Microsoft ScaleUp launched in Bangladesh

Staff Correspondent: At an event participated by around 100 startups in the capital, Microsoft recently announced the launch of ‘Microsoft ScaleUp’ for Startups in Bangladesh.

The initiative aims to connect promising local startups to Microsoft marketplace to connect them globally. Besides, this program will also provide deep technological support, mentoring, and community assistance to the startups, according to a press release. 

Microsoft reiterated its commitment to Bangladeshi startup community as part of its global ‘Microsoft ScaleUp’ program which has committed $500 million investment across the globe over the next two years. This programme is designed for Series A startups and will offer joint sales engagement (co-sell) opportunities with Microsoft, along with access to Microsoft technology, credits and mentorship.

Lathika S Pai, Country Head, Microsoft for StartUps,Middle-East & North Africa (MENA) and SAARC, and Sonia Bashir Kabir, Managing Director for Microsoft Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Laos were present at the launching ceremony of ‘Microsoft ScaleUp’ and the networking session organized in collaboration with Torun Digital.

During the discussion, Lathika Pai explained ‘Microsoft ScaleUp’ program and engaged in a lively Q&A session encompassing varied aspects of the program.

“Bangladesh has a promising startup ecosystem. There are startups on education, healthcare, power, event management, food delivery, IoT, agro-services and together they can provide solutions to most of the existing problems in Bangladesh. Microsoft is here to improve the entrepreneurship ecosystem and to scale up their business by helping these potential startups. At Microsoft, we aim to help individuals and organisations on the planet to achieve more, and as part of the mission we will provide support to select enterprise-ready startups from Bangladesh and help them scale up through this immersive program,” said Pai.

Sonia Bashir Kabir said, “Microsoft with its mission to empower people to do more, has recently launched the Microsoft ScaleUpprogramme. It is very relevant for Bangladesh as we have several startups doing commendable work and being funded by foreign VCs. With our Microsoft for ScaleUpprogram we aim to scale start ups. As part of our programme, we will select promising enterprise-ready local startups, guide them to comply with global standards and connect them to a global marketplaces and global investors. Our aim is to get these startups to unicorns (1 billion-dollar valuation). I am excited about synergy this program can bring to our start up community.”

‘Microsoft ScaleUp’ is an immersive global program that offers late-stage and series A startups who have the greatest propensity to take advantage of Microsoft’s growth programs, such as co-marketing and co-selling opportunities, hone their infrastructure and build their businesses.

The initiative works with B2B startups. Through the program, after the initial selection, startups are analyzed by specialists who improve the business strategy and structure for sustainability by identifying the problems and solving them.


risingbd/Dhaka/Oct 6, 2018/Monirul Haque Feroz/Nasim