The local tech startup ecosystem is booming in Bangladesh. With a backdrop of robust economic foundations, a tech-savvy youthful demographic, and proactive governmental strategies, startups are getting funded to advance the local economy.
Here, we look at 10 top startup businesses in Bangladesh that are making headlines and winning customers’ hearts.
Ranking in no particular order. The list includes top startups based on funding, offers, industry, and impact.
Top Startups In Bangladesh
| Serial | Startup Businesses | Total Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shikho | $7 M |
| 2 | ShopUp | $230.6M |
| 3 | Sheba Platforms | BDT 100 Core |
| 4 | Chaldal | $16M |
| 5 | Praava Health | $25.6M |
| 6 | Shuttle | $3.58M |
| 7 | SureCash | $7M |
| 8 | 10 Minute School | $7.5M |
| 9 | Maya | $2.2M |
| 10 | Truck Lagbe | $10.3M |
1. Shikho
Shikho, the leading Ed-tech startup in Bangladesh, has been modernizing the delivery of supplementary education for schools, colleges, universities, and professionals since 2019.
Through its web and mobile applications, Shikho covers daily lessons, homework, exam prep, tutoring, and skill development affordably, conveniently, and cohesively.
Students can enjoy interactive live classes conducted by highly skilled tutors; animated video lessons that help simplify complex concepts through engaging visuals, personalized real-time performance tracking, and a recommendation engine that prompts users based on their strengths and weaknesses.
The company currently operates out of 4 offices in Dhaka and Jessore. The company was featured in Forbes Asia 100 to Watch List in 2022 and its Founder, Shahir Chowdhury was listed as a 2023 Bloomberg Catalyst.
| Founding Year | 2019 |
| Leadership | Shahir Chowdhury |
| Industry | Education |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $7 M |
| Website | https://shikho.com/ |
| Address | Rangs Paramount, Level 11 Block-K, Plot-11 Rd No 17, Dhaka 1213 |
| Manpower | 450 |
2. ShopUp
Since commencing operations in 2016, ShopUp offers easy access to quality food and household items at the best price. It connects mills and manufacturers to a network of small neighborhood shops throughout the country.
ShopUp is a B2B commerce platform targeting small businesses (online and offline). They offer easy access to B2B sourcing, last-mile logistics, digital credit, and business management solutions to SMEs.
Their 3 major products are Mokam, RedX, and Onkur. Besides Bangladesh, they have offices in India and Singapore.
| Founding Year | 2016 |
| Leadership | Afeef Zaman |
| Industry | B2B E-commerce platform |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $230.6M |
| Website | https://www.shopup.org/ |
| Address | 4th floor, SKS Tower, Mohakhali Dhaka 1212 |
| Manpower | 1300 |
3. Sheba Platforms
Sheba Platform Limited, incepted in 2016, is a technology platform with a wide range of everyday solutions for businesses and consumers. Sheba.xyz, its flagship brand, is an online service giant, consisting of 60000+ service providers.
On the other hand, sManager, another business unit, was launched in December 2019 to offer mobile ERP solutions for SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs.
The 3rd business unit, sBusiness.xyz, serves as an intelligent business assistant designed to streamline supplier management through online automation. it empowers companies to automate their procurement processes, helping save time, cost, and resources.
| Founding Year | 2016 |
| Leadership | Adnan Imtiaz Halim |
| Industry | E-Commerce |
| Total Funding (approx.) | BDT 100 Core |
| Website | https://sheba-platform.xyz/ |
| Address | House of SPL504/34 Mohakhali DOHS |
| Manpower | 130 |
4. Chaldal
Chaldal.com is one of the most popular grocery online shops available in Dhaka, Jashore, and Chattogram. It is increasingly becoming popular, delivering everyday needs to customers across urban cities. Its products include daily commodities like food, home, kitchen appliances, personal care, lifestyle, electrical, pet care, and beauty items.
| Founding Year | 2013 |
| Leadership | Waseem Alim, Zia Ashraf, Tejas Viswanath |
| Industry | E-Commerce |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $16M |
| Website | https://chaldal.com/ |
| Address | House # 14, Road # 6/C, Sector # 12, Uttara, Dhaka |
| Manpower | 610 |
5. Praava Health
With the belief that everyone should have access to convenient, affordable, and high-quality care, Praava Health started its journey in 2018. It aims to provide a better patient experience for the nation through its one-stop-shop for health, offering caring doctors, world-class diagnostics, in-house pharmacy, and much more.
Currently, it has 27 departments and 81 doctors.
| Founding Year | 2018 |
| Leadership | Sylvana Quader Sinha |
| Industry | Wellness and Healthcare |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $25.6M |
| Website | https://www.praavahealth.com/ |
| Address | Plot 9, Road 17, Block C, Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh |
| Manpower | 270 |
6. Shuttle
Shuttle is a mass-transit startup based in Bangladesh that provides safe transportation at an affordable price by moving more people with fewer vehicles and caters to both B2B & B2C customers.
It covers over 80 routes, and to date, has served 22,000+ passengers.
Partner drivers who register with Shuttle can also earn a monthly fixed income.
| Founding Year | 2018 |
| Leadership | Reyasat Chowdhury |
| Industry | Transportation |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $3.58M |
| Website | https://www.shuttlebd.com/ |
| Address | Level 2, Madina Tower, Syed Nagar, 100 feet road Madani Ave, Dhaka 1212 |
| Manpower | 103 |
7. SureCash
SureCash is a leading FinTech brand that serves more than 20 million customers, and 1,500 payment partners in partnership with four local banks, primarily Rupali Bank Limited.
The startup offers mobile financial services such as person-to-person (P2P) money transfers, government payments, education payments (also known as ‘Edu pay’), utility bills, and several other goods and services payments.
With its own proprietary technology focusing on connecting educational institutions, SureCash is a proud ‘FinTech made in Bangladesh’. One can also avail of custom-based software solutions for different education and agro sectors.
| Founding Year | 2010 |
| Leadership | Shahadat Khan |
| Industry | Financial Services |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $7M |
| Website | https://rbl.surecashbd.com/ |
| Address | 76/B, Road 11, Banani, Dhaka. |
| Manpower | 120 |
8. 10 Minute School
10 Minute School is currently the largest online learning platform in Bangladesh. It allows individuals to work with top and talented engineers, product managers, content experts, and marketers and allows you to grow professionally and personally.
It recently received the highest seed-stage funding for a Bangladeshi startup, amounting to BDT 61 crores.
| Founding Year | 2015 |
| Leadership | Ayman Sadiq |
| Industry | Education |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $7.5M |
| Website | https://10minuteschool.com/ |
| Address | House: B, 107 Road: 8, Dhaka 1206 |
| Manpower | 4900 |
9. Maya
Maya is a digital platform that directly connects anyone with a phone to expert doctors and consultants.
They have an intelligent technology that connects users to expert advice, allowing anonymity.
The experts can help with various health and well-being issues, ranging from general health issues to psychosocial advice. So far, Maya has served 15 million people on all platforms, through a team of 250 to 300 people, including doctors.
| Founding Year | 2011 |
| Leadership | Ivy Huq Russell |
| Industry | Wellness and Healthcare |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $2.2M |
| App Link | Click Here |
| Address | ANZ Eleven Square, Plot-01, 2nd floor, Road-11, Block: H, 1212 |
| Manpower | 177 |
10. Truck Lagbe
Truck Lagbe, a mobile app-based online truck rental platform, began its journey in 2017. Since then, it has been revolutionizing the truck rental industry in Bangladesh.
Truck Lagbe has over 80,000 registered trucks and 500,000+ registered customers to date, around the country. Its technology allows customers to hire a truck at any time, choose any destination, and ensure that the delivery is made safely.
Truck Lagbe also offers GPS solutions and insurance to truck drivers and owners. This service makes the platform a safe and transparent place for the truck-driving communities.
| Founding Year | 2017 |
| Leadership | Anayet Rashid |
| Industry | Transportation/ E-Commerce |
| Total Funding (approx.) | $10.3M |
| App Link | https://trucklagbe.com/ |
| Address | House 221, Road 15 Lake Rd, Dhaka 1206 |
| Manpower | 136 |
Summing Up
The rise of startups in various industries in Bangladesh has not just reshaped our local economic landscape but boosted Bangladesh’s drive toward Vision 2041. The startups, in the past and present, are helping the country graduate from an LDC status.
We wish these startups, and other impactful startups, and the ones coming up in the future, the best of luck.