Entrepreneurship

Despite commendable progress in the social and economic inclusion of women in Bangladesh, there remain significant gaps in women’s – Labor force participation Entrepreneurship Economic autonomy Female financial inclusion can have cross-cutting effects, improving gender equity in all areas. Accessible, affordable, and appropriately designed financial products are key to creating opportunities for women and empowering […]

Access to finance is a major impediment to MSME growth in Bangladesh. Despite the presence of approximately 60 banks, 34 NBFIs, 760 MFIs, and 17 alternative investment firms in Bangladesh, MSMEs frequently struggle to attract capital that is in line with their needs and characteristics, and as a consequence, quite often fail to develop to […]

Executive Summary Bangladesh is often overlooked with MENA funds flowing into Pakistan and India securing its own focused funds, attributed to its country size. Additionally, Bangladesh is also isolated from ASEAN. However, the country, home to 165 Mn people, is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, with a GDP per capita higher than […]

Over the last decade, Bangladeshi Startups have raised over US$800Mn investments, spearheading the economy and creating 1.5Mn+ direct and indirect employment opportunities while positively impacting the citizens’ day-to-day lives. In the first half of 2022, Bangladeshi startups raised over US$90Mn. But what will drive the country’s startup ecosystem to the next height? When will we […]

Impact investment is any investment made with the intent to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact, alongside a financial return. The global impact investment industry, totaling USD 715 billion, has grown in depth and sophistication over the last decade. As countries worldwide lean towards a values-oriented approach, Bangladesh has been shaping its own trajectory […]

Impact investment is any investment made with the intent to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact, alongside a financial return. As Bangladesh approaches its middle-income status by 2026, enterprises and other stakeholders anticipate a shift away from mainstream financial instruments for development. Donors are also increasingly transitioning towards blended finance as an approach that accelerates the […]

The Bangladeshi shrimp sector enables livelihood opportunities for millions of people residing in the southern part of the country. Once labeled as the next big export driver, the Shrimp sector is currently at a juncture with two distinct schools of thought: introducing Vannamei (White legged) production in the Bangladesh shrimp ecosystem or pursuing Monodon (Black Tiger) as a premium […]

Covid-19-induced economic distress has added to existing problems such as lack of access to finance, non-tailored financial products, absence of capacity development, poor market linkage, absence of skilled labor, and lack of an export market. According to the Asian Development Bank (RRP Sector Assessment, ADB): The SMEs in Bangladesh account for 70 to 80% of […]

Fueled by (i) the worst (two-long years dragged) pandemic in a century, (ii) Russia’s disastrous attack on Ukraine, (iii) US Fed tightening reducing global liquidity — all in all, it has imbalanced global geo-political relations, causing economic slowdown risks and supply chain disruptions for food, fertilizer, and energy. How will this impact global startup investments in Bangladesh? The Macroeconomic Uncertainty Bangladesh’s […]

Leave No One Behind Electric vehicles (EVs) have been making headlines globally for quite some time now. Despite the industry’s swift progress across several countries, it has not been able to fully integrate the “Whole of Society” approach. With that being said, the economic value of physically disabled individuals is highly underappreciated, especially in developing […]

What is a Startup? A startup is a technology or technology-enabled company using an innovative business model to solve a problem. They generally disrupt the traditional methods in industry and are both fast growing and can be scaled in an accelerated manner. – Rahat Ahmed, Founding Partner & CEO, Anchorless Bangladesh Example SME: An e-commerce website […]

The Bangladesh Startup Ecosystem has experienced incredible growth over the last decade boasting 1,200+ active startups, which have raised over $800Mn investments, prominently in sectors like Fintech, Logistics & Mobility, and eCommerce. In the first half of 2022, Bangladeshi startups raised over $90Mn. But what will drive the country’s Startup Ecosystem to the next height? LightCastle Partners presents the latest […]