Bangladesh moves from startup to scaleup
The three-day ‘National Demo Day 2026’ organized under the Startup and Scaleup Program (SSP) of the Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development (DEIED) project implemented by the ICT Department under the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority has concluded successfully, a press release said.
The program has shown significant progress with 302 of the 1,091 startups participating, advancing to scaleup and 134 startups achieving KPIs. Positive growth has also been observed in revenue, employment and investment capacity, indicating the growing strength of the country’s startup ecosystem.
The closing ceremony was graced by the chief guest, Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Mohammad Anwar Uddin, while the special guest was Nurul Hai, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Limited, and the event was presided over by Project Director Monjur Mohammad Shahriar.
In his closing remarks, Project Director Monjur Mohammad Shahriar said, “This three-day ‘National Demo Day 2026’ is not just an event, but an important step in transforming Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem into a strong, connected and investable platform. We believe that with the right guidance, mentorship and investment connections, our entrepreneurs will be able to make their mark not only in the country but also on the global stage, which will also play a positive role in the overall economy of the country.”
The startups participating in this three-day platform organized at the auditorium of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation in Agargaon got the opportunity to showcase their products, services, business models and growth potential. In the sector-based pitching sessions, especially on the second day, more than 150 startups presented their business ideas and investment prospects to investors, banks, venture capital firms, and corporate organizations.
Present at the event, Rehan Asif Asad, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, and Science and Technology, directly exchanged views and discussed in detail with the founders of the participating startups. During this time, he listened attentively to the entrepreneurs’ experiences and expectations regarding their innovative ideas, business challenges, investment prospects, and market expansion strategies. He also emphasized the importance of policy support, expansion of technology use, and creation of opportunities to enter the international market to ensure sustainable growth of startups.
In addition, effective connections were established between entrepreneurs, investors, and representatives of various organizations through the three-day product expo and networking sessions, which created new opportunities for future investment, partnership, and market expansion.
This initiative, which combines training, mentorship, and investment connections under the Startup and Scaleup Program, is playing an important role in making the country’s startup ecosystem more dynamic and sustainable. According to those concerned, such initiatives will make Bangladesh’s startup sector a strong and investable sector in the future, contributing significantly to the country’s overall economic growth.
