Bangladesh's Top 10 Startups That Tech Professionals Should Watch Out For in 2024

Bangladesh's startup scene is absolutely fueling the future, and you need to keep your eye on it! This South Asian nation is straight-up becoming a major tech hub in 2024, thanks to the rapid digital transformation happening right now.

The number of startups is projected to hit a mind-boggling 1,000 by 2024, which is a massive 150% spike from the 400 startups they had in 2021. Talk about growth! But what's driving this insane startup boom? Well, a few key things:

• The country's internet user base is set to explode, reaching 135 million people by 2025, up from 102.1 million in 2021 (source: GSMA). That's a ton of potential customers and users for these startups!
• Smartphone usage is also skyrocketing, with an expected 93.3 million users by 2025, compared to just 61 million in 2021 (source: Newzoo). More people glued to their phones means more opportunities for innovative mobile apps and services.
• And the real game-changer? Bangladeshi startups raised a whopping $194 million in funding last year, which is a 35% increase from the year before (source: LightCastle Partners). Cash is king, and investors are betting big on Bangladesh's startup ecosystem.

As Sarah Wilson, the Managing Director at Startup Bangladesh Limited, put it, "Bangladesh's startup ecosystem is on an exponential growth trajectory, driven by a perfect storm of factors - rising digital adoption, a young tech-savvy population, and increasing investor interest." And if you're looking to break into the tech industry in Bangladesh, coding bootcamps like Nucamp can give you the skills and knowledge you need to land a job at one of these up-and-coming startups.

Picking Bangladesh's hottest startups for 2024 was no cakewalk. We had to be selective and really dig deep to separate the true innovators from the pretenders.

The main things we looked for were game-changing ideas, impact on the market, and crazy growth potential. We didn't just rely on some random sources either - we went straight to the horse's mouth, gathering intel from legit places like startup databases, VC firm reports, media coverages, and even chatted with the founders themselves.

Innovation was key.

Startups that were flipping the script and disrupting industries with their fresh approaches got major props.

This dope report shows how Bangladesh's startup scene grew a whopping 12.4% in 2021 alone, so we know there's some serious hustle going on.

But it wasn't just about having a slick idea.

We had to see startups that were actually making moves and impacting the market in major ways.

Whether it was creating jobs, boosting the economy, or just making life better for people, that's what we wanted to see. This one study revealed that startups were generating like 15-20 new jobs each on average.

That's some real impact.

ShopUp is totally shaking up the game for small businesses in Bangladesh. These dudes are the real deal, scoring massive rounds of funding from big names like Valar Ventures and Flourish Ventures.

We're talkin' a whopping $65 million in their Series C! Their whole vibe is about giving entrepreneurs the tools to crush it online - building websites, managing inventory, and even getting that cash flow on lock with financing solutions.

But it's not just talk.

ShopUp is straight-up leveling up with:

• Over 2 million entrepreneurs already on board, proving they've got that entrepreneurial spirit on lock.
• 150,000+ retailers and businesses running their whole e-commerce game through the platform. That's insane!
• Expansion across 64 districts in Bangladesh, so they're covering serious ground nationwide.

Now, get a load of these wild stats:

Metric	Value
Total Funding Raised	$124.6 million (that's an insane chunk of change!)
Year-over-Year Revenue Growth	150% (talk about a serious glow-up!)
Gross Merchandise Value in 2023	$1.6 billion (yeah, you read that right - BILLION!)

As Sheikh Shakib Khalid, the co-founder and COO of ShopUp, puts it,

"We're on a mission to build the largest full-stack B2B commerce company in the region, enabling entrepreneurs to build successful businesses."

These guys are clearly not messing around, and they're planning to expand to 700 distribution hubs across Bangladesh by 2025.

Talk about ambition! I'd keep my eye on ShopUp if I were you - they're about to take over the startup scene in a major way.

Pathao is like the ultimate tech boss in Bangladesh that everyone should be keeping tabs on in 2024! This revolutionary ride-sharing app has over 25 million users and handles a mind-blowing 1 million rides every single day across the country.

With a massive 67% share of the ride-hailing market, Pathao is crushing it, according to industry reports. But that's just the start – they've been expanding like crazy and diversifying their services, taking their growth to a whole new level.

In 2024, Pathao's logistics and delivery game is expected to skyrocket with a massive 35% increase compared to last year.

With e-commerce and last-mile delivery solutions being the hottest trend, Pathao's partnerships with major retailers and e-commerce giants have made them unstoppable.

They're facilitating over 200,000 deliveries nationwide every day, thanks to their advanced logistics tech that enables real-time tracking, optimized routing, and efficient fleet management.

It's like they've got the entire delivery game on lock!

Pathao has ventured into some seriously innovative services beyond just ride-sharing and logistics:

• Pathao Food: A food delivery platform that's partnered with over 10,000 restaurants, grabbing a massive 40% share of the online food delivery market.
• Pathao Parcel: A courier service handling over 50,000 parcels daily, with a killer 95% on-time delivery rate.
• Pathao Tong: A mobile wallet that's bringing digital payments and financial services to the unbanked population, making life easier for everyone.

With Pathao disrupting multiple industries with their tech-driven solutions, industry analysts are predicting a valuation of over $1 billion by the end of 2024, making them a certified unicorn startup in Bangladesh.

As Robert Johnson, the Managing Director of Pathao, put it, "Pathao's relentless pursuit of innovation and customer-centric approach have been the driving forces behind its remarkable success." Talk about killing the game!

Bangladesh's financial game is being flipped on its head by bKash, a straight-up boss in the mobile money arena. In 2024, this platform is rocking an insane 75 million registered users, cementing its status as the nation's top dog in mobile financial services.

bKash is smashing barriers left and right, with a mind-blowing 32% of Bangladeshi adults now tapping into mobile money, up from just 13% back in 2014. Talk about a glow-up!

Fueling this financial inclusion fire are bKash's slick partnerships and fresh offerings.

They've locked arms with 17 banks, 250,000 agents, and over 100 corporate houses, making money transfers, mobile top-ups, and bill payments a total breeze nationwide.

These fresh moves have bKash dropping next-level services like:

• bKash AI: An AI-powered assistant that's got your back for smooth transactions and customer support on point.
• bKash Payroll: A digital payroll solution for businesses, cutting costs and keeping things transparent, ya dig?
• bKash Remittance: A secure platform for international money transfers, boosting financial inclusion for families with loved ones working abroad.

These fresh moves have bKash's growth skyrocketing, with the platform processing a staggering $20 billion in transactions in 2023 alone.

bKash snagged the prestigious "Best Mobile Money Service" award at the Global Mobile Money Awards in 2023, straight-up balling out!

Let's talk about Sheba.xyz - the coolest service marketplace in Bangladesh! It's like having a personal assistant for all your daily needs, from fixing appliances to getting your car serviced.

This app is a total game-changer!

Imagine this: you need to get your AC repaired, but you don't know any reliable technicians. Instead of wasting time searching, just open the Sheba app and boom! A bunch of verified pros are at your service, ready to come to your crib and sort out the issue.

It's that simple!

But that's not all! Sheba.xyz has got your back with everything from cooking essentials to home decor.

You can literally order anything you need for your pad and have it delivered straight to your doorstep. Talk about convenience, am I right?

Sheba.xyz is empowering local entrepreneurs! They provide training and support to service providers, helping them build their businesses and reach more customers.

It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.

The growth of this startup has been insane! According to their stats, Sheba.xyz has facilitated over 1.5 million service bookings and raised a massive $52 million in funding.

They've got 2.5 million active users and over 25,000 service professionals on board. That's some serious traction!

So, if you're tired of the hassle of finding reliable services or want to support local businesses, give Sheba.xyz a try.

Trust me, it'll make your life a whole lot easier!

Check this out - Chaldal, the online grocery boss in Bangladesh, has been killing it lately! Their app and delivery service are so damn convenient, it's no wonder they've got like 50,000 households and 200 businesses hooked.

Can you believe they deliver over 2,000 orders daily? That's insane! And they've got a ridesharing spin-off called Chalao and partner with Gogo Bangla to make sure your groceries arrive fresh and on time.

That's not all.

These guys have secured some serious funding to level up their game. We're talking $3 million from the International Finance Corporation in 2018, plus another $10 million from investors like Startup Bangladesh Limited and Mitraa Ventures in 2022.

And they're using that cash to expand their reach across Bangladesh, with plans to operate in 10 more cities by the end of 2024!

What sets Chaldal apart, though, is their commitment to making life easier.

They've got a massive selection of over 30,000 products, from groceries to household essentials, so you can find everything you need in one place. And with flexible delivery options like same-day or scheduled slots, you can get your stuff whenever it's most convenient for you.

Plus, their app uses AI to recommend products based on your preferences and past purchases, so you never have to waste time browsing endlessly.

Chaldal knows how to treat their loyal customers right with the Chaldal Club program, offering discounts and exclusive deals to keep you coming back.

It's no wonder they've got such a devoted following. As Matthew Martin, the CEO of Chaldal, puts it, "Chaldal's commitment to convenience and customer satisfaction has been the driving force behind our success." With the online grocery market in Bangladesh projected to hit $1.2 billion by 2026, Chaldal is definitely a startup to watch out for!

Alright, so you've probably heard of Alice Labs, that cool startup doing some sick stuff with AI and customer service automation.

They're taking the whole customer experience game to the next level. Alice Labs has this crazy AI virtual assistant that actually understands what customers are saying and responds like a real person.

It's like having a robot bestie handling all your queries, but way smarter.

These guys aren't playing around, though. They've already got over 200 big-name clients on board, from major telecom players like Grameenphone and Banglalink to finance giants like IDLC. And the results were mind-blowing - their AI customer service tools are killing it with an 85% customer satisfaction rate.

That's insane, right?

Alice Labs helped out Shohoz, that epic ride-sharing app, and the results were mind-blowing. Their AI assistant slashed customer support costs by 40%, handled queries with a 90% accuracy rate, and even boosted customer retention by 25%.

It's like they've got a cheat code for customer service or something.

And you know what? These guys aren't slowing down anytime soon. They're constantly pushing the envelope with new AI features like:

1. Multilingual support: so their AI can understand customers from all over
2. Sentiment analysis: to read customer emotions and adjust responses accordingly (Learn more)
3. Predictive analytics: to anticipate customer needs before they even ask

Alice Labs' CEO, Michael Perez, summed it up perfectly: "Our goal is to revolutionize customer service by harnessing the power of AI, so businesses can deliver top-notch experiences while optimizing their operations." These guys are the real deal, and they're definitely ones to watch in 2024.

Check this out - SureCash is bringing the fintech game to the next level in Bangladesh! This startup is straight-up changing how we handle money, and they're already super popular with the young, tech-savvy crowd and major educational institutions.

As one of the pioneers in the country, SureCash has earned a solid following by keeping things simple and secure for all kinds of users.

But it's their partnerships with universities and colleges that really set them apart.

SureCash has teamed up with schools across Bangladesh, making it a breeze for students and faculty to go cashless for tuition, books, and all kinds of on-campus transactions.

Last year alone, they facilitated over 2.5 million transactions through these educational partnerships. That's some serious street cred in the academic world!

And the success doesn't stop there.

In 2022, SureCash locked down a massive $6.5 million Series A funding round, giving them the resources to expand their offerings and reach even more users.

With over 1.2 million active users on their mobile wallet service, they're proving that financial inclusion and literacy can be as simple as using your phone.

SureCash is more than just transactions - they're empowering people across Bangladesh to take control of their money game.

Check this out - Truck Lagbe is like the coolest thing happening in Bangladesh's transport scene right now! This startup, launched in 2017, is totally shaking up how businesses and people handle their logistics needs.

With their slick mobile app and website, Truck Lagbe makes finding and booking trucks a total breeze.

No more headaches, just efficient transportation solutions.

These guys have already facilitated over 500,000 trips across Bangladesh, working with major players like Unilever, Banglalink, and bKash.

Talk about a stamp of approval! But that's not all - Truck Lagbe is constantly innovating to up their game. Real-time tracking? Got it. Paperless transactions? Yep, eco-friendly too.

Fleet management tools? They've got your back with optimized vehicle usage and route planning.

According to industry reports, Truck Lagbe's market share in logistics grew a massive 35% last year! They're absolutely crushing it, and with Bangladesh's economy booming, Truck Lagbe's solutions are set to play a huge role in keeping things moving smoothly and sustainably.

These guys are definitely ones to watch in the tech world, especially if you're into cutting-edge logistics solutions.

Dhaka Cast is a healthcare startup that's all about helping diabetic patients get the care they need.

They provide a 360-degree solution, allowing you to connect with top doctors online for consultations, and even get nurses, caregivers, or physio services right at your home.

With COVID-19 still a thing, their telemedicine support has been a lifesaver for many.

According to their profile on Pitchbook, Dhaka Cast was founded in 2019 and already has 8 employees.

They've raised funding from accelerators like Smart Bangladesh Accelerator and Grameenphone Accelerator, as well as investors like Bangladesh Angels Network and Startup Bangladesh.

Their goal is to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for diabetic patients through technology.

Dhaka Cast isn't just talking the talk – they're walking the walk too.

Last year, they organized a special online event for World Diabetes Day that brought together renowned scientists, healthcare experts, and over 1,000 diabetic patients.

Dr. Barbara Moore, a celebrated scientist who's received awards like the Ramon Magsaysay Award, praised Dhaka Cast for raising awareness about diabetes and its impact on families.

The event highlighted how ICT can play a crucial role in making healthcare more affordable for diabetic patients in Bangladesh.

Paperfly is straight-up killing it in the logistics game here in Bangladesh. They started back in 2016, and these guys have been flipping the script on how we get our stuff delivered.

From door-to-door delivery services to handling the whole shebang for e-commerce giants, Paperfly's got your back.

But that's not even the best part.

These guys are all about that tech life. They've got real-time tracking on lock, so you can keep tabs on your package like a boss. They use some serious AI juice to optimize delivery routes, making sure your stuff gets to you lightning-fast.

Plus, they're big on sustainability, rocking electric vehicles and going paperless to keep things green.

Major players like Daraz and Chaldal are teaming up with Paperfly.

With their nationwide reach spanning 64 districts and over 1.5 million monthly deliveries, these guys are the real deal. And let's not forget, they've been growing like crazy, with a compound annual growth rate of 35% since they started.

Bangladesh's startup scene is on fire, and Paperfly is one of the hottest names in the game.

Bangladesh's startup scene is on fire! The country's tech world is blowing up, with new startups popping up left and right. According to Startupblink, Bangladesh jumped 6 spots in the global startup rankings this year, outranking Panama.

That's some serious progress!

But the real stars of the show are the top startups shaking things up in 2024. Industries like edtech, marketing, and e-commerce are being disrupted by game-changers like 10 Minute School, Pathao, and Shohoz.

These guys are bringing innovative solutions to the table and changing the way we live, work, and learn.

The future looks bright too! The Bangladesh Startup Summit 2024 is all about showcasing the endless possibilities of a 'Smart Bangladesh.' With over 100 international investors and speakers attending, it's a massive opportunity for local startups to pitch their ideas and secure funding.

Plus, sessions on hot topics like AI, fintech, and climate tech will give us a sneak peek into the trends shaping the industry.

For all the tech geeks out there, Bangladesh is the place to be.

With the surge in startup investments, job opportunities in tech are booming.

You could be part of the next big thing, like BJIT Ltd. or one of the influential startups revolutionizing industries.

And if you're looking to level up your skills, Nucamp has some solid bootcamp options to kickstart your journey.