Corporate
Top E-Commerce Achievers Honored at Digital Entrepreneur Summit
The Digital Business Network recently hosted the “Digital Entrepreneur Summit 2023” at the IDEB in Kakrail, Dhaka. The summit, held last Friday December 8, featured diverse sessions covering digital business, social media marketing, global e-commerce, f-commerce, search engine marketing, freelancing, content creation, SAAS, sales, and client communication.
Digital Business Network, active in Bangladesh’s digital business arena for four years, has collaborated with over 10,000 digital entrepreneurs, providing support through digital career bootcamps, networking, and growth consultancy.
Ahsan Habib, founder of AREA71, Nahid Hasan, MD and CEO of Bizcope, Samia Ahmed, Head of Growth of MonsterClaw, Md. Zahidul Islam, Fiver Community Leader, Ariful Islam, founder of Graphic Solo, Niaz Ahmed founder and CEO of Corporate Ask, Syed Shuvo, Head of Daraz Marketing Solution spoke in this grand event. Also, Abu Taher Suman, Managing Director of Awwma Technologies, Rafayet Rakib, founder of Double R Studios, Jawad Ul Sami, CEO of Mailtoon.io, Md. Nazmul Hasan, founder and CEO of Microters, Abu Huraira Bin Aman, CTO of ThemeXpert, Abu Saeed, CMO of LinkBoss, Tuhin Parvez, co-founder of Onelittleweb Ltd., Saiful Islam, founder of Business Inspection BD, M Asif Rahman, founder of WPDeveloper, Sah Paran, founder and CEO of HandyMama, Md. Ziaul Haque Bhuiyan, Chief of Staff of ShopUp, Dr. Tanjiba Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society, Md. Sahab Uddin, Vice President of e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh, Imran Kadir, 2024 National President of JCI Bangladesh, Md. Altamis Nabil, 2024 National Training Commissioner of JCI Bangladesh, Md. Zahirul Islam Mohsan, 2024 Local Secretary General of JCI Dhaka West spoke at the summit. The event was moderated by SM Belal Uddin, CEO of Texort and founder of Digital Business Network.
Acknowledging the achievements of its members, the summit honored the top 22 successful individuals in global e-commerce, with rewards ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. Each participant also received a gift worth Tk. 10,000. Notably, SayHi’s NFC digital business card, facilitating information sharing, was a special highlight.
The event concluded with a raffle draw, distributing gifts worth Tk. 1 lakh among participants. MonsterClaw LLC served as the title sponsor, Gearlaunch as the powered by sponsor, SayHi as the platinum sponsor, and Business Globalizer as the gold sponsor and notebook partner. Nurency and Affpilot, AI Article Writing Tool, were silver sponsors, while MoveOn sponsored the event’s t-shirts. Gift partners included Corporate Ask, Ki Proyojon, Pizzawala, Uddokta Hoi, and TeeSamurai. Community partners were Event Pilot, DMFR Molecular Lab & Diagnostics, with Texort Digital as an associate partner. JCI Dhaka West contributed as the youth engagement partner, Codemanbd as the logo board sponsor, and Digital Media Forum-DMF as the digital media partner.
The summit’s overarching goal was to inspire entrepreneurs to embrace digital business, contribute to employment growth, enhance digital literacy, and foster the economic prosperity of a Smart Bangladesh.
Startup Bangladesh Limited has unveiled a strategic investment of BDT 1 crore in Pulse Tech Ltd, a move set to revolutionize digital healthcare in Bangladesh. This significant investment signals a profound commitment to bolstering the nation’s digital healthcare sector.
During a formal signing ceremony in Dhaka, attended by key figures including Md. Shamsul Arefin, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Startup Bangladesh, and Senior Secretary of the ICT Division, alongside Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh, the investment was officially announced. Also present were Arefeen Raafi Ahmed, Co-founder and Managing Director, and Kazi Ashikur Rasul, Co-founder and CEO of Pulse Tech Ltd, along with senior management.
Pulse Tech Ltd. is renowned for its innovative solutions tailored for the retail pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh. Their comprehensive B2B SaaS platform empowers retail pharmacies to efficiently source products, manage inventory, and track transactions in a seamless digital environment. With a mission to eliminate counterfeit and expired products from the market, Pulse Tech aims to transform retail pharmacies into comprehensive healthcare hubs, offering services such as diagnostic test booking, telemedicine, and medicine supply.
Md. Shamsul Arefin underscored the strategic importance of the investment, stating, “Investing in Pulse Tech Ltd. is a strategic move to enhance our national healthcare infrastructure. Through this investment, we aim to enable Pulse Tech to innovate and expand its services in the retail pharma industry, crucial for advancing healthcare technology in Bangladesh.”
Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh, echoed this sentiment, expressing, “We believe in the transformative potential of technology and are proud to partner with Pulse Tech as they drive digital healthcare innovation. Our investment reflects our confidence in their vision and our commitment to nurturing startups vital for technological advancement and economic growth.”
With this injection of capital, Pulse Tech is poised to accelerate technology development and expand operations, focusing on improving the efficiency of retail pharmacies and accessibility of authentic medicines nationwide. The investment from Startup Bangladesh is anticipated to have a significant impact on the healthcare sector, providing state-of-the-art solutions to meet the evolving needs of the Bangladeshi population.
Arefeen Raafi Ahmed, Co-founder and Managing Director of Pulse Tech Ltd., expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Startup Bangladesh as our newest investor. Their guidance and support will be instrumental in helping us achieve our organizational goals and positively impact Bangladesh’s retail pharmaceutical industry and healthcare landscape.”
This strategic alliance between Startup Bangladesh and Pulse Tech Ltd. marks a pivotal step towards a technologically advanced and health-conscious Bangladesh.
Following the merger of EXIM and Padma, BASIC Bank is now set to merge with City Bank. The decision was reached during a meeting held today (8 April) at the Bangladesh Bank. Sources within the central bank revealed that the merger will be voluntary. This significant decision emerged from a meeting between Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rauf Talukdar and City Bank’s Chairman Aziz Al Qaiser and Managing Director (MD) Mashrur Arefin.
Previously, on 19 March, the board of City Bank received a recommendation to merge with Basic Bank. Subsequently, discussions ensued between the boards of both City Bank and Basic Bank. Officials from both banks engaged in internal discussions regarding this matter. Despite the merger, sources indicate that the two banks will continue to report separate financials for the next three years.
It’s Humanity Foundation (IHF) recently held its 7th Annual Iftar event at Aloki, located on the Gulshan – Tejgaon Link Road in Dhaka. This yearly gathering, known as the Annual Iftar event, serves as a significant platform for stakeholders to engage with children, gain insights into their experiences, and deepen their understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities. The event brought together students from IHF School, sponsor parents, internal and external stakeholders, and well-wishers, all coming together to celebrate the spirit of Ramadan.
The event was inaugurated by Md. Adnan Hossain, Founder and Executive Director of IHF, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the organizations that have supported IHF throughout its journey. Representatives from various organizations also attended, along with notable personalities from the local community. Hossain emphasized the importance of dedication and support in inspiring hope for a better world, stating, “Your actions are changing lives, and together, we can make education a reality for every child.”
Among the esteemed guests were Clinton Pobke & his Spouse, Deputy High Commissioner of the Australian High Commission Bangladesh; Md Moinul Huq, Citi Country Officer (CCO) at Citibank NA, Bangladesh; Sabrina Islam, Chairman of SSLCommerz; Dr. David Dowland, Registrar of BRAC University; Shammi Islam Nila, Miss World Bangladesh, and many others. They praised the efforts of IHF and encouraged continued support for the cause.
Ahmed Atifur Rahman, Associate Director at Standard Chartered Bank and Advisor of It’s Humanity Foundation, shared his deep connection with the organization’s cause, stating, “Witnessing the progress and impact IHF has made over the years fills me with immense pride. We strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of marginalized communities, and I am honored to be a part of this journey towards positive change.”
The success of the event was made possible through the generous support of various partners, including Aastha Trust, Green Delta Insurance, Uttara Finance and Investments Limited, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Techno Drugs Ltd, RUN Leather, Perfetti Van Melle, Finis, Bengal Express, HER NET, Nestle, Savoy, Limerence Photographs, Holago, and Protibha Flavours.
