Home ›› 18 Dec 2022 ›› Corporate
The Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council under the ICT Division and Microsoft have entered into a Letter of Intent (LoI) aiming to support deep technology startups and homegrown innovations in the country.
Microsoft has pledged to offer support to local startups by providing access to the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub programme, said a press release.
Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is a platform for all founders at any stage to reach their next milestone through personalised technical tools and business resources. Founders can get started on the platform in minutes and gain free access to the technology and support that’s critical to turning dreams into life-changing products.
This borderless platform is tailored to empower the ambitions of startup founders by offering resources including free access to Microsoft tools and platforms such as Visual Studio, GitHub, M365, Power Platform and Dynamics 365, and more, to help them turn their ideas into reality.
Eligible startups in Bangladesh will be able to benefit from access to expert guidance including 1:1 technical advisory session and 24/7 technical assistance to overcome roadblocks and build at any step. Additionally, they will receive personalised mentorship through the Microsoft Mentor Network, and tailored learning paths, content, and events designed to help founders progress to the next stage of their startup journey.
Speaking at the signing event, iDEA Project Director Md Altaf Hossain said, “There are around 2,500 startups and impact enterprises in Bangladesh, with over 200 startups being added to this list every year, this partnership is a timely initiative to bolster the Bangladeshi startup ecosystem.”
“We’re excited to have the support of a globally recognised partner such as Microsoft to provide our local startups with the technology and tools needed to foster homegrown innovation”, he added.
Md Yousup Faruqu, country managing director for Microsoft Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, said “We look forward to working with iDEA, the central hub of the startup ecosystem of Bangladesh to empower entrepreneurs by removing traditional barriers for building a company and help founders innovate and grow, regardless of their backgrounds, locations, progress, or passions.”
