Two local startups, Fabric Lagbe Ltd. and Markopolo.ai, have been named as the Best Startups in the Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG) 2023 competition, receiving a grant of BDT 1 Crore each. The contest, organized by the Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division, saw a total of 6846 startups and innovators apply to participate. The top 50 startups will receive a BDT 10 lakh grant each, with a total of BDT 5 crore in grants distributed to the 52 best startups.
The grand finale of the BIG 2023 was held on June 17, 2023, with Mr. Salman F Rahman MP, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, present as the chief guest. The program was presided over by Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, State Minister, ICT Division. The award distribution ceremony took about three hours in total.
Salman F Rahman noted that ID cards have been arranged for freelancers, through which they can access various opportunities, including bank loan facilities. Palak highlighted that the ICT Division has funded nearly 400 startups from iDEA projects since the beginning of 2015, with around 30 percent still functioning and 10 percent reaching the pre-seed and growth stages. The division aims to establish another 5-billion-dollar company by 2025 and create employment for three million young women in the startup sector.
The Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG) 2023 contest was organized with the slogan Dare to Stand Big, and aims to support local startups and innovators in their early stages. With a total of BDT 7 crore in grants distributed to 52 startups, the competition provides a valuable opportunity for startup funding and recognition.
