With its fast-growing population of 165 million people, ranking the country as the 7th largest in the world, a very young population (60% is below 30 years old), and a growing web penetration, Bangladesh is an unexplored market full of opportunities for innovative startups. Its startup ecosystem is still very young but a few initiatives are born the last few years to support the few local dynamic entrepreneurs, mainly diasporans back from Canada, the US or other countries. It all started after the release of the video documentary Startup Dhaka in 2013, which wanted to create awareness about the local entrepreneurs trying to tackle the country's problems and the lack of support and infrastructure in the country to help them grow faster. The documentary had been financed thanks to crowd founding, raising over US$9.000 on Indiegogo from 56 backers from around the world. The positive reception of the video incited the team of Startup Dhaka to turn the initiative into an online magazine, SDAsia.co, to promote local ideas and businesses. They also launched the first tech conference, Innovation Xtreme, in November 2014, allowing 10 local startups to pitch, sometimes for the first time, to international venture capitalists. "We hope to change the narrative along with the international perception of Bangladesh through these success stories in our startup community" said Mustafizur Khan, the brain behind Startup Dhaka and SDAsia.co. The event brought together over 350 people including entrepreneurs, investors, corporate employees and aspiring entrepreneurs and was sold-out three days before it started. While 2014 was about building the brand, 2015 will be about creating a real impact for the Bangladeshi startup ecosystem, with the first accelerator rollout expected in first half quarter of 2015. "We plan to start out with 3-5 startup teams and will focus our attention on building partnerships and bringing the expertise on board that will help accelerate our teams to the next level" said Samad Miraly, one collaborator of the project. An XAsia early stage venture fund of $2 million will also be created to provide financial support to local startups.

1. Startups from Dhaka
Following the Innovation Xtreme event in Dhaka
November 2014

2. #1 – LightCastle Data for fast market research
• LightCastle Partners ‘ new product, LightCastle Data is a self serving platform giving businesses
access to insights from customers.
• Respondents register with LightCatsle Data to earn points each time they take a survey which they
can monetize via reward partners like food franchises and coffee shops.
• 50% less expensive than a traditional market research, fast, access to a real-time dashboard to track
responses.

3. #2 – Bongo, an on-demand entertainment platform
• Bongo offers on-demand video on the web and mobile through their world’s largest
Bangladeshi entertainment catalog
• Over 30.000 videos, 125m mobile users in Bangladesh, + diaspora around the world.
• Deals with major TV stations
• Voted « Most Promising Startup » during the event Innovation Extreme 2014

4. #3 – Buckets Engineers, helping autist kids
• 1.5m autistic kids in Bangladesh.
• Buckets Engineer brings subscription-based service to improve skills of kids with special
needs.
• Allows parents, therapists and educators to create customized dynamic learning approaches
from a hub of applications and tools, making it more effetive for the child to learn
• Won GIST Bootcamp competition in May 2014.

5. #4 – Parallax Logic, delivering e-commerce solutions
• Parallax Logic is a digital agency delivering e-commerce solutions
• Statement: shopping is a social activity but e-commerce platform don't
offer any real social experience
• Innovative project: a virtual social e-commerce shopping experience

6. #5 – Kokhon.com
• Kokhon.com is the Event Brite for Bangladesh with a social twist.
• Connect people with their favorite event and help event organizers.
• Collaborative venture from Infrablue Technology, one of the leading software
company in Bangladesh, and PreneurLab, an Innovation startup, to collaborate

7. #6 – Biponee.com, e-commerce platform
• Biponee.com is an e-commerce website with 30k customers, $65k self-funded.
• Bangladesh retail market is $10bn.
• Internet 10x in the last few years.
• Venture of Brainstation-23, a renowned software company of Bangladesh.

8. #7 – SobjiBazaar.com for organic vegetables
• SobjiBazaar.com produces and distributes organic vegetables, chemical-free.
• Launched in 2013. Thousands of customers. 10 years experience of marketplace
in Bangladesh.
• 5 acres of land where they cultivate the products
• Delivery free of charge thanks to an extremely active service network, cash payment upon
delivery

9. #8 – Lidia May, uplifting fashion with their bags
• Lidia May bags transform Bangladesh’s hand embroidery craftsmanship and
contemporary art into global luxury fashion
• Real empowerment is when local talent is connected to the global market.
• Rich heritage of hand-made crafts and art scene

10. #9 – Dam.com.bd
• Dam.com.bd is a price comparison website to save money.
• 60% of customers pay too much, because of lack of information.
• Started in March 2014: 120 shops partners, 6000 unique users per day

11. #10 – Zuumzuum.com, an e-commerce platform
• Zuumzuum.com is an eCommerce platform for lifestyle shoppers
seeking reputable brands products at competitive prices.
• Founded by an ex-Groupon veteran who returned to Bangladesh with
domain expertise from the UK and Australia

12. #11 – Drinkwell to provide clean drinking water
• Drinkwell wants to transform the global water crisis into an entrepreneurial
opportunity
• Founded in 2013 by USAID
• Utilizes a micro-franchise model to develop its business in remote arsenic-affected
areas.
• The inventor of the technology, Dr. SenGupta, was a 2011 Fulbright Scholar in India.
Over 200 implementations of arsenic removal units in remote villages in India.

13. Thanks!
Martin Pasquier, for Innovation is Everywhere
martin@innovationiseverywhere.com