Over the last two months, the Founder Institute has hosted a series of free startup events in Dhaka in order to gauge interest in a new Bangladesh Founder Institute Chapter.
The reponse to this trial has been impressive, as our events have attracted over 175 potential applicants in Dhaka, and news of our efforts have been covered across several media channels (including Startup Dhaka, Future Startup, and many more).
As a result of strong demand for the program, we have some very exciting news - we are officially announcing the launch of the Bangladesh Founder Institute!
Applications to the program are open now, and anyone interested in launching a technology company is welcome to apply to the Bangladesh Founder Institute at http://fi.co/apply/dhaka.
In order to celebrate the launch, the Bangladesh Founder Institute will host a “Pre-Curriculum” of free startup events in Dhaka for the general public. Click here to see the full list of startup events in Bangladesh.
I believe that NewsCred is just the tip of the iceberg, and that in the next few years we will see many global startups being built in Bangladesh. We intend to help talented technical workers in the country learn a structured process for building a meaningful and enduring technology company.”
- Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute
Through the Founder Institute’s four-month program, promising entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company with structured training, expert feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs. Since the program is part-time, it is also a great opportunity for full-time professionals to test and build their ideas before making “the leap” from employee to entrepreneur and quitting their jobs. Founder Institute Graduate companies include fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Bangladesh are two leaders of the local startup ecosystem; Sajid Rahman (Advisor and mentor for OPEN, the first accelerator program for rural entrepreneurs in Bangladesh), and Minhaz Anwar (Founder of Bizcube, Bangladesh's First Business Incubator).
I believe the Founder Institute can help entrepreneurs-to-be in Dhaka stop dreaming, and start doing."
- Minhaz Anwar, Founder of Bizcube & Co-Director of the Bangladesh Founder Institute
Many successful entrepreneurs have also pledged their support to mentor new entrepreneurs in the Bangladesh program, including;
- Adeo Ressi: Founder/CEO, Founder Institute
- Didar Islam: Managing Director, SOLARIC
- Iraj Islam: Co-founder and CTO, NewsCred Ltd.
- Jahidul Hasan: CEO and Co-Founder, Business Automation Ltd
- Luna Shamsuddoha: Chairman, Dohatec New Media
- Nasheet Islam: CEO, G&R Technologies Ltd.
- Russell Ahmed: CEO, Champs21.com; Team Creative
- Sabbir Mahbub: Founder and Chairman, Devnet Ltd.
- Shaer Hassan: Co-founder and CEO, Nascenia
- Shameem Ahsan: Founder, Akhoni.com
- Tamzid Siddiq Spondon: Managing Director, ZANALA Bangladesh Ltd.
- And many more to be announced.
Anybody who is interested in launching a technology company is welcome to apply. The Final Application Deadline is on December 21st.
In only 15 years of operation, over 7,500 graduate companies across 200 cities have used the Founder Institute to validate their idea, develop their plans, refine their product, build an advisory board, prepare for seed funding, and more.
