Over the last decade, Bangladesh’s robust economic growth has transformed the South Asian country. It is set soon to graduate from the United Nations’ Least Developed Country status and is outpacing its larger neighbor India in many key economic indicators, including growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), per capita income and female employment rates. The International Labour Organization’s most recent study shows that it has a mere 2.2 percent gender wage gap.
Still, investment in Bangladesh—particularly in startup companies—lags regional peers including India and Pakistan. Bangladesh-based startups received $165 million in venture investments in 2021 compared to the $38 billion invested in Indian startups and $300 million in Pakistani startups. One reason: Many global investors incorrectly perceive Bangladesh as a place for cheap labor and textiles rather than one with a budding startup ecosystem and abundant technology talent.
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