Bangladeshi Startups Pathao and Shombhob Featured Among Top 100 in Asia-Pacific Region

Two Bangladeshi companies have made it to the list of the top 100 startups in the Asia-Pacific region. The startups featured are the ride-sharing platform Pathao and the employment-assistance startup Shombhob.

In Forbes magazine’s list, Pathao has been included under the Consumer Technology category. Founded in 2015, Pathao provides a variety of services including ride-sharing, food delivery, e-commerce, logistics, and fintech. The company reported that the Pathao app has been downloaded over 6 million times, completing more than 7 million rides and orders across Bangladesh and Nepal.

Shombhob, on the other hand, helps people find jobs according to their skills. Job seekers can create profiles online, apply for jobs, and participate in various training programs. The platform also facilitates assessment, recruitment processes, and payroll management. Originally designed to support low-income women, Shombhob received a $300,000 grant from the Gates Foundation in 2023 and raised $1 million in pre-seed funding in May this year, led by Singapore-based Kukun Capital.

The Forbes list has the highest number of Indian startups (18), followed by Singapore and Japan (14 each), China (9), Indonesia and South Korea (8 each), and Australia (7).

A startup is a business concept that provides innovative, technology-driven solutions to specific problems and is capable of rapid growth. Pathao and Shombhob exemplify Bangladesh’s innovative entrepreneurial spirit.