Fariha Tasnim, a student at North South University, sprints a Facebook-based startup named Rupanzeel Collection. It is, in essence, a cosmetic selling stockpile and Fariha only spends a few hours a day apart from her study.
The f-commerce (Facebook Commerce) shop has at present 31,350 fans nevertheless doesn't have any website yet. Fariha said that being a student, the initiative is an awe-inspiring in respect to earnings her own pocket money.
For administrative purposes, she has some business cards and money receipts for attending some fairs nonetheless the shop's promotions mostly work through organic Facebook campaigns. Rupanzeel's most of the transaction made by mobile banking and many of the customers are her friends or by friends and families.
After getting orders, she sends the products through local courier services. Fariha has the plan to put more concentration and time for her venture after graduation; she has a dream to become a successful entrepreneur in retail business.
Sayeed Sujan is a young entrepreneur who is the founder and Chief Executive of Digital Bridge. The tech related products and services seller venture is the authorized business partner of different renowned IT brands in Bangladeshi Market. Sujan's basket of experience is full of travelling to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and India for fulfilling the target of the business framework.
Further to highlight, Digital Bridge is a proud participant of Laptop Fair-2016, among others. The uprising enterprise's vision is to arrange some community event to promote technology-based youth entrepreneurship in the country.
A promising young entrepreneur, Riyad Shahir Ahmed Husain is the Founder and CEO of Magnito Digital, a giant digital advertising agency in the country. Magnito achieved so many awards for its creative works, most prestigious among them is the award of one of "Asia's Most Influential Digital Media Professionals" at the 24th Edition of the World Brand Congress 2016. Riyad came to entrepreneurship in 2007 while working for designing and printing services forming TradexBD and Root Marketing.
From 2013, he expanded his business horizon working in digital marketing and content management with three of his friends. Magnito is now working with more than 80 clients in its being the A2i Program, Prime Minister Office, Digital World of ICT Division and BASIS, Grameenphone and so forth.
Training facilities The Small and Medium Enterprise Foundation, widely known as SME Foundation, is a limited company licensed by the Ministry of Commerce as a nonprofit organization.
It works by helping the SME entrepreneurs, including the women entrepreneurs by conducting various initiatives with an aim to develop the SMEs of Bangladesh. 'E-Marketing For SMEs' is one of the signature training programs targeted to skill development of small and medium scale entrepreneurs in using new media and online platforms for the benefits of their business.
It has also some bespoke short courses on entrepreneurship development, Bank loan-able project proposal etc. SME Foundation gives advice on Enterprise formation, the source of raw materials and marketing strategy. It also arranges 'Fairs for SMEs' regionally all over Bangladesh all the year round.
Similarly, the Small and Cottage Industries Training Institute (SCITI), a BSCIC initiative under the Ministry of Industries, has also tailored courses on 'Entrepreneurship Development' to establish the industry and business profitably. These are within the reach of youth in regards to course fees ranging from taka 1000 to 2500.
No doubt, if someone has any idea, this training will sharpen it or if someone is looking for an innovation, it also assists to generate the same. Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM), Bangladesh Institute of Professional Studies (BIPS) and Bangladesh Inspired have also arranged short courses on entrepreneurship advancement, among others in the country.
Advice and help support
Bangladesh Youth Enterprise Advice & Help centre (B'Yeah) supports those who want to become entrepreneurs, transforming job seekers into job creators. Its mission is to build a society, which values and celebrates socially responsible entrepreneurs. With the partnerships of Youth Business International, UK, Loomba Trust and International Labor Organization (ILO), the centre works for empowering Bangladeshi youth, especially women through self-sustaining and facilitate growth in SMEs that meets the criteria of sustainable development.
Idea Generation
BetterStories is an idea agency with three service units viz Business Incubation, Media & Communications and ICT & Research etc. Its Business Incubation service includes the workshop for potential incubates, self-evaluation program and pre-incubation consultation etc.
It has a unique and highly flexible combination of business development processes, infrastructure and people designed to nurture new and small businesses by helping them to survive and grow through the difficult and vulnerable early stages of development.
Content Development support
SD Asia creates content about startups, entrepreneurs and business in Bangladesh by connecting with its audience here in the country and tapping into a larger audience overseas. sdasia.co intends to inspire action through creating market access for entrepreneurs through capacity development, mentorship, funding linkage alongside startup job network etc.
Brand Promotion toolkit
Horin Branding serves as a 'Giant Killer' premium agency for launches, re-brands and accelerates brands with passion and meaning for Small and Medium enterprises.
It is most likely the only agency in the country, which designs grid, Fibonacci circle, and Golden ratio based design for startups. Greater market knowledge in this arena brings most effective marketing results for Horin's SME scale clients.
Public Relations services
An upcoming startup name NewsfeedPR aims to work for public communication for Startups and SMEs. Its core vision is to work for 'Digital Public Relations' as well as also providing other services including preparing the press releases, press conference related papers and materials, features, various business reports and event managements dedicating for assisting young entrepreneurs.
The founders are working to promote a portal name newsfeedpr.co as a digital platform for campaigning on 'PR for Startup'. The goal of the portal is to improve the public affairs activities among the young entrepreneurs in the country.
Designing and Printing services
Ra'dia Inc. a is a venture based on all kinds of designing and pre-press works for both the offset and LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) viz. plastic bags printing services for startups and small enterprises. Its service includes for printing visiting cards, letterheads, envelopes, brochures, all kinds of calendars and shopping bags with low price ensuring quality.
Workspace facilities
Now it's time to talk about startup's working space. For a new entrepreneur, hiring office premises is an expense because of office decoration, tech gadgets and monthly rents are a matter of extravagantly budget. Shared workspace or co-working space concept is new of its kind in Bangladesh. This solution reduces economic rubbing among the startups rather improving knowledge sharing and network building.
These common workplaces in Dhaka are geographically dispersed ranging from The Wave and Moar in Banani, LightCastle in Niketan, In-House in Dhanmondi and Hubdhaka in Mirpur and Banani. And the rent varies from 3000 to 5000 taka (some more in circumstances) a month basis including all kinds of office facilities with wifi, working tables with chairs, round table for group discussion, security measures and a tiny kitchen facility.
Social Media Group for a startup founder
Let's speak about influences of social media groups for startup in Bangladesh. 'Chakri Khujbo Na, Chakri Debo' a Facebook-based group that promotes and supports entrepreneurs. Through its Newsfeed, aspirants can come to know various queries, success stories and idea generating methods.
It also organizes workshops, Uddokta Hut, Uddokta Boot camp in order to enable entrepreneurs with bits and pieces of venture funding. A similar type of fb groups is Entrepreneurship, Bangladesh Young Entrepreneurs' Lab, Uddoktar khoje and so on. There is a debate whether which qualities should have first come in entrepreneurship.
People urge like hardworking, creative thinking, confidence, honesty, networking and business knowledge etc. But my observation reveals that patience is the most important good worthier to start a startup. Since all the other qualities that people can earn and learn but patience has to tend as it depends on the circumstances and varies people to people.
While the prominent public speaker and Director of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Riyad Shahir Ahmed Husain suggests that days are changing rapidly; therefore, to start a startup someone should have studied before venturing.
The market is so competitive in our country thus before taking any risk, one should have some business knowledge or participating in some inductions or mentorships may add value, he included.
The co-founder and board chairperson of Nike, Inc., Phil Knight told graduate students that if they have any idea just start it. There is such a thing as managing creativity. And dare to take chances, lest you leave your talent buried in the ground. And where there is no struggle, there can be no art.
The writer is a freelance Journalist and Professional Fellows of US Department of State
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