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Startup Bangladesh
Startup Bangladesh, the first government-backed VC in Bangladesh, launched in 2020 with BDT 500 crore and invests across pre-seed to growth stages.
Startup Bangladesh
Startup Bangladesh began deploying in March 2020 as the flagship venture capital fund of Bangladesh’s ICT Division. It operates as a government-sponsored entity with an initial BDT 500 crore allocation, investing through equity, convertible debt, and grants. The firm targets technology-based startups that create employment and foster entrepreneurship across the country. The strategy spans pre-seed, seed, and growth stages, blending direct co-investments with a fund-of-funds approach. Confirmed portfolio companies include Shikho (edtech, 2025), Sokrio Technologies (distribution management SaaS, 2024), Parents Care (healthcare services, 2024), English Champ (edtech, 2024), Dubotech Digital (underwater robotics, 2024), Booktionary (book marketplace, 2024), Pulse Tech (digital health ecosystem, 2024), Hishab (voice-based AI, 2024), myalice (communication platform, 2023), and Pavilion (sports media, 2023). The geographic focus is domestic, serving Bangladesh’s young population — over half the country is under 25. Startup Bangladesh operates from two addresses in Dhaka: the ICT Tower in Agargaon and Concord Silvy Heights in Gulshan. It also runs an NRB Connect program targeting non-resident Bangladeshis and a Young Ambassadors initiative. In 2025, the firm launched a Governance, Risk, and Compliance module — its most recent operational milestone — alongside ongoing investments such as the Shikho deal that year. Structurally, Startup Bangladesh stands apart as a sovereign venture capital vehicle that combines direct startup investing with a fund-of-funds mandate under one roof. This hybrid architecture gives it influence over both the companies it backs directly and the venture managers it supports, creating a centralized funnel for state-directed tech capital in Bangladesh.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2020
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Bangladesh
City
Dhaka
Corporate office
ICT Tower (Level-14), Plot: E-14/X, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
Principals
Nazmul Huda
Assistant Vice President – Compliance and HR
Mehedi Hasan
Executive – Compliance and HR
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Startup Bangladesh?
Startup Bangladesh does not publicly list an investment committee or managing partners on its website. The only named operational roles disclosed are Nazmul Huda, Assistant Vice President – Compliance and HR, and Mehedi Hasan, Executive – Compliance and HR. The absence of a visible investment team makes the internal decision-making process opaque to outside observers.
How is Startup Bangladesh structured relative to the government?
Startup Bangladesh is sponsored by the ICT Division of the Government of Bangladesh and operates as a limited company. It functions as the flagship venture capital vehicle for the government, combining direct investments, co-investments, and a fund-of-funds program under one entity. This makes it a hybrid sovereign investment instrument rather than a traditional independent VC.
Does Startup Bangladesh invest outside Bangladesh?
The firm’s disclosed portfolio consists entirely of Bangladesh-based companies. Its NRB Connect and Young Ambassadors programs target non-resident Bangladeshis, but there is no evidence of cross-border direct investments. The mandate appears domestically focused.
What investment stages does Startup Bangladesh target?
Startup Bangladesh invests from pre-seed through growth stages. It uses equity, convertible debt, and grants. Its portfolio spans very early companies like Dubotech Digital and Pavilion as well as more scaled startups like Shikho and Sokrio Technologies.
How much capital does Startup Bangladesh manage?
Startup Bangladesh disclosed an allocated capital of BDT 500 crore at launch in 2020. No updated AUM, total deployments, or committed capital figures have been published since. The absence of ongoing public reporting makes its current capital base unclear.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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