPS
Bangladeshi blue-tech startup Seaqua raises USD six-figure investment
Seaqua, a Bangladeshi blue-tech startup, has raised USD six-figure foreign direct investment (FDI) from investors from the Middle East. Founded in 2022, Seaqua is a startup that aims to digitise Bangladesh's fisheries and aquaculture industry.
Most talked about startup stories in 2023
In 2023, the country's startup sector, known for its agility and forward-thinking approach, has seen remarkable growth and diversification. Here are the biggest startup headlines from 2023:
Startup Bangladesh invests BDT 1 crore in Alice Labs
Startup Bangladesh Limited, the government-backed venture capital firm, has recently invested BDT 1 crore in Alice Labs, an AI-based sales and support platform for online businesses.
OpenAI in plans to raise $100 bln funding
OpenAI, the company behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, is planning on raising a new round of funding worth at least $100 billion, as per a recent report by Bloomberg News.
Internet Society Bangladesh Chapter elects new executive committee
Internet Society Bangladesh Chapter has elected a new executive committee for the term 2024-25. Mohammad Nadir Bin Ali, Registrar of Daffodil International University, was elected as President; and Md. Baraktul Alam, Head of Operations of Dour Broadband, was elected as General Secretary.
7 Bangladeshi startups in Holon IQ's top 100 edtechs in South Asia
Seven Bangladeshi startups have been named in Holon IQ's 2023 list of top 100 edtech startups in South Asia: 10 Minute School, Apar's, Shikho, and Sohopathi for the 'tutoring and test prep' category; Science Bee and CodersTrust for the 'STEAM' category; and Edutechs in the 'Management Systems' category.
Pathao co-founder Elius’ new startup raises USD 3.8 mln
Wind.app, a fintech startup founded by Hussain Elius, former CEO and co-founder of the Bangladeshi ride-sharing platform Pathao, has recently received USD 3.8 million in pre-seed funding.
Bangladeshi startup Drutoloan raises USD 125k in pre-seed round
Druto Fintech Limited, a Bangladeshi fintech startup, has recently secured USD 1,25,000 in a pre-seed funding round. The investment comes from both local and foreign backers such as Ridwan Hafiz, CEO of GoZayaan, and Razy Shah, co-founder of Singapore's 2Stallions Digital Marketing Agency, as well as other investors.
Pathao among 40 global technology companies beating their Western rivals
Pathao, the popular on-demand digital platform, has been chosen as one of the top 40 global technology firms that are outperforming their Western counterparts. The list was prepared by Rest of World, a New York-based tech-focused news publication founded by Sophie Schmidt, the daughter of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
Grab reportedly in talks to grab Foodpanda's business in Asia
Delivery Hero, the Berlin-based parent company of Foodpanda, has confirmed ongoing discussions about a partial sale of its Asian operations. Singapore's tech giant, Grab, is reportedly the front-runner in this potential acquisition. While the exact value of the deal remains undisclosed, market insiders speculate that the transaction could exceed 1 billion euros for the Foodpanda brand across several Southeast Asian nations.
Bangladeshi startup MedEasy raises $750K in seed funding
MedEasy, a Dhaka-based online pharmacy startup, has successfully closed a seed funding round, raising $750,000. The investment is aimed at expanding its services and bridging the healthcare gap for Bangladesh’s 30 million chronic patients. The funding round was led by Seedstars International Ventures, Doha Tech Angels, Startup Bangladesh Limited, Accelerating Asia, and nVentures, with additional participation from various angel investors.
2 Bangladeshis named in Vogue Business 100 Innovators 2023
Two Bangladeshis have been listed in the Vogue Business 100 Innovators for the year 2023.
Bangladesh Women Investors Network launches startup fellowship for women
The Bangladesh Women Investors Network (BWIN) is launching an initiative called Bloom Fellowship that aims to equip young women with skills and knowledge required to perform in startup environments. It is a semester-long talent accelerator program with curated mentorship, training, and internships designed towards Bangladeshi women between the ages of 20 and 24.
Bangladeshi Nabanita in Forbes’ 30 under 30 Toronto list
Nabanita Nawar, a Bangladeshi researcher and entrepreneur residing in Canada, has been featured in the Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30 Local: Toronto’ list. This is the popular business magazine’s first-ever list of this kind, and she is the only Bangladeshi to be featured.
Local startup Zatiq receives $1.6 mil in pre-seed round
Zatiq, a local startup, has recently raised $1.6 mil in a pre-seed funding round led by Dekko ISHO Venture Capital (DIVC), as per a press release. The round was also participated by local and foreign angel investors.
Bangladesh Startup Summit Day 2: Jaan Tallinn, Skype Co-Founder, on Artificial Intelligence
In a riveting fireside chat during the second day of the Bangladesh Startup Summit, attendees were treated to an exclusive virtual conversation with Jaan Tallinn, the co-founder of Skype and a thought leader in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
Bangladesh ripe ground for startup investments, discuss panellists
On the second day of the Bangladesh Startup Summit, a panel of distinguished experts convened to discuss the question, "Why Invest in Bangladesh?" The session aimed to highlight the country's appeal as an investment destination and explore the various opportunities it offers.
First Bangladesh Startup Summit begins today
The first-ever two-day Bangladesh Startup Summit 2023 began today, under the theme 'Smart Bangladesh, Endless Possibilities'. Over 100 global venture capital investors, 100 international-level speakers, and 600 startups are attending the Bangladesh Startup Summit 2023, with sessions covering topics such as edutech, healthtech, fintech, software services, and startup investment.
