For the first time this year, one Bangladeshi technology startup will be getting the opportunity to represent Bangladesh and compete in Startup World Cup Grand Finale, the global technology startup pitch competition with an investment prize of $1,000,000. To select the startup, aregional competition will be held in Bangladesh, initiated by Fenox Venture Capital and powered by eGeneration Ltd. Fenox Venture Capital, one of top venture capital firms based in Silicon Valley, ranked 16th in the latest global ranking of Mattermark Seed Stage. eGeneration Ltd., on the other hand, works with disruptive technologies and is the only Software company in Bangladesh to have filed for IPO.The regionalcompetition in Bangladesh titled “Startup World Cup 2019, Bangladesh powered by eGeneration Ltd.” will be co-organized by Bangladesh Innovation Forum (BIF), Media partner Rtv and partnered by Venture Capital and Private Equity Association of Bangladesh (VCPEAB), TiE Dhaka and EO Bangladesh. 5 of the best startups in Bangladesh will be invited to pitch for the opportunity to compete at the Startup World Cup 2019, Bangladesh Finale, happening on April 6th, 2019. Interested participants can apply through www.egeneration.co/fenoxswc and the deadline for application is March 20th, 2019.
The global mega competition returns for a third year searching for the next world champion amongst the top startups from around the globe. There are over 40 different regional startup competitions being held in over 40 different countries including Bangladesh, across 6 continents. Fenox will bring all regional winners to the Grand Finale for the Championship competition, where they will battle for the investment Prize.
A “Meet the Press” was held to declare the same on Startup World Cup 2019, Bangladesh at the Daily Star Conference Hall in Kawran Bazaron Wednesday. Shameem Ahsan, General Partner of Fenox Venture Capital and Chairman of eGeneration Group chaired the press conference. SM Ashraful Islam, Executive Vice Chairman, eGeneration Group; Farzana Chowdhury, President, EO Bangladesh; Syed Ashik Rahman, CEO, RtvRubabaDowla, President, TiE Dhaka, Wali-Ul-Maroof Matin, Board director of VCPEAB and Ariful Hasan Opu, Founder of Bangladesh Innovation Forum (BIF)’ were present at the press conference.
Shameem Ahsan, General Partner of Fenox Venture Capital and Chairman of eGeneration Group said, “We strongly encourage startups with innovative solutions, interested in global exposure, mentorship from global investors, and the winning prizeto apply for the competition.This would be a great opportunity for the Bangladesh startup ecosystem to present exciting innovations and technologies on a global scale and represent Bangladesh in the finale battle in USA’s Silicon Valley.”
In previous years, Startup World Cup Grand Finale featured prominent figures from the entrepreneurship community, including Steve Wozniak (Co-Founder of Apple), Daymond John (Star of ABC’s SharkTank& Founder of FUBU), Alexis Ohanian (Co-Founder of Reddit) and Guy Kawasaki (former Chief Evangelist of Apple). Grand finale speakers for this year include Marissa Mayer, Former CEO of Yahoo and Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook among others.