SBK Tech Ventures partners with SOSV & Miaki to launch SM²
C.B.Desk: SBK Tech Ventures announces the launch of SM², a new world-class Seed Accelerator exclusively for high-potential startups in Bangladesh. Launching in November 2021, the program will include 3 seed-stage Bangladeshi startups. SM² is a collaboration between SBK Tech Ventures, SOSV and Miaki.
SBK Tech Ventures is a Venture Capital (VC) firm investing in early-stage Bangladeshi startups. It is one of the most active startup investors in Bangladesh, with interests in healthtech, edutech, fintech, blockchain, transportation, renewable energy, AI and more.
Sonia Bashir Kabir, Founder of SBK Tech Ventures said, Technology has always enabled people and companies to be more productive but post COVID the world witnessed how technology played an instrumental role in becoming the great equaliser. I am bullish about Bangladeshi tech startups which aim to solve problems of the masses. Our startup ecosystem is at a nascent stage. This partnership with a world class VC like SOSV to not only train but also guarantee funding for startups will be a game changer.
SOSV MOX is a deeply resourced startup development program for startups, with over 240 corporate partners and 100M consumers in their ecosystem. The program is a part of SOSV, a US venture capital fund with more than US$1 billion in assets under management. Named the most active seed investor in 2020 by PitchBook, SOSV has invested in over 1120 portfolio companies as of October 2021. Its internet portfolio includes crypto-product trading platform BitMEX, Google-backed AI English pronunciation assistant ELSA, Samsung-backed video publisher Flickstree, APAC’s online tutoring platform Snapask, and China’s luxury brand management group Ushopal.
William Bao Bean, General Partner at SOSV and Managing Director of MOX and Chinaccelerator said, Bangladesh’s ecosystem is on the verge of an inflection point: the young population, easy access to smartphones, and the hunger for success we witness here is simply unprecedented. As an investor, we’re committed to backing smart founders no matter where they come from, the founders who are solving the world’s most pressing challenges, right here in Bangladesh. Having invested in Asia for twenty years, we’re excited to bring our partner network of over 240 corporations to Bangladesh and help them benefit from the innovations coming out of this exciting ecosystem.
Miaki is a tech company and one of the pioneers of digital services in Bangladesh, SE Asia and beyond. With a tech base in Bangladesh, Miaki has gained a reputation for excellent user-centric products & services. Founded in 2010, Miaki has significant expertise in creating innovative content & services for Health, Agriculture, Education & Entertainment, including casual mobile gaming platforms. Miaki partnered with Robi Axiata on the National App Store platform known as BDAPPS to empower young tech entrepreneurs.
Co-founder of Miaki Taro Araya says, Bangladesh has the human capital and we are here to support aspiring entrepreneurs to fast track their growth. We are confident that fantastic companies can be created, given the right encouragement.
SM² will provide startups with the tools they need to rapidly scale by connecting Founders with mentors and investors. The program offers guaranteed investment funding to the selected startups from the three partners, with access to their vast networks of investors, subject matter experts and startups across Asia for new opportunities to improve product offerings, and expand to new markets.
