Bangladesh Angels Network (BAN) launched Bangladesh Women Investors Network (BWIN), its sister chapter to support women entrepreneurs and investors. Bangladesh Angels Network (BAN) is the nation’s first angel investment network to nurture entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, connecting them to both local and global investors.
Bangladesh Angels Announced the Launch of Bangladesh Women Investors Network
Bangladesh Angels is a worldwide network with 340+ members that has helped 27 businesses and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh raise close to USD 4.5 million in only three years. Women-led and -founded enterprises account for 33% of the portfolio, while women investors account for 10% of the network.
Bangladesh Angels have created a new chapter to focus on women investors and women entrepreneurs as it enters its fourth year, with the goal of increasing the former and facilitating more money into the latter.
In the opening remarks, H.E. Anne van Leewun stated,
“Access to finance and network are two key challenges that women entrepreneurs face – BWIN addresses both. Besides, investing in women is one of the best investments one can make. In business, women tend to be more reliable and think more realistically in setting goals,”
Ms. Tina Jabeen, the founding MD of Startup Bangladesh Limited, Ms. Anita Ghazi Rahman, the Managing Partner of Legal Circle, Ms. Farzana Kashfi, Board Member at Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC), and Ms. Sharawwat Islam, CFA, MD at Truvalu are on the advisory board for this new initiative, Bangladesh Women Investors Network (BWIN).
The advisory board will be supported by committees that will screen women-led and women-focused businesses, as well as oversee a fellowship program that will place young Bangladeshi women in startups for internships and management trainee positions in order to create a long-term talent pipeline of female startup leaders in the ecosystem.
BWIN will also participate in knowledge sharing and learning workshops centered on investment subjects relevant to women, as well as establishing and pushing for gender lens investing frameworks in the ecosystem.
Prof. Nuzhat Choudhury commented,
“We have free land but emancipation becomes a big word due to society, gender issues, poverty, and the caste system. When I see successful businesswomen, I see individuals who are our next generation fighters, fighters for emancipation,”
On Friday, March 25, BWIN was formally inaugurated at an event hosted by the Dutch Embassy in Bangladesh, which was attended by startup ecosystem leaders, angel and international impact investors, entrepreneurs, and members of both BWIN’s advisory board and BAN’s governing board.
As Special Guest and Chief Guest, H.E. Anne van Leeuwen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, and Prof. Dr Nuzhat Choudhury, Professor at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), respectively, presided over the ceremony.
Sharawwat Islam, the Managing Director at Truvalu Bangladesh added,
“I have seen women being underrepresented in board rooms, meetings, companies listed on the stock exchange, and also in the client base of banks and non-bank financial institutions. So I think now is the best time to bring in women leadership in the investment and startup ecosystem to unlock the potential of women investors and founders.”
In Africa, women entrepreneurs outnumber male entrepreneurs, especially in the agriculture sector, mentioned Jaap-Jan Verboom, Global CEO of Truvalu. Emphasizing the case for investing in women from an international perspective, he said,
“Despite this, a higher amount of funding goes to male entrepreneurs. As an emerging market, the scene in Bangladesh isn’t any different. Deliberate actions to strengthen women’s enterprises need to be taken. BWIN is part of that deliberate action,”
BWIN aims to bring in women investors and connect them to the women founders. Tawhida Shiropa, the founder of Moner Bondhu, said,
“Moner Bondhu was among the first cohort of Startup Bangladesh’s investment last year, and I was fortunate to have received tremendous support from BAN during this process. “
Do you think you are ready to pitch your idea or join the investment rush? Sign up via BWIN!