Innovation Xtreme: The wait is over for startups

Fayaz Taher, Cofounder and CFO at Startup Dhaka, said  “After holding GIST boot camp competition, Grameenphone  Demo Day, Telenor Digital Winner – we wanted to show case the opportunities not just within our border but in this  region so that greater investment flow and partnership happens in the ICT sector.” 

Grameenphone and StartUp Dhaka held the press conference for their upcoming initiative, Innovation Xtreme (IX), a content and event platform for startups, businesses & investors. Grameenphone, the country's leading telecom operator, is the main sponsor of this event.
The event will bring together the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem – investors, experienced entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, local and international media– to showcase the potential of innovators and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.
The event has been designed to showcase the opportunities in a collective internet connected community and how people may be redefining the rules of a borderless world. The central theme of IX 2014 is “Innovation in Bangladesh”, highlighting the success stories and the opportunities. The event will also showcase four leading tech ventures, including 10 handpicked early and growth stage startups from Bangladesh.
Sayed Talat Kamal, Head of External Communications at Grameenphone said, “Grameenphone has an ambition of providing 'Internet for all', meaning we recognize the increased demand for data driven services throughout Bangladesh. We have an extensive strategy to reach this ambition where awareness, affordable devices and attractive content are three key aspects. As sponsor to IX, it is a reflection of this strategy where we see future in digital connectivity.”

It is expected that within 25 years people from Bangladesh will have the ability, as an individual or a corporation, to start becoming a meaningful member of a global business community. The country can start shaping policy, the outcome, and its aspirations can be linked meaningfully to the outside world. The objective of the Innovation Xtreme event is to highlight this narrative in the current context of Bangladesh so that people collectively envisions a different kind future for the country.
Speaking at the press briefing, Mustafizur Khan, CEO & Founder of Startup Dhaka, said “Through this one-day annual Innovation Xtreme event – we will showcase the potential of innovators and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh that currently exists. And by bringing international and local investors, entrepreneurs, businesses under one roof, the event will work as catalyst to deepen the interest about the internet based local economy.”
M. K. Aaref, Director at Edward M Kennedy Center, “There are many negative notions in our country regarding startups and new ideas. I always give the example of the garments industry. Twenty to twenty-five years back Desh Bangla started a garments factory. Back then, people called it a tailor shop. But look at the garments industry today. We need to break the stereotypes and negative notions of society. We believe that through the internet we can bring about innovation and empowerment in our country. The EMK Center recognizes and encourages the work of young entrepreneurs and we are happy to sponsor IX which is bridging the startup communities around the world”