SANGSAD BHABAN, June 9, 2026 (BSS) - Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam today said in Jatiya Sangsad that the government’s flagship Startup Bangladesh initiative has so far invested in 36 approved technology-driven startups, with total investments amounting to approximately Tk 109 crore.

The Minister said this in reply to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Md. Ashraf Uddin (Narsingdi-5) in the House today. 

The minister said the introduction of new financing windows, Startup Bangladesh is currently operating with a combined fund structure that includes a proposed Tk 400 crore Fund of Funds and a Tk 300 crore Co-Investment Fund. 

“The government has also taken initiatives to gradually scale the total fund size up to Tk 1,000 crore in phases to further expand startup financing and attract private and international investment,” he said.

The minister said a total of 55 startups were initially approved for investment under Startup Bangladesh. “However, 19 of them were later dropped during due diligence and negotiation stages due to inconsistencies and disagreements over investment terms,”
Out of the final 36 approved startups, investments have been made in a range of technology and innovation-based companies including ride-sharing, edtech, fintech, logistics, healthtech, and e-commerce platforms. The portfolio includes firms such as Pathao Limited, Chaldal Limited, 10 Minute School, Shohoz, Shikho, MedEasy, and several others.

Officials said these investments have contributed significantly to the ecosystem, generating over 7,000 direct jobs and achieving an average revenue growth of around five times among portfolio companies. 

The startups have also paid more than Tk 180 crore in taxes, which is nearly 1.7 times higher than the total investment made by Startup Bangladesh.

The minister said the portfolio companies are also expanding into international markets, attracting follow-on investments, and building sustainable business models. According to official data, around 80 percent of the investments have shown positive growth performance.

However, the ICT Division clarified that Startup Bangladesh does not provide direct loans, as its mandate is focused on equity and equity-linked investments in promising startups. 

To address the broader funding gap in the sector, the government is working on specialized financing instruments to further support early-stage innovation in the country.