Seven Bangladeshis generate list of Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2023
Seven individuals from Bangladesh have been included in the prestigious ‘Forbes 30 Under 30′ Asia Class of 2023. Forbes, the renowned business journal, introduced the ’30 under 30’ list in 2011 to recognize the accomplishments of young trailblazers under the age of thirty. Over the years, from 2016 to 2022, a remarkable total of 25 Bangladeshis were honored on this list for their outstanding achievements spanning various fields. This year, seven exceptional Bangladeshis below the age of thirty have been acknowledged for their remarkable contributions in three key areas: consumer technology, media, marketing, and advertising, as well as social impact.
Here is a quick rundown of the Bangladeshis who made it to Forbes 30 Under 30 this year.
Aziz Arman
Founder, Jatri
Category: Consumer Technology
Aziz Arman, co-founder of Jatri, has utilized technology to address the chaotic transportation situation in Bangladesh. Jatri offers an innovative e-ticketing system that was adopted by the Dhaka Bus Owners’ Association last year, covering 5,650 public buses. This implementation ensures fair pricing for users. Additionally, the startup provides chartered and rental car services. In 2021, Jatri secured a significant pre-seed series A investment of $1.2 million from notable investors like Reflect Ventures, Brain-Too-Free Ventures, and SBK Tech Venture. Currently, the total funding received by Jatri amounts to approximately $5.25 million.
Rubaiyat Farhan and Tasfia Tasbin
Founders, Markopolo.ai
Category: Media, Marketing & Advertising
Markopolo.ai is an innovative startup that specializes in delivering digital marketing solutions tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. Their platform enables rapid generation of ad content and seamless cross-posting across multiple social media platforms. Powered by artificial intelligence, their subscription-based program not only predicts ad success and identifies optimal posting times but also provides businesses with a comprehensive user dataset for automating and optimizing social media marketing efforts. By leveraging this technology, businesses can create engaging content and effectively reach responsive audiences. In a significant achievement, Markopolo.ai secured $700,000 in a pre-Series A investment round led by Accelerating Asia, a prominent Singapore-based venture capital firm, last year.
Jahnnobi Rahman
Co-founder, Relaxy
Category: Social Impact
Jahnnobi Rahman is one of the co-founders of Relaxy, a technology-driven wellness platform with a mission to enhance the accessibility and quality of mental health services in Bangladesh. The platform aims to address the growing mental health challenges among young people by offering accessible digital solutions. Relaxy offers various free services, including mood checks and meditations, while generating revenue through affordable virtual therapy sessions. The platform achieved significant recognition by securing the second runners-up position in Huawei’s ICT Incubator 2022. Currently, Relaxy boasts a user base of over 15,000 individuals benefitting from its services.
Diptha Saha
Co-founder, Agroshift Technologies
Category: Consumer Technology
Diptha Saha has made significant contributions in the Consumer Technology category. Agroshift Technologies operates as an agricultural supply chain platform that enables businesses to directly source from farmers, resulting in reduced consumer prices and fairer pricing for farmers. Utilizing a micro-fulfilment approach, Agroshift collaborates directly with farmers and dealers to ensure the availability of essential commodities. It also facilitates direct access to high-quality and affordable fresh vegetables for RMG (Ready-Made Garments) workers. Moreover, the platform leverages the same infrastructure to supply nearby micro-retailers associated with these factories. Agroshift Technologies recently achieved recognition by winning H&M’s STITCH for RMG Global Innovation Challenge. Additionally, the company secured an impressive $1.8 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Shorooq Partners and Anchorless Bangladesh.
Anowar Sayef and Saraban Tahura
Founders, Turtle Venture Studio
Category: Social Impact
Saraban Tahura Turin and Anwar Sayef Anik established Turtle Venture Studio with the objective of nurturing early-stage startups by offering funding, mentorship, access to a global network, and strategic assistance. As the first venture studio in the country, Turtle Venture Studio has recently unveiled its inaugural group of local startups. Since 2018, the studio has collaborated with over 90 entrepreneurs, aiding them in securing more than $15 million in initial funding rounds. In addition to organizing accelerator programs specifically designed for women in technology, Turtle Venture Studio also runs the ‘Young Turtle’ initiative, which aims to promote entrepreneurship among students.
