The Grameenphone Accelerator, powered by SD ASIA, is an initiative to help local tech startups with the resources they need to build and grow their businesses. Through seed funding, workspace in GP House, expert mentors and a weighty set of contacts, the GP Accelerator aims to help local entrepreneurs succeed and scale up their ambitions. Although it’s a new step for Grameenphone, the telecom operator is excited to work with local entrepreneurs.
“GP Accelerator is an important footstep for Grameenphone towards its transformation as a digital service provider. Hence, the initiative will play a vital role to develop entrepreneurial mindset organisation wide in Grameenphone. By ‘putting entrepreneurs first,’ Grameenphone is also expecting to learn ‘digital’ way of doing things from talented and passionate entrepreneurs of Bangladesh,” said Faisal Kabir, the Program Director of GP Accelerator.
Many Bangladeshi tech startups have already applied for the program. The GP Accelerator started taking applications from November 1, 2015. “Grameenphone, the largest telecom operator in Bangladesh, is opening its doors for us (startups)–and as a local startup–I can’t wait to see what GP has in store for us,” said Tanveer Ahmed, founder of Kodex, one of the applicants of the Grameenphone Accelerator program.
GP Accelerator will arrange a four-month boot camp that will provide extensive training and resources to grow a business quicker than it would have otherwise in the same amount of time. Each of the selected startups will get workspace for four people at GP House, BDT 11.7 lakh in seed funding, and a chance to present their products/businesses to potential investors/customers during a Demo Day, at the end of the program.
The eligibility criteria for applying to this program are:
The project should be a tech startup:
(It can be a tech-agri startup, or an e-healthcare startup, or a Fin-tech startup, but most importantly the startup has to have some link to both technology and the internet. For more details check out: www.grameenphoneaccelerator.com)
The startup has to be in its early-stages:
(An early-stage startup is a startup which already has a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), or some existing client/customer group (traction), or a prototype, or any of these in development. If you are developing your demo, that is okay too!)
The startup has to be incorporated in Bangladesh, and must possess a Bangladeshi bank account. (You do not have to be incorporated to apply. However, if you get selected then you will need an incorporation certificate to jointhe program.)
The startup has to have a minimum of two co-founders, and, at least, one of the co-founders working full-time on the project.
“Bangladeshi startup ecosystem is still underdeveloped. We need help and I believe GP accelerator–with the seed funding, expert mentors, and the demo day opportunity–can help us unlock our potentials,” said Md. Mintu Hossain, CEO of Dhaka Communication, and one of the applicants of GP Accelerator.
Accepted startups into the GP Accelerator will get BDT 11.7 lakh in seed funding in two installments. Half of the funding will be deposited to startup’s account after getting accepted into the program and therest of the funding will be deposited after the startups get through the Demo Day successfully.
“Good entrepreneurs will always find a way to move forward. They use their grit and will to find a way, using all the tools at their disposal. The GP Accelerator is one of those things they can use, to help them grow their companies and increase the chances of success in a shorter time,” said Samad Miraly, co-founder of SD Asia. “It’s built for entrepreneurs, so the choice to use this resource is yours. We’re here to help,” he added.
So, do not miss out on this unique opportunity to join Bangladesh’s largest accelerator program. Apply now at: http://www.grameenphoneaccelerator.com/
Application deadline: December 31, 2015
