Light of Hope Ventures has officially launched the second cohort of its SME and startup acceleration programme, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders at a ceremony in Dhaka to celebrate innovation and growth in Bangladesh’s SME sector.
Positioning itself as the “Y Combinator for Bangladeshi SMEs,” the initiative aims to empower promising local entrepreneurs through mentorship, investment, and market access — addressing Bangladesh’s $2.8 billion SME financing gap and enabling small and medium enterprises to scale sustainably.
“SMEs employ 87% of Bangladesh’s workforce but receive barely 12% of total bank loans,” said Waliullah Bhuiyan, Founder and CEO of Light of Hope Ltd and National SME Award Winner 2023. “Through Light of Hope Ventures, we connect founders with the mentorship and financing they need to grow tenfold and create jobs nationwide.”
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The six-month acceleration programme targets SMEs and startups that have achieved market traction but require strategic guidance and access to finance for their next stage of growth. It combines thematic sessions, one-to-one mentoring, and investment-readiness training led by some of Bangladesh’s most experienced entrepreneurs and business experts.
Participants will receive tailored support in branding, marketing, export development, and investor networking, alongside opportunities for corporate partnerships.
This year’s mentor panel includes notable industry leaders such as Ayman Sadiq (CEO, 10 Minute School), Shahir Chowdhury (Co-founder & CFO, Shikho), M Asif Rahman (Serial Tech Entrepreneur), Mahmud Rahman (CEO, WeGro), Diptha Saha (COO, Agroshift), M Manjur Mahmud (Chairman, Datasoft Systems), Nazmul Arefin Momel (CEO & Co-founder, ToguMogu), Omer Sharif Ibney Hai (Founder, Next Leaders), Ishmam Chowdhury (COO, Shikho), and Mujahidul Islam Jahid (Founder, Freshiefarm), among others.
Cohort 2 features about 20 growth-ready companies across technology, agriculture, manufacturing, education, fashion & lifestyle, SaaS, and healthcare. Collectively, these ventures employ over 300 people and generate around Tk 50 crore in annual revenue, underscoring the vitality of Bangladesh’s SME ecosystem.
With over a decade of experience in education, technology, and social innovation, Light of Hope Ltd is extending its mission beyond the classroom — nurturing founders capable of turning small enterprises into globally competitive ventures.
“We’re not just investing in companies; we’re investing in confidence,” Bhuiyan added. “A business born in Rajshahi or Sylhet can grow globally if given the right support.”
Through Light of Hope Ventures, the organisation aims to build a new generation of growth-driven companies that create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen Bangladesh’s position as an emerging hub for entrepreneurship.