State minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Sunday said that startup culture, innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurial supply chain were needed to generate smart employment and citizen in the country, as well as to boost the economy.

About 2,500 startups operating in the country have created 15 lakh employments in the country since 2010, he said while speaking as the chief guest at a press conference on the Bangladesh Startup Summit 2024 at the ICT Tower at Agargaon in the capital Dhaka.

The two-day Bangladesh Startup Summit 2024 will begin on July 27.

Saying that startups can boost the economy of a country, the state minister said that Bangladesh got about $1 billion in investments in the startup sector in the past 10 years.

‘The Bangladesh Startup Summit 2024 showcases our vibrant ecosystem’s potential on the global stage. By bringing together innovators, investors and policymakers, we are positioning Bangladesh as a rising leader in the startup world,’ he said.

He added that this summit would not only accelerate the growth and promotion of the country’s startup ecosystem, but also ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of a new generation.

The summit will attract foreign investments, facilitate knowledge sharing and foster growth for startup founders, he said.

Sami Ahmed, managing director of Startup Bangladesh Limited, said, ‘In the two-day summit, industry professionals will provide startup founders with strategic insights into market trends, business strategies and prospects for scaling. By meeting with important stakeholders, entrepreneurs can improve their networking skills, learn about effective funding techniques and be inspired by creative ideas and practical tools.’

He also said that local startup founders would have opportunity to meet with a number of international venture capitalists, exploring both domestic and foreign funding opportunities for their businesses.

Being organised by Startup Bangladesh Limited, the summit expects over 100 international attendees and more than 55 venture capital organisations.

The event will feature a variety of sessions on important topics like AI and technology, fintech, edtech, and impact investment.

The summit is supported by several sponsors, including SBK Tech Ventures, Windmill Advertising Limited and Asiatic Mindshare Limited.

Shamsul Arefin, secretary of the ICT Division and chairman of the board of directors of Startup Bangladesh Limited, among others, was present in the programme.