SBK Tech Ventures Backs Six Local Startups with $7.1M2 min read
SBK Tech Ventures has emerged as a pivotal player, injecting a substantial $7.1 million into six promising local startups. Spearheaded by Sonia Bashir Kabir, the visionary founder and managing general partner, SBK’s latest investment marks a pivotal milestone in the country’s venture capital landscape.
The funding initiative, executed during the second quarter of the fiscal year, underscores SBK’s unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and propelling homegrown talent onto the global stage. Among the standout beneficiaries of SBK’s strategic backing are diverse ventures spanning artificial intelligence, mobility solutions, climate technology, agriculture, medical technology, and educational technology.
AI startup Markopolo and mobility venture Jatri have each secured a sizable $1.5 million infusion, signaling SBK’s confidence in their potential to disrupt conventional paradigms and drive industry-wide transformation. Furthermore, climate tech innovator Solshare received $1.1 million, while AgriTech disruptor Fashal, MedTech trailblazer Arogga, and EdTech pioneer 10 Minute School each garnered $1 million in funding.
Speaking on the momentous occasion, Sonia Bashir Kabir extolled the ingenuity and resilience of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, emphasizing their capacity to leverage technology for social impact and sustainable growth. Kabir reiterated SBK’s steadfast commitment to empowering local visionaries, nurturing inclusive entrepreneurship, and catalyzing economic development through strategic investments and mentorship.
SBK Tech Ventures’ holistic approach to venture capital extends beyond financial backing, encompassing in-house accelerators and incubators such as “Net Positive,” “ExcelerateHer,” and “YES, She Can.” With a burgeoning portfolio comprising 46 dynamic startups and a remarkable exit yielding a staggering 1,700% return on investment, SBK exemplifies the transformative potential of targeted venture capital initiatives.
As Bangladesh’s entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, SBK’s injection of funds is poised to reinvigorate the startup funding ecosystem, which has weathered challenges amid a prolonged “funding winter” since 2022. Notably, SBK’s robust investment activity in the current quarter surpasses the cumulative disclosed startup investments recorded nationwide during the preceding January-March period, underscoring its pivotal role as a catalyst for innovation and growth.
In the wake of SBK’s strategic funding initiative, anticipation mounts regarding the catalytic effect it will have on the trajectory of local startups, propelling them towards unprecedented heights of success and impact on both the domestic and global stage. With a steadfast commitment to gender lens investing, climate technology, and sustainable entrepreneurship, SBK Tech Ventures emerges as a beacon of hope and opportunity in Bangladesh’s dynamic startup ecosystem.
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