Startup Bangladesh Fund to Grow to Tk 1,000 Crore, Says ICT Minister
News Desk
11 June 2026, 12:22
The government plans to gradually expand the fund of Startup Bangladesh Limited to Tk 1,000 crore as part of efforts to strengthen Bangladesh’s venture capital ecosystem and attract more private and international investment. Speaking in parliament, Faqir Mahbub Anam said Startup Bangladesh has already invested around Tk 109 crore in 36 technology-driven startups that received final approval.
According to the minister, 55 startups were initially approved under the program. However, 19 were later dropped due to issues identified during due diligence and disagreements over investment terms.
Startup Investments and Impact
The minister said startups backed through the initiative have created more than 7,000 direct jobs and contributed over Tk 180 crore in taxes. Notable startups supported by the fund include Chaldal, 10 Minute School, Sheba Platform, ShareTrip, iFarmer, Pickaboo, Intelligent Machines, SWAP, Truck Lagbe, Bongo, Pathao and Shikho.
Why It Matters
The planned expansion signals the government's intention to accelerate startup growth and attract larger pools of investment into Bangladesh’s technology sector. A larger fund could help promising local startups scale faster while boosting innovation, employment, and digital economic growth.
