By Mohammad Ruhul Kader, Founder of Future Startup, Bangladesh and

Sarah Sabin Khan, Head of Solutions Mapping, UNDP Accelerator Lab Bangladesh

1.

Ratul Hasan, a young entrepreneur from the small city of Khulna, along with his of 5 friends, are working towards redefining the concept of electronic waste in Bangladesh. Nature Plug, their brainchild, recycles electronic waste to create new, functional, and affordable electronic products. The product line includes low-cost mini-UPS systems made from old laptop batteries, solar inverters for the electricity-scarce Sundarban region, and LED lights created by recycling and improving used ones. Theirs is a movement towards a sustainable future.  They operate from one modest room reflecting the grassroots nature of their endeavour. Their manufacturing process involves using both new and recycled materials, sourced primarily from local markets in Khulna. Despite the humble setup, their efforts have resulted in a growing customer base and high satisfaction rates. 

2.

Wasiul Haque Bhuiyan, a telecommunication engineering graduate, has turned his hobby into a pioneering venture, OhmTech Electronics, to address the persistent challenge of load shedding in rural areas of Bangladesh. Frustrated with the poor quality of charger lights available in the market, Wasiul innovatively created 'Magic Light' – an automated charger light that operates without human intervention, lighting up in dark environments and switching off in bright ones. OhmTech's Magic Light stands out with its wireless, portable design, efficient lithium polymer battery, full charge indicator, and overcharge protection, providing bright illumination for medium-sized rooms for 3 hours continuously, and up to 7 days in standby mode. 

3.

In Bangladesh, the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) face the common challenge of a lack of financing options and access to formal channels despite contributing significantly to the GDP. Addressing this, Drutoloan, co-founded by Abdul Gaffar Sadi, attempted to streamline financing for MSMEs by blending digital and physical methods and introduced innovation in assessing creditworthiness. Their unique credit scoring engine evaluates over 50 data points including non-traditional ones, encompassing financial habits, business performance, and compliance to assess creditworthiness. It also assists in obtaining legal documents like tax IDs. Initially starting in the capital Dhaka, Drutoloan has expanded, partnering with banks and financial institutions to bring tailored financial solutions to the MSME sector.