A short report on the startup ecosystem in Bangladesh.

1. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh

2. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
ABOUT
Here at The Startup Monthly, we’ve come across various guides here and there
about the startup communities in different countries. But, they’ve been inconsistent,
and
not all countries are covered.
This guide is by no means meant to be complete and all encompassing. Consider it
a starting point if you’re an entrepreneur, investor or researcher.
We plan to update these guides at least annually and welcome any suggestions or
additions we should consider adding to the guide. I.e. startups, investors, community
resources, etc.
Please email any suggestions or questions to editor@thesocialmediamonthly.com.
Lead Researcher: Christian Arthur Last Updated: June 30, 2016
Bangladesh

3. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
INTRODUCTION
(1) (2)
Bangladesh

4. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
INTRODUCTION
• Government: Parliamentary Republic3
• GDP(PPP): $577.3 billion ($3,600 per capita)
• Unemployment rate: 4.9% (2014)
• Inflation rate: 6.4%
• Population below poverty line: 31.5% (2010 est.)
• Main Industries: rice, jute, tea, garments4
Bangladesh

5. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
STARTUP SCENE
• Economy is growing fast, at a rate of 6%.5
• The startup ecosystem of Bangledesh is young and just
beginning to take shape.
• Country has little tech infrastructure; acess to mobile and
internet technology is low.
• Capital Dhaka is a hotspot for entrepreneurship and
innovation within the country.
Bangladesh

6. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
MOST PROMISING STARTUPS
SHAJGOJ5
• Online content
platform geared
towards a female
audience
• 2 million page views
per month a couple
months after startup
phase
Solaric6
• Solar energy
company
• Pioneered voltage
conversion tech,
making solar
accessible to poor
• Rapidly expanding
in Bangladesh and
beyond
Chaldal7
• E-commerce
grocery store
• 3 warehouses, 400
products, 400
customers per day
• Rated 9th among
500 global
entrepreneurs by Y
Combinator
Bangladesh

7. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
INVESTORS & INFLUENCERS
• Bangladesh Venture Capital Limited – venture capital firm.
• Mustafizur Khan – founder and CEO of SD Asia, entrepreneurship
media outlet based in Dhaka.5
• Samad Miraly – exec. director of major manufacturer Olympic
Industries United and co-founder of co-working space The Wave
• Sajeed Islan – organizer of Dhaka Startup Weekend and owner of co-
working space.
• Riyad S. A. Husain – CEO of a leading digital marketing agency in
Bangladesh
Bangladesh

8. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
COVERAGE OF STARTUPS
• Startup Dhaka – 2013 documentary about Dhaka startup
scene, which catalyzed further entrepreneurship in the
area. 5
• SD Asia – entrepreneurship media outlet based in Dhaka,
covering Bangladesh & neighbor countries.
• Tech in Asia – “media, events, and jobs platform for Asia’s
startup community.”
• Founded in Bangladesh – list of startups.
Bangladesh

9. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
SUMMARY
Bangladesh
• Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries
in the world, and poverty is rampant in the country.5
• Startup ecosystem is just sprouting, and much of the
country is an untapped market. Other assets include:
• 60% of the population is younger than 30 years old.
• Massive diaspora throughout region, and hundreds of millions of
Bangla speakers elsewhere on the Asian continent.
• Markets will soon change as companies like
Grameenphone close digital divide.

10. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
SOURCES
• Background Image:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain#/media/File:Manama
,_Bahrain_Decembre_2014.jpg
• (1)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bangladesh_(orthog
raphic_projection).svg
• (2)
• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bg-map.png
Bangladesh

11. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
SOURCES
• (3)
• "The World Factbook: Bangladesh." Central Intelligence Agency. Central
Intelligence Agency, 15 June 2016. Web. 28 June 2016.
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/geos/bg.html>.
• (4)
• Tinker, Hugh Russell. "Bangladesh - Economy." Encyclopedia Britannica
Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 June 2016. Web. 28 June 2016.
<https://www.britannica.com/place/Bangladesh/Economy>.
• (5)
• "Bangladesh Startup Scene." Innovation Is Everywhere. N.p., n.d. Web.
28 June 2016. <http://www.innovationiseverywhere.com/bangladesh-
startup-scene/>.
Bangladesh

12. The Startup‘s Quickstart Guide To:
Afghanistan
SOURCES
• (6)
• SD Asia Desk. "The 7 Rising Tech Startup CEOs in Bangladesh." SD Asia
Desk. N.p., 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 30 June 2016.
<https://sdasia.co/2015/01/27/the-7-rising-tech-startup-ceos-in-
bangladesh/>.
• (7)
• "Chaldal Ranks 9th on Y Combinator Survey | Dhaka Tribune." Chaldal Ranks 9th
on Y Combinator Survey. Dhaka Tribune, 3 Jan. 2016. Web. 30 June 2016.
<http://www.dhakatribune.com/shopping/2016/jan/03/chaldal-ranks-9th-y-
combinator-survey>.
Bangladesh