GIST Startup Boot Camp Bangladesh

Published on May 2016 | Categories: Types, Brochures | Downloads: 53 | Comments: 0 | Views: 1562
of x
Download PDF   Embed   Report

The GIST Initiative, led by CRDF Global and the US Department of State is hosting the Startup Boot Camp in Dhaka, Bangladesh in partnership with Startup Dhaka.

Comments

Content


T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
in partnership with
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMUNITY SPONSORS
MEDIA PARTNERS
OUTREACH PARTNERS
1
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Agenda 2
GIST Initiative Overview 5
CRDF Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs 6
Startup Dhaka Overview 8
Entrepreneur Profiles 10
Speakers, Mentors & Judges 38
Organizers 51
Mentor Highlight 52
GIST Activities 53
Resources 56
GIST Partners 57
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
2
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
AGENDA
Thursday, May 22, 2014 •
8:15 - 9:00 Registration & Networking – Coffee, tea and cookies available.
9:00 - 9:30 Welcoming Remarks & Introductions
9:30 - 10:15
Relationships are the Key to Success
Meet the people around you, and learn various ways that who you know and how you help these people can set you up for success.
Jim Bagnola, President, The Leadership Group International
10:15 - 11:00
Business Model Canvas & International Customer Discovery Overview
Learn how to create your dynamic roadmap to market validation and success.
Jim Chung, Executive Director, Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer, George Washington University
11:00 - 11:45
Customer Validation 101
Hear key strategies to test your product and improve it for the market. This session will address how you can make your service, product and
venture the most competitive in the marketplace. Create a plan to validate your venture.
Thor Ernstsson, Founder, Casual Corp and former Lead Architect, Zynga
11:45 - 12:30
Global Networking & Partnership Formation Session
Learn about the importance of networking, how to build a networking strategy for the long term, and approach individuals effectively.
Ovidiu Bujorean, Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, CRDF Global
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:15
Marketing, Communications & Sales
Learn the fundamental concepts of marketing including: opportunity recognition and market analysis, customer orientation, and the importance of
branding and communication to create customer demand.
Riyad Husain, Magnito Digital and Nazmul Chowdhury, Senior Vice President, The City Bank
14:15 - 15:00
Raising Capital: Securing Funding for Growth
Determine if your venture is ready to raise money, the avenues available to raise it and strategies to identify and target angel and seed stage
investors.
Thor Ernstsson with commentary from Sajid Rahman, Sabre Advisors
15:00 - 15:45
Determining Cost Structure & Revenue Streams
Learn to identify what are the most important costs associated with your product or service and how much, and through which methods, are people
willing to pay for it.
Jim Chung with commentary from Sharful Alam of Aamra Networks
15:45 - 16:15
Workshop: Entrepreneurs work on their business model canvases.
Jim Chung
16:15 - 17:30
Real Talk: Your 30-second Elevator Pitch & your Investor Pitch
Learn to tell your story to convince and investor to buy into your vision. Then create, practice and then present your 30-second pitch to the group.
All participants will present before the close of the session.
Jim Chung and Thor Ernstsson
3
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
AGENDA
Friday, May 23, 2014 •
9 : 0 0 - 9 : 4 5
Form your Team: Appreciating the Many Faces of Intelligence
Learn to use Teaming and Leadership to transform the traditional culture into a participative culture–from a “Do as you are told” to a “Do whatever
it takes” culture.
Jim Bagnola with commentary from Syed Uddin, Maar Limited
9: 45 - 10: 30
Negotiation with Investors & Intro to Term Sheets
Improve your skills in all phases of a negotiation: understand the basics of negotiation with angels and venture capitalists, and typical investment
structure and deal term structure.
Jim Chung and Thor Ernstsson with commentary from Tanveer Ali, Executive Director, Infection Ventures
Entrepreneurs will be randomly split into Group A and Group B for purposes of mentorship. The schedule for each group is listed below.
Group A Group B
10:30 - 11:30 Mentorship of 15 Group A entrepreneurs
Legal Clinic:This workshop shows companies what they need for their legal structures
among partners, contracts, IP, and to raise investment in local context.
Anita Rahman, Founder, The Legal Circle and Sameer Sattar, Head of Chambers, Sattar & Co.
11:30 - 12:30
Legal Clinic
Anita Rahman, Founder, The Legal Circle and Sameer
Sattar, Head of Chambers, Sattar & Co.
Mentorship of 15 Group B entrepreneurs
12: 30 - 14: 00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00
Speed Pitching
15 Group A entrepreneurs pitch for a total of 3 minutes.
(2 minute presentation and 1 minute of Q&A)
15:00 - 15:15 Break
15:15 - 16:15
Speed Pitching
15 Group B entrepreneurs pitch for a total of 3 minutes.
(2 minute presentation and 1 minute of Q&A)
16:15 - 16:45
Evaluation of Startup Boot Camp
Fill out evaluation form. Break for remainder of time.
16:45 - 17:30
Finalist Announcement and Closing
The fnal 7 entrepreneurs who will pitch at Demo Day are announced. Discussion of top advice learned, and next steps for all 30 ventures who will
present at Demo Day.
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
4
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
AGENDA
Saturday, May 24, 2014 • Morning Session: Open Entrepreneurship Training
8:30 - 9:00 Registration for Trainings.
9:00 - 9:15 Welcoming Remarks & Introductions
9:15 - 10:00
Relationships are the key to success
Meet the people around you, and learn various ways that who you know and how you help these people can set you up for success.
Jim Bagnola, President, The Leadership Group International
10:00 - 10:45
Business Model Canvas and International Customer Discovery Overview
Learn how to create your dynamic roadmap to market validation and success.
Jim Chung, Executive Director, Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer, George Washington University
10:45 - 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:50
Raising Capital: Securing Funding for Growth
Determine if your venture is ready to raise money, the avenues available to raise it and strategies to identify and target angel and seed stage investors.
Thor Ernstsson, Founder, Casual Corp and former Lead Architect, Zynga
11:50
Adjourn
Participants from the morning session are invited to attend the Demo Day which will begin at 14:00.
Saturday, May 24, 2014 • Afternoon Session: Demo Day
13:30 - 14:00
Registration for Demo Day
Once participants are registered, they are invited to meet the 30 entrepreneurs who are available with demos of their ventures.
14:00 - 14:45
Opening Talk
Thor Ernstsson, Founder, Casual Corp and former Lead Architect, Zynga
14:45 - 16:00
Pitching Competition – The Main Event
7 entrepreneurs pitch for a total of 8 minutes each. (3 minute presentations with 5 minutes of Q&A)
16:00 - 16:20 Coffee Break
16:20 - 16:30 Startup Dhaka Presentation
16:30 - 17:15
Building a Vibrant Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Bangladesh
The panelists will discuss the roles of different stakeholders in creating a dynamic ecosystem in Bangladesh, identify barriers, offer solutions and talk
about emerging technology trends in the region.
Moderator: Natalia Pipia, Associate Program Director, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, CRDF Global
Panelists: Jim Chung, Executive Director, Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer, George Washington University
Jim Davidson, Early-stage Investor & Former AOL & MapQuest Executive
Thor Ernstsson, Founder, Casual Corp and former Lead Architect , Zynga
Zarif Munir, Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group
Fayaz Taher, CEO, Fortuna and Co-Founder, Startup Dhaka
17:15 - 18:30
Award Ceremony & Networking Reception. Awards will be presented to the top 5 startups.
During the networking reception 30 entrepreneurs showcase their prototype and answer questions from investors, seasoned entrepreneurs and other
distinguished guests.
5
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
Muhammad Saimum Hossain, Bangladesh Hind Hobeika, Lebanon
Founder, Instabeat
James Khoo, Malaysia
Founder, SecQMe
G
I
S
T

A
L
U
M
N
I
I
M
P
A
C
T
H
E
A
L
T
H
I
C
T
E
N
E
R
G
Y
180K+
GLOBAL COMMUNITY CAPITAL RAISED MENTOR NETWORK JOBS CREATED
$21M 300+ 800+
technology entrepreneurs.
W
H
A
T

I
S

G
I
S
T
?
GIST TECH-I GIST BOOT CAMPS GIST TECHCONNECT
support most promising technology
and science entrepreneurs.
Two day on the ground hands-on
support for most promising ventures.
Live video broadcast with seasoned
improve startup ventures.
Catherine Kiguru
Co-founder, Ukall Ltd.
I
C
T
GIST Initatve builds entrepreneurial
ecosystems in over 50 countries in the Middle
East, Central and South East Asia and
Sub-Saharan Africa, by identfying, coaching
and funding promising entrepreneurs through
compettons, start-up acceleraton services,
an online social media platorm, and
interactve mentorship programs. It is
implemented in partnership with the U.S.
Department of State and CRDF Global.
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
6
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
CRDF Global is a private, non-governmental organization committed to
promoting peace and prosperity through science and technology. Its innovation
and entrepreneurship-focused programs develop technology commercialization
capabilities and sustaining networks abroad. Domestically, CRDF Global helps to
create more viable investment, partnership and collaborative opportunities for
American businesses and scientists who gain access to top international research
and expertise.
Core Program Beliefs
Innovation. We believe strongly in the power of technology and innovation as drivers for
sustainable growth.
Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs transform innovation into enterprises that generate
value and create jobs. Our programs are designed with the individual in mind, as the nucleus and
sole purpose of our mission. Strategic partnerships. We partner with like-minded local and regional
organizations and corporations to leverage our resources and capabilities to build capacity for
greater impact and avoid redundancy.
Innovation Ecosystem Development
CRDF Global believes in the bottom-up approach in building the local ecosystems and supports local
entrepreneurship initiatives by identifying leaders, existing programs and the gaps in the system.
• Assisting with the formation of new technology commercialization
offices and incubators
• Strategic planning
• Management training and educational outreach
• Comprehensive programs designed to enhance entrepreneurship culture
• Assisting with investment capital infrastructure development
Startup Support
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of all economies and the source of growth
and dynamism. CRDF Global offers a comprehensive suite of programs designed to nurture these
early-stage companies.
• Identifying promising business opportunities, funders, partners and
resource
• Designing and executing acceleration programs
• Comprehensive skill development training
• Access to sources of fundingInnovation
Technology Acceleration
CRDF Global promotes business growth by supporting students, researchers and technology
developers who believe that their product or service is viable commercially. Programs guide them
through the process of commercialization by honing their skills and helping them to grow and realize
their market potential.
• Identifying intellectual property with commercial potential in
universities and corporations
• Hands-on training in technology transfer and intellectual property rights
• Online technology commercialization courses
• Technology valuation and market assessment
BUILDING ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEMS
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS
7
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
Increasing Opportunities for Early-Stage Entrepreneurs
In the search for entrepreneurs with innovative technology ideas that can address a problem
affecting their country or region, the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST)
Initiative has implemented the GIS TTech-I Competition, attracting close to 200 teams from
the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South East Asia. Among them was CardioDiagnostics, a
Lebanese startup founded by Ziad Sankari. Ziad lost his father at the age of 17 to a heart attack,
which inspired him to create a medical device that monitors cardiac patients outside the hospital
around the clock. This idea earned him a top prize of the competition awarded at the Second Global
Entrepreneurship Summit on December 3-5, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. CardioDiagnostics has been
given a strong start for a global success with $20,000 in seed funding, hands-on training with
serial entrepreneurs and business mentors, global media exposure by MSNBC and Wired Magazine, an
upcoming trip to Silicon Valley and participation in the MIT Global Startup Workshop.
Transforming Technology
Transfer in Russia CRDF Global has trained more than 300 technology transfer managers and
assisted eight leading research universities with establishing technology transfer offices, which
significantly contributed to the establishment of the local innovation ecosystem. The Programs
include professional skills development seminars, workshops, academia and industry international
conferences, and site visits to the United States for technology transfer professionals. Similar
activities have strengthened the technology commercialization capabilities of more than 20 research
universities of the Russian Federation.
Accessing U.S. Markets
Since 2005, CRDF Global has implemented more than 20 U.S. travel programs for close to 90
participants representing dozens of universities, research institutes and technology companies
from Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and collaborated with such prominent U.S. organizations
as MIT, Babson College, Garage Technology Ventures, Plug & Play Incubator, CleanTech Open and
others. Based on the scalable and highly customizable format of the Innovation U.S. travel programs
and existing cache of experience, best practices and partners, CRDF Global is able to design and
implement results-oriented and cost-effective programs that perfectly fit the objectives and needs
of a diverse range of partner organizations in emerging markets.
Building Institutional Capacity
Since 2005, CRDF Global has partnered with the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF), one of
the most successful IT-focused technology business incubators and consulting companies in the
Caucasus region, to implement its Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP). With
co-funding from the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, EIF implemented more than
15 STEP activities including the Business Partnership Grant (BPG) program, Innovation Forums,
cluster seminars, business trainings for scientific community, legal and accounting seminars and
matchmaking events. Through its partnership with CRDF Global, EIF strengthened communication
channels between science and private sectors, gained broader access to the U.S. business
network and scaled up its outreach and programs to non-IT sectors—becoming one of the focal
entrepreneurship-support organizations in Armenia and in the region.
Providing Access to Capital
The “ecoFridge,” a revolutionary refrigeration system used to transport perishable products, was
developed by a team of Ukrainian scientists with a U.S. business partner who participated in a CRDF
Global research and development grant competition. CRDF Global provided training and mentorship
to the team to prepare them to effectively pitch the ecoFridge at a venture forum in Los Angeles,
CA. As a result, the team obtained $2.2 million of follow-on capital investment to develop their
business, and EcoFridge is now being adopted by companies around the world who appreciate its
environmental benefits and cost efficiency.
CRDF GLOBAL’S IMPACT
CRDF GLOBAL’S IMPACT
Ziad Sankari, CardioDiagnostics
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
8
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
STARTUP DHAKA
Empowering Entrepreneurs to Connect
In Bangladesh, entrepreneurs who employ
millions of people, generating over 60 % of
local employment do not have a platform to
talk about their innovative services or share
their experience with people in general.
Especially the young entrepreneurs and
startups who may need mentors or require
non traditional funding suffers from lack of
information and direction.
Startup Dhaka intends to fill this gap by
launching a news site dedicated to startups,
entrepreneurs and business in Bangladesh,
which also plans to connect with larger
audience abroad. It intends to make it the
most innovative local online news site for
business supported by the community and
entrepreneurs. Its mission is to re-imagine
the business journalism that is built on
new technology, entrepreneurial culture
and story telling method where people
participate.
Startup Dhaka intends to inspire
action through the following:
- story telling
- startup events at The Wave
- creating market access for
entrepreneurs
- workshops and capacity development
- mentorship
- funding linkage
- startup job network
- PR & branding
9
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
Originally, Startup Dhaka was a crowd funded documentary to create
awareness about startup community in Dhaka. In 50 days the film raised
over US$9000 from 56 backers from around the world. After receiving
positive reception and encouragement about the film, the Startup Dhaka
team pivoted to make an online news site to promote local ideas and
businesses.
The brand philosophy of Startup Dhaka is to bridge the gap between the
business and its prospects. It hopes that the businesses consider it as
a partner in building their business and as their brand advocate in new
media space.
Please visit www.startupdhaka.org
The Future of Entrepreneurship with Starutp Dhaka
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
10
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Md. Imran Ali
Founder
[email protected]
Elizabeth Anne Ali
Chairperson
[email protected]
Amadeyr Cloud Ltd (ACL) is a private organization that
utilizes technology to provide information to semi-literate
and illiterate people. It serves to empower them to use
information to enhance their ability as they purchase goods
and services. ACL provides a variety of technology products
for development that address information asymmetry and
efficiency issues. Their seven products include Amadeyr
Delivery System, Amadeyr Digital Survey System (ADSS),
Amadeyr Monitoring & Evaluation System (AME), Amadeyr
Slate, Amadeyr Shova, Amadeyr Nothee and Amadeyr Cloud.
Amadeyr Cloud Ltd.
http://amadeyr.org
Industry: ICT, Ecucation
11
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Mohd Fahad Ifaz
Co-founder
[email protected]
Shadab Alam
Co-founder
[email protected]
After facing many problems while applying for jobs after
graduation, Fahad and Shabab co-founded amarCV.com,
an online resume builder that allows anyone to create an
effective and professional CV to connect with the right
employer and helps them stand out from the crowd.
amarCV.com
www.amarcv.com
Industry: ICT, E - commerce, Career Service
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
12
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Riyadh Hossain
Deputy Managing Director
[email protected]
Sayem Siddique
CEO
[email protected]
Having a vision to contribute his knowledge in Bangladesh’s
IT sector, Riyadh came up with the concept of Kotodaam.
Kotodaam is a unique search engine that allows customers
to research product pricing in the market. It works as a
centralized place to find prices on various consumer goods,
such as electronics, furniture, cars and any other product
available.
Appnometry
www.appnometry.com
Industry: ICT, E-commerce
13
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Dr. MM Nayaz
Founder
[email protected]
Md. Amzad Hossain Khan
Business Consultant
[email protected]
Dr. Nayaz decided to use his education, knowledge and
experience with community-based sustainable agriculture to
create a large scale EcoVillage. The availability of family land,
local community power and natural resources enabled him
to start this venture. BioScience Agro EcoVillage is a self-
sustainable agro business. It seeks to develop an ecofriendly,
money generating agro venture by economically utilizing and
empowering the community.
BioScience
Agro EcoVillage
www.bioscienceagro.com & www.bsa-ecovillage.com
Industry: Agriculture, Green tech, Food & beverage
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
14
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Ahad Bhai
Founder
[email protected]
Mushfiqur Rahman
COO
Bongo is the first aggregated entertainment platform in
Bangladesh, with partnerships with major TV stations, film
producers, production labels, and other companies who
own content licenses. Our service offers users the largest
content database in the country from a single source. They
can browse by genre, actor, type, and have everything on
demand. We offer movies, TV shows, news programs, talk
shows, reality shows, documentaries, music videos, TVCs,
and even audio tracks. Bongo is available online and also
via mobile, both through a WAP portal and through a native
mobile phone app.
Bongo
www.bongobd.com
Industry: ICT, Entertainment
15
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Mahenaz Chowdhury
Founder
[email protected]
Bucket’s Engineer sprouted from a need to help struggling
parents of Bangladesh who suffer from lack of information,
inadequate healthcare and educational facilities for autistic
children. Buckets Engineer is a tool through which a child’s
development can be guided and monitored. Therapists get
a list of apps that cater to the child’s needs along with a
unified scoring system that tracks their progress. Training
and workshops are also given to understand the best
utilization for the platform. Buckets Engineer is open source
and open to other developers interested in creating apps for
the system. Buckets Engineer hopes to help children ages
3-8 years old develop and learn communication, primary
education, social and cognitive skills.
Buckets Engineer
Industry: ICT
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
16
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Shakkharatul Haque Mehad
Co-Founder
[email protected]
Omar Farhan Khan
Co-Founder
[email protected]
CityScope is a social information service that informs the
daily schedules of electrical load shedding to users in a
designated area through the use of an interactive map.
From million dollar industry owners to rural farmers, this
application can provide very useful information to users
about potential power cuts, so they are not caught off guard
when a power outage interferes in their work or activity.
CityScope
Industry: Energy & Information Access
17
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Emdadul Sadik
CFO
[email protected]
Hideto Masuda
Founder and CEO
[email protected]
Dam.com.bd is an online shopping database created so
that every consumer can find the right product at the best
available price. We provide shopping information with useful
search engines online. User will have an access to each
product’s detailed information, user reviews from other
Bangladeshi people, where to buy in Bangladesh, and, most
importantly, the actual prices from real retailers.
Dam.com.bd
dam.com.bd
Industry: ICT, E-Commerce
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
18
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Sadek Jake Alam
Founder
[email protected]
Sadek noticed a lack of entertainment options and
opportunities for Bangladeshi people. His startup, Dhaka
Beats, aims to connect these entertainment deprived
people to all the upcoming events in a single platform. It is a
website and smartphone application that features top fairs,
exhibitions, theaters, movies, live matches, and parties that
take place in Dhaka and other major cities in Bangladesh. The
objective of Dhaka Beats is to encourage the entertainment-
deprived citizens of Bangladesh to explore and share event
news that would otherwise pass unnoticed. As the project
develops, users will also be able to buy tickets, register for
events and invite friends so that they can attend in groups
and participate in exclusive promotions from advertisers.
DhakaBeats
dhakabeats.com
Industry: ICT and Entertainment
19
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Mashrur H. Shurid
Founder & Chief Of Expert Operations
[email protected]
Md. Mofassair Hossain Bhuiyan
Co-Founder & Executive ExpertPower System Dept.
[email protected]
As students, Mashrur and Mofassair noticed that people
producing electronic products face a common problem. They
have to buy material from the local market which costs more
than if purchased directly from the vendors. This prompted
them to start ERROR Lab, a technology based research
& development facility. It works as a one-stop shop for
materials and assistance in producing efficient, creative and
feasible ways to solve any technical and engineering issues.
It is a platform to build, develop and implement the ingenious
ideas of curious minds.
ERROR Lab
error-lab.com
Industry: ICT and Greentech
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
20
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Arman Ahmed Khan
Founder
[email protected]
Affiliated with multinational organizations like Abiba
Systems, SANS and Qmatic in Bangladesh, Fera Tech Ltd. is
a multi-wing IT solution provider that integrates hardware
and software to provide unique solutions for their clients.
One of the solutions they have created is a digital menu for
restaurants called Order Eat. Order Eat seeks to minimize
mistakes in order taking at restaurants. It improves service
and gives customers a visual representation of the food. All of
which encourages customers to order more, which therefore
increases restaurant sales and profitability.
Fera Tech Ltd.
www.feratech.net
Industry: ICT, E-commerce, Food & beverage,
Financial, Telco & BFSI
21
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Anisul Islam
Founder
[email protected]
P.M. Ashikur Rahman
COO
[email protected]
Fortune Tech’s B2B Marketplace called deshiyo.com is
an online marketplace for Bangladeshi exportable items.
Through this online portal, SME’s would be able to display
their own products to the global market, Deshiyo will promote
these products abroad so that the foreign buyers know where
to come to seek products from Bangladesh.
Fortune Tech with
Deshiyo
www.fortunetech.com.bd
Industry: ICT, E-Commerce
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
22
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Dr. Md Aminul Islam
Founder
[email protected]
During his post-doctoral research, Dr. Md Aminul Islam
invented Greener Nano-Tech. Greener Nano-Tech uses a
simple approach to fabricate nano activated carbon by using
simple a biodegradable solution route at room temperature
and pressure. Until now, no industry has been able to produce
nano-activated carbon from coal in Bangladesh. Nano-
activated carbon is used in many industries including aviation
and aerospace, textile, rubber, pharmaceutical, electronics,
and more.
Greener Nano-Tech
Industry: Health, pharmaceutical, water purification,
and soft drinks industry
23
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Md Shofiul Alam
Founder
[email protected]
Hypertag Solutions provides core wireless services and
solutions for mobile advertising, mobile messaging
applications, mobile banking, and mobile financial services.
The company has received much attention for its mobile
remittances platform, which has facilitated thousands of
dollars of remittances.
Hypertag
Solutions Ltd
www.hypertagsolutions.com
Industry: ICT, E-Commerce, Media, Financial
Mobile Financial Service
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
24
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Azizul Hakim
Founder
[email protected]
I2eat.com is a food review site that uses Facebook to post
about the latest restaurant reviews, prices, discounts, and
customer feedback. In addition to the review site, i2eat.com
also has a mobile subscription service, which is location based
and update customers on the most popular and unique food
and restaurants and provide discounts and deals. I2eat has
been featured in Lonely Planet Bangladesh and is currently
launching its own website to supplement all the Facebook
activity.
I2eat.com
Website: www.i2eat.com
Industry: ICT, E-Commerce, Food & Beverage, Media
25
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Md. Zea-ul Islam Khan
Founder
[email protected]
Md. Mahbubur Rahman
[email protected]
iVive Labs aims to provide the best, most affordable web
business solutions to their clients. The company implements
various tools, technologies, applications, and practices for
website design, facebook, mobile applications and more. Some
of which include, internet marketing, keyword search and
analysis, SEO audit report, and search engine optimization. The
team has designed web platforms for clients from New York
City’s celebrity chef Eric Ripert of Avec Eric, to CMS Forex, an
international Foreign Exchange trading company with offices in
New York City, London and St. Petersburg.
iVive Labs
www.ivivelabs.com
Industry: ICT, E-Commerce, Software Development
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
26
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Bijon Islam
Founder
[email protected]
Zahedul Amin
Director-Finance
[email protected]
LightCastle Partners is an emerging marketing business
analytics firm. Their goal is to combine internal business
analytics with market data to create strategic intelligence for
organizations that helps them make informed and effective
decisions. LightCastle partners develop business analytics
achitecture, which is based on a combination of Microsoft
Office based tool-kits, with front end access via Android-based
platforms.
LightCastle Partners
www.lightcastlebd.com
Industry: ICT, Financial, Business Analytics
27
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Monami Ahmed
Co-Founder and CEO
[email protected]
Raja Ali Hasan
Co-Founder
[email protected]
Monariz.com is an online store that sells women’s apparel that
can be shipped worldwide. Additionally, Monariz.com offers a
custom stitching service.
Monariz Fashions
www.monariz.com
Industry: ICT, E-Commerce
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
28
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
A.M. Ishtiaque Sarwar
CEO
[email protected]
MUTHOFUN is a leading mobile content service provider in
Bangladesh that serves the country’s top public universities.
MUTHOFUN offers push pull messaging, subscription based
messaging, bulk messaging, geo location based services,
educational institute based SMS services, entrepreneurs SMS
services, product verification, SMS banking services, and more.
MUTHOFUN
www.muthofun.com
Industry: ICT, Telecom
29
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Syed M. S. Zafar
Co-founder & CEO
[email protected]
Asif Anwar
Co-founder & CTO
[email protected]
MyJatra is aiming to change the way travel tickets are
purchased using an online platform and mobile app that allows
customers to book domestic airplane, train, and bus tickets
with ease.
Myjatra.com
www.myjatra.com
Industry: ICT, E-Commerce
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
30
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Soumik Aswad
Founder
[email protected]
Souvik Aswad
CMO
[email protected]
Using a mobile app and SMS service, Panacea helps fight the
US$130 million counterfeit medicine industry in Bangladesh.
By partnering with pharmaceutical companies, Panacea helps
consumers verify authenticity of the company’s medicine
by randomly generating a unique code on every pack of
medication. Once the medication reaches the customers,
they send Panacea a request to determine authenticity of the
medication.
Panacea
www.panacealive.com
Industry: ICT, Pharmaceuticals
31
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Maiaz M Rahman
Founder
[email protected]
Pechas Game Studio is an indie game developer that focuses
on developing unique simulations and time management
strategy games. Their latest game, GridPuzzle is an addictive
logic game that has already been downloaded thousands of
times and was developed by some of the youngest and best
developers in the industry. In fact, Pechas Game Studio’s
youngest programmer recently placed 1st in the 2014 IT Talent
Contest organized by the Daffodil Institute of IT.
Pechas Game Studio
www.pechasgamestudios.com
Industry: ICT, Mobile Gaming
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
32
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Imran Farid Shuvo
Managing Director
[email protected]
Ankon Arafat
Co-Founder & Director Embedded Systems
[email protected]
PixeLizard’s Smart Home Series works to introduce smart
technology to homes across Bangladesh. They will offer a
wide range of products in the Smart Home Series from basic
electricity saving products to mobile phone controlled home
appliances.
PixeLizard
www.pixelizard.com
Industry: ICT, Consumer Electronics
33
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Mir Shahrukh Islam
Co-founder, Lifeline
[email protected]
Zafir Shafiee Chowdhury
Co-Founder, Lifeline
[email protected]
Singularity Limited is working on Lifeline, a mobile app that
helps people to get information about blood availability in
their current location at times when they need it the most. If a
member of Lifeline needs blood, they may tap into the network.
Lifeline then sends a notification to the nearest enlisted
donors. By providing timely donations of blood, donors’ actions
can save lives.
Singularity Limited
with Lifeline
www.singularitybd.com
Industry: Health & medical devices
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
34
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Md Shakir Khan
Co-founder
[email protected]
Riasat Islam
Co-founder
[email protected]
For the small scale land holding farmers, SmarTech will provide
inexpensive personalized suggestions to help them in their
decision making in order to increase their crop productivity
while minimizing production costs. Having done thorough
research on precision farming and its advantages, SmarTech
estimates it can help increase farmers’ yields by 8% while
simultaneously saving on water by 17%, energy by 14%, and
fertilizers by 26%. These factors will result in improved crop
productivity and farmers’ livelihoods.
SmarTech
Industry: Agriculture, Greentech
35
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Md. Shahin
Founder
[email protected]
Sobji Bazaar offers online organic produce shopping and
automatic delivery in Dhaka. Customers can purchase all types
of organic fruits and vegetables, pay online, and receive their
purchases to the address of their choice.
SobjiBazaar.com
Limited
www.sobjibazaar.com
Industry: ICT, E-commerce, Agriculture
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
36
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
A.K.M. Masuduzzaman
Founder
[email protected]
Roksana Quayu
Marketing Analyst
[email protected]
TapStar, founded in 2013, is a team of professionals driven
by passion for gaming. They make fun and engaging mobile
games and apps that everyone enjoys. Players of TapStar
games can cooperate and compete each other to finish a game
as the mobile games facilitate competition, social status, and
cooperation. TapStar’s array of games boasts over 200,000
downloads and the team plans to have over ten games on the
market within the next six months.
TapStar Interactive
Software Limited
http://tapstarapps.com
Industry: ICT, Education, Entertainment & leisure
INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE LIMITED INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE LIMITED
37
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Khan Mohammad Rezwan-ul-Akbar
Managing Director
[email protected]
Firoze Ahmed
Director of Strategy
[email protected]
Team 4 Techs aspires to launch their Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) based solution that features an automatic
locking system paired with verified idenitification detection via
an online database. Founder Khan Mohammad and Director
of R&D Noor Hasan have together received 4 national-level
robotics awards and are ready to bring engineering to the
forefront in Bangladesh.
Team 4 Techs
Industry: ICT, Light Engineering
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
38
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
TEAM
Nasim ul Haque
Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected]
Faisal Khan
Software Development specialist
[email protected]
Team Engine, a team of over 39 employees, has developed
the Bangla Optical Character Recognizer (OCR). OCR, is
the mechanical or electronic conversion of scanned or
photographed images of typewritten or printed text into
machine-encoded/computer-readable text. The Bangla OCR
has a 95% accuracy rate in transforming scanned graphics
to computer-readable text in any Bangla font that is currently
used in publication, making it the first complete Bangla OCR in
the world. Team Engine plans to launch the first version soon
and free of charge. Bangla OCR ensures content is digitized,
archived in inventory, searchable on PC or web and reproduce
when needed. Team Engine is also developing Bangla Text-to-
Speech software.
Team Engine
www.tm-engine.com
Industry: ICT
39
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
TEAM
Md Niaz Mustafiz
Founder and Business Developer
[email protected]
Md Mahi
Growth Hacker
[email protected]

Emfxr is a web service that helps people find doctors online,
rate the services of doctors and clinics they visit, and view
rankings for doctors, clinics and hospitals in the area. Users
can also book appointments online. Emfixr is currently testing
its prototype and is getting doctors on board and soon will
reach out to the community.
Emfixr
emfixr.com
Industry: ICT, Healthcare
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
40
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
INTERNATIONAL BOOT CAMP PRESENTERS
Jim Bagnola, President, The Leadership Group International
Jim Bagnola is an international speaker, an executive coach and a corporate educator. He is an expert in the field of leadership
and body-mind management, focusing on the influence of thinking patterns on health, happiness, success, and the capacity
to lead. His personal mission has been the personal coaching of young entrepreneurs and students on six continents for the
past 20 years. He is Chairman of the Board of Leaders Romania an organization committed to teaching and mentoring young
European leaders and he travels globally as a frequent lecturer and coach for AIESEC, the largest student organization in
the world. In March 2012 he published his book Becoming a Professional Human Being and it is currently the #1 best seller
in Japan. His educational background is in Political Science at the University of Akron, Psychology at the University of Santa
Monica and Human Development at Meru in Switzerland and Maharishi University of Management. Jim was among the
“World’s Top 30 Leadership Professionals” from 2006-2010 by Leadership Gurus International.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-bagnola/0/155/113
Twitter: @JimBagnola
Jim Chung, Executive Director, Office of Entrepreneurship, George Washington University
Jim Chung is the Executive Director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Office of Technology Transfer at the George
Washington University where he is responsible for entrepreneurship programs and technology transfer. As the director of the
Mtech Venture Accelerator at the University of Maryland before joining the George Washington University, Jim worked with
faculty and students there to launch startup companies based on University of Maryland technology. Prior to that, he served
as the director of new business development at the Corporate Executive Board and helped establish the company’s mergers
and acquisitions capabilities. He also served as vice president at Cherington Capital (now Intervale Capital), a middle market
private equity firm. He started his private sector career as an early stage venture capital investor, most recently at incTANK
Ventures, where he was the managing director. Before becoming an investor, Jim was an academic researcher studying
how business, government, and academia work together to create new innovations in high technology industries. He was a
research fellow at MIT (Security Studies Program), Harvard (Center for Science and International Affairs), the University of
Tokyo (Fulbright Fellow), and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (NSF Fellow). He received his Bachelor
and Masters degrees from Stanford University and was a Ph.D. candidate at MIT.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-chung/0/3/3a3
Twitter: @jimchung_gw
Thor Ernstsson, Founder, Casual Corp and former Lead Architect, Zynga
Thor is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Casual Corp, a venture studio in New York. Previously he was the CTO of
Audax Health and architect at Zynga. In addition to launching new companies, Thor spends a lot of his time supporting
entrepreneurs, ranging from pre-seed-stage startups to innovators in Fortune 100 companies.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thorernstsson
Twitter: @ThorErnstsson
41
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
DISTINGUISHED MENTORS, JUDGES & SPEAKERS
M.K. Aaref, Chief Executive Officer, Edward M. Kennedy Center for Public Service and the Arts
M.K. Aaref is an architect by training and profession who is currently in charge of Edward M. Kennedy Center for Public
Service and the Arts, a pilot outreach project of the U.S. Department of State. The Center fosters and promotes various non
profit groups and individuals that are active in volunteerism, leadership, and entrepreneurial promotions. He completed his
undergraduate studies in architecture and planning from the University of Houston and later completed his master’s degree in
business administration from Aston University, specializing in privatization framework.
LinkedIn: bd.linkedin.com/pub/m-k-aaref/5/bb/843
Twitter: @mkaaref
Sharful Alam, Chief Operating Officer, Aamra Networks Limited
Sharful has been working in the IT Infrastructure Industry since his graduation from IBA in 1998. In addition to his role at
Aamra, he is also the Director of Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh. His core competencies include strategy,
innovation, operations, sales, marketing, human resource, and leadership.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sharful
Twitter: @sharfulalam
Tanveer Ali, Executive Director, Inflection Ventures
Tanveer has more than 15 years of investment experience in technology, mining and manufacturing. Born and raised in
Toronto, Tanveer moved to Bangladesh to oversee manufacturing operations, supply chain and capital expenditure at Olympic
Industries, a publicly-listed, family-managed consumer goods manufacturer. He has been a director of several publicly-listed
Canadian mining exploration companies. At Inflection Ventures, he has made 18 investments (primarily in Silicon Valley)
startups, with 1 exit to date; a company acquired by TripAdvisor. He was a judge at StartupWeekend Dhaka in 2013 and 2014.
Tanveer has a BA in Political Science from the University of Waterloo.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tanveer-ali/43/6a6/152
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
42
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
DISTINGUISHED MENTORS, JUDGES & SPEAKERS
Richard Boerner, Superintendent, American International School Dhaka
Richard is currently serving as the Superintendent of the American International School Dhaka since 2010. Prior to his time
in Bangladesh, Richard was Director of Korea International School and further has held several school leadership positions
overseas and in the United States. Richard also serves as a board member for The International Educator and the Next
Frontiers Inclusion organizations.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/richardboerner
Nazim Farhan Choudhury, Serial Entrepreneur
Nazim is an eternal optimist, a serial entrepreneur, a diehard Bangladeshi patriot, a gourmet kachchii biriyani lover, social
media addict and history buff among many other things. He writes a column for the Dhaka Tribune and is an expert at
marketing and advertising. He currently works for Colours FM 101.6, Nazimgarh Resorts and SoftwarePeople (PeopleGroup).
LinkedIn: bd.linkedin.com/pub/nazim-farhan-choudhury/0/786/661
Taro Araya, Chief Executive Office, MIAKI
Taro is an experienced management executive focusing on emerging markets, globalization and innovation for change. Taro
identifies and establishes high performance teams and driving them to goals with a focus on high technology, services and ICT
industries.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/taroaraya
Twitter: @taroaraya
43
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
DISTINGUISHED MENTORS, JUDGES & SPEAKERS
Nazmul Chowdhury, First Vice President and Head of Brand, The City Bank Ltd.
Nazmul was hired by The City Bank in 2009 to renew its brand identity. With his clear vision and creative brand engagement
ideas, he has integrated the financial services brand into a consumer facing platform and transformed the bank into one
of the strongest local banking brand in the country. He is presently the First Vice President & Head of Brand for City Bank
and oversees a team of professionals involved in strategic brand planning, consumer engagement, marketing strategy, web
and digital media campaigns, direct marketing. Before joining City Bank, he has worked for the top three creative agencies;
Bitopi Leo Burnett, Unitrend McCann and Mediacom Bangladesh in various capacities in strategic planning and campaign
management.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nazmul-karim-chowdhury-cpmm/3/410/99
Twitter: @nazmul_nk
Jim Davidson, Early-stage Investor & Former AOL & MapQuest Executive
Jim is an early-stage investor and advisor with more than 20 years of Internet technology experience. Jim was a senior
leader at AOL where he served as CTO of DigitalCity, the Internet’s first hyper-local portal, and later as VP of Web Services
and Publishing, where he led teams responsible for some of the most innovative and high-scale sites including Aol.com and
MapQuest. Jim has also been a leader at early-stage companies. Some of these roles have included: CTO of ShareThis.com,
President of Examiner.com, and co-founder and CEO of Laborfair.com, an online marketplace for disadvantaged service
providers. Jim is now focused on early-stage impact-investing, providing capital and serving as adviser for companies that
leverage technology to further their social-benefit and sustainability missions. He serves on the board of CauseLabs, Think
Impact, Investors’ Circle and Hub Boulder and is a guarantor and loan committee advisor to MicroCredit Enterprises. Jim lives
with his wife Melanie and two children in Denver, CO, and aspires to one day finish a triathlon with something more than a
participation medal.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jgdavidson
Twitter: @jgdavidson
Anita Ghazi Rahman, Founder, The Legal Circle
Anita is the Founder of and a Partner at The Legal Circle. She is also the concept creator and editor of LCLR, which is a
quarterly law report, and Think Legal Bangladesh, an online legal publishing platform. Anita likes to think out of the box and
believes in improving the corporate community.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/anita-rahman/11/64b/605
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
44
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
DISTINGUISHED MENTORS, JUDGES & SPEAKERS
Maneeza Hossain, Director, Aegis Textiles Group
Maneeza divides her time between Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she is Director at Aegis Textiles group, and Washington DC
where she is Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute. Ms. Hossain is a US-trained lawyer and author of Broken Pendulum:
Bangladesh’s Swing to Radicalism (Hudson Institute, 2007). Her policy work has appeared in various publications including the
Wall Street Journal, the Times of India, the Weekly Standard, National Review and the Dhaka Tribune.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/maneeza-hossain/38/63/854

Riyad Husain, Chief Executive Officer, Magnito Digital
Riyad is a marketing entrepreneur from Dhaka who is the Founder and CEO of Magnito Digital, which is one of the leading
full service digital agencies of Bangladesh. He also co-founded ROOT Marketing Services, Printex Limited, Giant Marketing
and the social initiative Zakat Connect. Riyad is one of the organizers of Google Business Groups (GBG) Dhaka, which is a fast
growing non-profit community under the Google Outreach Program. He is highly involved in the Bangladeshi Startup scene,
regularly speaking at various conferences and mentoring young Startups. He chairs the Youth Committee of TiE Dhaka. Prior
to starting business, Riyad worked for Arcadia Group in UK. Riyad has a BA degree from Richmond University, UK. In his free
time, Riyad plays football and is a travel addict.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/riyadhusain
Twitter: @riyadhusain
Masrur Hannan, Founder, Bonolota UX Designs
Masrur is a User Experience DESIGN (UXd) evangelist; even a fanatic, some say! He turned his passion into his job: designing
technologies and “things” that are easy and fun to use and which bring people joy. He is the founder of the first Bangladeshi
User Experience Design firm: Bonolota UX Designs. The Bonolota team is working on various exciting projects including
making a new computer.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mhannanux
Twitter: @MasrurHannan
45
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
DISTINGUISHED MENTORS, JUDGES & SPEAKERS
Iraj Islam, Co-founder & CTO, NewsCred
Iraj is a Bangladeshi-Swedish serial entrepreneur, software engineer and product designer. He is passionate about building
innovative products that change the world. Iraj co-founded NewsCred, the world’s leading content marketing platform, in
2007. Iraj was also named Sweden’s 3rd hottest entrepreneur by Swedish magazine InternetWorld in 2006, he was also named
in the Silicon Alley 100 2012 by Business Insider.
LinkedIn: se.linkedin.com/pub/iraj-islam/4/477/931
Twitter: @irajislam
Raisul Kabir, Chief Executive Officer, Brain Station-23
Raisul started his first company, Paradigm Neomedia, during college. That company didn’t work out, but he continued by
founding a second company, Brain Station-23, which became one of the largest outsourcing companies in Bangladesh.
Biponee.com is his third startup that he founded in 2013. Along the way he learned some bits and pieces, which he is excited to
share with startups and entrepreneurs.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/raisul
Twitter: @raisulk
Zarif Munir, Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group.
Zarif is a Partner and Managing Director at The Boston Consulting Group. He also works as a Senior Advisor to AT Capital
based out of Bangladesh which manages foreign fund and invests in local capital market. His areas of expertise include
turnarounds, operational and organizational effectiveness. He has worked closely with Fortune 500 companies in the
industrial goods, consumer goods, healthcare, and software development space. Over the last 18 years, Zarif has worked out
of BCG’s Asia, Latin America, and North America offices, prior to which he was with Price Waterhouse Coopers for 2 years
as an auditor. He is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds a Masters in Business Administration with Distinction from The
Kellogg School of Management. He has a passion for entrepreneurship and is an investor.
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
46
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
DISTINGUISHED MENTORS, JUDGES & SPEAKERS
Sajid Rahman, Advisor, Sabre Advisors
Sajid is an experienced international banker with experience in Africa, Asia and the Middle-East. He serves as a Board Member
and Chairman to a number of technology and financial services companies. He supports entrepreneurship in emerging markets
as an advisor, mentor and active angel investor.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sajid-rahman/10/646/740
Twitter: @SajidRepublic
Shuvo Rahman, Director, Intelligent Image Management Ltd.
Shuvo is a serial entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of Intelligent Image Management Ltd., a business process
outsourcing company and Kisan Botanix, a disease resistant seed production company with its own tissue culture laboratory.
He started career with Coopers & Lybrand’s (now PwC) Boston practice. He graduated Cum Laude from Northeastern
University (89) of Boston, Massachusetts, Norte Dame College (84) and St. Josephs High School Dhaka (82).
Amyn Saleh, Director, Bengal Glass
Amyn is presently a Director at Bengal Glass, and oversees the sales and IT functions. Prior to joining Bengal Glass in 2009,
he worked at PG&E Corporation as a Solar Product Development Manager, and at Deloitte Consulting as a Management
Consultant. He obtained his Bachelors in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research with a minor in Computer
Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Masters in Business Administration from the Kellogg School of
Management at Northwestern University. In his voluntary capacity, he serves as Chairman of the Aga Khan Education Service
Bangladesh.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/amynsaleh
47
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
DISTINGUISHED MENTORS, JUDGES & SPEAKERS
Sameer Sattar, Head of Chambers, Sattar & Co.
Mr. Sattar is a barrister with a specific interest in commercial transactional work and dispute resolution. He is also the
Coordinating Director of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry for foreign investments. In Bangladesh, Mr. Sattar’s
practice primarily involves corporate advisory work and litigation. This includes, inter alia, acquisition of private companies
and banks, setting up local companies in Bangladesh, advising foreign companies on joint venture issues, foreign investment,
loan syndication for commercial projects, and drafting commercial documentation generally. Mr. Sattar is also active in the
practice of international arbitration. He has worked on and appeared as counsel in several international arbitration held under
the auspices of the ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, SIAC, and ICSID rules. His experience in arbitration includes both commercial and
investment treaty arbitration. Moreover, he has advised various states and multinational companies in relation to their rights
under international law.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sameer-sattar/1b/348/a89
Syed Akthar Hasan Uddin, Managing Director, MAAR Ltd.
Syed is the Managing Director at MAAR Ltd. Syed has over 15 years of experience as a human resources specialist. He was
one of the founders of the Bangladesh Society for Human Resources Management, which was set up to promote HR best
practices in Bangladesh. He is a Partner of Managewell HR Consultancy, a director of Alumina (PVT.) Ltd., Family Products
(PVT.) Ltd and of Guardian Life, a newly-formed life insurance company. Syed completed his MBA from Cardiff University,
Wales, UK and qualified as an Accountant from the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts of England and Wales.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/syed-a-h-uddin/5/888/322
Khadem Mahmud Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh Petrochemical Company Ltd
Khadem has over 20 years of experience working in the USA and Bangladesh. Prior to forming Bangladesh Petrochemical
Company Limited (BPCL), he had worked for five years as the Country Manager of Global Services for Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka at Nokia Solutions & Networks. He was also the CEO and Chairman of Alap Communication, a Nationwide Broadband
Wireless Data Network service provider in Bangladesh and National Data Consultant for Bangladesh Bank. Before moving
back to Bangladesh, he worked at Cowave Networks in Fremont, California, USA, as an Architect and Designer for next
generation cost effective NLOS (Non Line of Sight) Broadband Wireless Access Systems. Khadem M Yusuf holds a B.S. in
Electrical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, USA and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M
University, Texas, USA.
Linkedin: bd.linkedin.com/pub/khadem-mahmud-yusuf/7/a2a/a84
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
48
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
GIST TEAM @ CRDF Global
Natalia Pipia, Associate Program Director, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, CRDF Global
Bio: Natalia Pipia develops and oversees Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programs at CRDF Global. She expands and generates
new opportunities with the private sector, foundations, and international organizations that share CRDF Global’s mission of
advancing technology entrepreneurship in emerging economies. A critical part of her current position is developing vision
and outreach strategies as well as overseeing a portfolio of programs that source and provide support to tech companies. She
executes several programs, including GIST and the VentureOut Challenge, that support hundreds of early stage entrepreneurs
in the Middle East, Africa, Eurasia, South East Asia, and the Caribbean regions by providing education, technical skills,
seed funding, and U.S. market access to entrepreneurs. Natalia advises on policy and programs that promote all aspects of
entrepreneurial ecosystem building. She holds a M.A. in International Relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced
International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliapipia
Twitter: @NataliaPipia
Ovidiu Bujorean, Senior Program Manager, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, CRDF Global
Bio: Ovidiu Bujorean manages The GIST Initiative, a global enterprise that builds dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems in 54
countries across the Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Asia. Since 2011, GIST has built an online global community of 200k
entrepreneurs, trained more than 3k entrepreneurs, vetted and mentored fast growing tech entrepreneurs who raised $21M+
in funding and generated 800 jobs and $15M in revenue. Ovidiu built a network of global partnerships with likeminded
organizations such as MIT Enterprise Forum, Startup Malaysia, TOBB/ Tepav, infoDev and Microsoft as well as attracted the
support of globally recognized entrepreneurs and investors such as Jeff Hoffman, Co-founder and Former CEO of Priceline,
Nolan Bushnell Co-founder of Atari and Ali Sabanci, Chairman of Pegasus Airlines. He was Senior Associate at Rudyard
Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in consumer technologies. Mr. Bujorean serves as Chairman of the Board
of Advisors of AIESEC DC and Vice-Chairman of MIT Enterprise Forum DC.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bujorean
Twitter: @ovidiubujorean
Amanda Gant, Associate Program Manager, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, CRDF Global
Amanda Gant joined CRDF Global in March 2012 where she works with international partners to organize startup boot
camps and virtual mentorship programs. Amanda has long had the entrepreneurship bug, selling bracelets on the beach of her
hometown since middle school, and it was this experience which inspired her to study international development, hoping to
empower others to realize their dreams by starting their own businesses. Amanda supports her local community by organizing
the annual “Glover Park Day” showcasing local area businesses and non-profits. For five years she also led service-oriented
ecotourism trips to Nicaragua to promote travel and cultural exchange. She received her Master of Public Policy and Bachelor
of Science in Foreign Service both from Georgetown University.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalynngant
Twitter: @amandagant
49
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dr. Anna Quider, GIST & Innovation Program Manager, U.S. Department of State
Dr. Anna Quider works to improve local and global communities through international cooperation by
supporting U.S. Department of State policies and programming at the intersection of science, innovation, and
diplomacy, including the GIST Initiative. Previously, Dr. Quider developed strategies to address local, national,
and international issues spanning education, science, innovation, and foreign affairs for the Office of Rep. Russ
Carnahan, U.S. House of Representatives. Dr. Quider is an astrophysicist who regularly engages broad audiences on
topics including astronomy, professional development, and policy.
Twitter: www.linkedin.com/in/annaquider
Kathryn Pharr, Science, Technology & Innovation Program Manager, U.S. Department of State
Ms. Kathryn Pharr, PMP, manages programs that enhance the impact of science, technology, and innovation to
solve global and local challenges, including the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative.
Previously, Ms. Pharr used her chemistry masters degree to help a start-up sustainable natural care company
receive a worldwide exclusive patent from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She has also worked with USAID in
Egypt, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Indonesia.
Twitter: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathryn-pharr-ms-pmp/6/393/11a
Dr. Sara Klucking, Global Engagement Team Lead, U.S. Department of State
Sara Klucking came to the U.S. Department of State from the Science and Technology Directorate of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security where she managed a diverse S&T portfolio of risk analytics, simulation
modeling, and health security projects aimed at supporting science based decision making in health security and
counterterrorism program investments in DHS and the broader homeland security enterprise. Her federal service
began through an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship and included a year serving in the U.S. House of
Representatives as a Brookings Institution Legis Congressional Fellow.
Twitter: www.linkedin.com/pub/sara-klucking/4/299/503
GIST TEAM @ US State Department
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
50
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
Fayaz Taher, CEO, Fortuna & Co-Founder, Startup Dhaka
Fayaz is a serial entrepreneur, investor, mentor and a startup and community advocate from Bangladesh and the current
CEO of Fortuna, an innovative group of companies invested across various industries. Fayaz was one of the youngest
Vice-Chairman of the Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods Manufactures and Exporters Association. Fayaz is also
passionate about community building. He co-founded BDtech, which was a community for startup enthusiasts and is leading
the efforts to form an angel investor group. He was the lead organizer of Startupbashbd as well. Fayaz in the past has
organized Facebook Developer Garage & Ruby Tech event. Fayaz as an investor also invested in several startups to encourage
young entrepreneurs to solve the local problems and find solutions including Magnito Digital, Ligthcastle Partners and Startup
Dhaka. He also invested in a co-working space called the Wave.
Fayaz started his first venture at the age of 13 starting in retail and later went on to found Fortuna Fried Chicken while he
was in High School. Fayaz was also a Director of Union Capital Leasing Ltd, and also helps set strategy with Peoples Life
Insurance Company and Popular Life Insurance Company ltd. Fayaz is also an integral member & co-founder of Infrablue
technology which as was announced as one of the winners of the Facebook Fund for their technology skills back in 2008, the
only company from Bangladesh. Fayaz completed his undergraduate degree at Babson College in Entrepreneurship in ‘03 and
completed his masters in International Development and Social Change at Clark University in Massachusetts, USA in ‘09. He is
also a research fellow at Bangladesh Enterprise Institute and a fellow at Jaago Foundation.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/fayaztaher
Twitter: @fayaztaher
Samad Miraly, Executive Director, Olympic Industries Limited, Co-Founder, Startup Dhaka
Samad Miraly is a Canadian-Bangladeshi investor. An Executive Director at Olympic Industries Limited, a publicly listed
consumer goods manufacturing company. He has also invested in Magnito Digital Limited – Bangladesh’s first full service
digital marketing agency; Monasa Learning Limited – Dhaka’s premier after-school education centre; and LiveSafe, a US-based
security app company. His latest investment is in Startup Dhaka, a media site that covers innovative business in Bangladesh.
Out side of startups, he is a director at Universal Financial Solutions Limited, a licensed asset management company.
Samad contributes some time community-building for entrepreneurship and angel investing in Bangladesh. His main interests
lie in working toward upliftment through entrepreneurship, via impact investing and disruptive technologies.
Twitter: @samadmiraly
Mustafizur Rahman Khan, CEO & Founder, Startup Dhaka
Mustafiz is an angel investor, startup community organiser and marketer with over 17 years of experience of heading teams
across diverse industries in Asia. He has started his career as an entrepreneur and later managed brand like HSBC in several
countries. He co founded coolest coworking space in Dhaka and working towards launching his own startup, a business news
site called Startup Dhaka. He is passionate about technology and studies film in his spare time.
Twitter: @startupdak
STARTUP DHAKA TEAM
51
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
GIST ACTIVITIES
JORDAN
MOROCCO
ALGERIA
SENEGAL
INDONESIA
MALAYSIA
TANZANIA
TURKEY
BOOT CAMP
ARMENIA
AFGHANISTAN
ALGERIA
AZERBAIJAN
BANGLADESH
BRAZIL
COLOMBIA
ECUADOR
EGYPT
GEORGIA
GHANA
GUATEMALA
INDIA
JORDAN
KUWAIT
LEBANON
MALAYSIA
MEXICO
NIGERIA
OMAN
PAKISTAN
QATAR
SAUDI ARABIA
SENEGAL
STOCKHOLM
TUNISIA
TURKEY
USA
VENEZUELA
TECH CONNECT
TURKEY
UAE
MALAYSIA
GIST @ GES
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
52
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
“Young entrepreneurs from NUST have made the nation proud”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani extended his congratulations to entrepreneurs from Pakistan’s National University of Science and Technology. He commended the Sahara and
Saltech teams for making it to the victory stand at an international business plan competition, titled “Global Innovation through Science & Technology (GIST) -- Battle of Ideas World Cup
2011.”
Read more at tiny.cc/NUST
GIST Entrepreneurs Inspire Female Small Business Owner
in Washington, DC
Mehrunisa Qayyum writes in her Small Business blog post “Small Business Tips to Fight Holiday Stress,” that she was encouraged by the GIST Transformers
she met at a leadership seminar held at the World Bank in Washington, DC during the US Entrepreneurship Journey. Confronted by holiday pressures as the founder of a new Middle East affairs consultancy,
she related to the insights of GIST speaker Jim Bagnola and GIST entrepreneurs in seeking innovative ways to successfully promote and build their start-ups in the crowded marketplace.
Read more at tiny.cc/duelow
Indonesian Minister: ‘We need four million entrepreneurs’
They hosted a recent conference and business plan competition to inspire, educate and cajole young people into taking the plunge. “There’s a real craving for this kind of knowledge here,” according to
Ovidiu Bujorean, program manager for Global Innovation through Science and Technology, the US-based agency that ran the event. “Energy, drive, optimism – the people I’ve seen here are the ones who
can take the Indonesian economy into the new global economy of knowledge, ideas and prosperity. [Disclosure: I spoke, judged and put together a panel discussion at this event, implemented by CRDF
Global and funded by the US State Department.]
Read more at tiny.cc/GISTinFORBES
Road Trip! Founders Of YouTube, LinkedIn and Others Tackle
Brain Drain in Malaysia
Malaysia has a very young population, 65% of which is under 35, as well as the need to create jobs quickly. Hwang says entrepreneurship can create alternatives to other activities. “In many cases the
government is responding to demand by the people,” she says, like in Indonesia, where a grassroots movement began. “The government recognized entrepreneurship to be a good cause to engage young
talent and create alternatives to other activities.”She observes that the U.S. government has been promoting entrepreneurship in Muslim-dominated countries with this goal. “The GIST initiative is a
partner of StartupMalaysia.org”
Read more at tiny.cc/BRAINDRAIN
GIST IN THE NEWS
GIST IN THE NEWS
53
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
Lebanon turns to apps to avoid growing
violence linked to Syria
Mohammad Taha, Lebanese entrepreneur and the second place winner of GIST Tech-I 2012 competition, featured for his mobile app, ma2too3a. The
crowd-sourced map app takes real-time information from its users about protests, traffic, roadblocks and classes and then feeds into the map.
Ma2too3a has been downloaded over 80,000 times.
Read more at tiny.cc/ma2too3a
SecQme joins the fight against crime in Malaysia
Meet the Coolest Next-Generation Science Entrepreneurs in MENA
At the second Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Istanbul recently, we at Wamda were tremendously inspired by the contestants in the Global Innovation through Science & Technology (GIST) Competition,
who came from all over the Middle East and North Africa to showcase their carefully-honed scientific ideas that could transform our societies.
Read more at tiny.cc/WAMDA
Heart Attack Monitor Wins US Startup Contest for Middle East
Most Middle East entrepreneurs can only dream of a startup oasis such as California’s Silicon Valley that is filled with angel investors and venture capitalists. But
a few entrepreneurs have begun receiving funding from a more unlikely source - the U.S. government. One of those entrepreneurs, Ziad Sankari, was just 17 when
he lost his father to a heart attack. Today, the Lebanese engineer is building a startup based on a medical device that can monitor cardiac patients outside the
hospital around the clock. His startup idea won a first place prize of $20,000 in the final rounds of the U.S.-sponsored GIST Tech-I Competition held in Istanbul
last December. That funding from the U.S. State Department may help Sankari and his colleague, Najwa Sahmarani, develop a business plan for their “Cardio
Diagnostics” startup. The competition also provided business mentoring by flying in experts from MIT and Silicon Valley. “GISTech was our shortcut towards better connections and visibility and provided
us, indeed, with some cash and unmatchable opportunities to visit Silicon Valley and possibly find a collaborator there,” Sankari said.
Read more at tiny.cc/msnGIST
One of the GIST Initiative ventures, SecQme from Malaysia, highlighted in a BBC news article about crime prevention in the country.
SecQme is the first mobile safety app made for Android and iPhone that allows users to ensure others are aware of their whereabouts
whenever they’re feeling unsafe.

Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23750925
GIST IN THE NEWS
GIST IN THE NEWS
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
54
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
Non-Government Programs
Entrepreneur Week - www.entrepreneurweek.net
Entrepreneur Meetup - entrepreneur.meetup.com
Global Community for Advancing Studies on Entrepreneurship - www.gcase.org
10,000 Women Initiative - www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000women/
Global Entrepreneurship Leadership Symposium - entrepreneurship.intel.com/community/gels-community
Global Entrepreneurship Week - www.unleashingideas.org
Microsoft BizSpark - www.mitef.org
OPEC Fund for International Development - www.ofid.org
Global Student Entrepreneur Awards - www.gsea.org
YoungEntrepreneur.com - www.youngentrepreneur.com/about-us
General Resources
Entrepreneur – www.entrepreneur.com
Inc.com – www.inc.com
Red Herring – www.redherring.com
VentureBeat – www.venturebeat.com
Afriqueitnews - www.afriqueitnews.com
Fast Company - www.fastcompany.com
Cnet - www.cnet.com
TechCrunch - www.techcrunch.com
Tech Cocktail - www.tech.co
Satanford Online - online.stanford.edu
Udacity - www.udacity.com
U.S. Government Programs
A New Beginning: Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation – anewbeginning.eonetwork.org
Youth Livelihoods Alliance - www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/10/198490.htm
TechGirls - exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/techgirls
TechWomen - www.techwomen.org
The Global Entrepreneurship Program - www.state.gov/e/eb/cba/entrepreneurship/gep/index.htm
Partners for a New Beginning - www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/new-beginning
Global Women’s Mentorship Program - exchanges.state.gov/citizens/professionals/fortunepartnership.html
Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development - www.ceed-global.org/web/default.aspx
The Entrepreneurship Toolkit - egateg.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/USAID_State%20Entrepreneurship%20Toolkit_0.pdf
RESOURCES
55
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
GIST PARTNERS
REGIONAL
EGYPT
PAKISTAN
TURKEY KENYA TANZANIA
Global Entrepreneurship Program Indonesi a
INDONESIA
SENEGAL
BANGLADESH
TUNISIA
ALGERIA BAHRAIN NIGERIA
MEDIA PARTNER
JORDAN MALAYSIA
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
56
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
NOTES
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
in partnership with
GIST STARTUP BOOT CAMP
22-24 May 2014 • Dhaka, Bangladesh
BEST OF
THREE IDEAS I HAD NOT
THOUGHT OF BEFORE:
WEBSITES I HAVE TO CHECK OUT: TOP FIVE PEOPLE TO
FOLLOW UP WITH:
THINGS I FEEL INSPIRED
TO DO AFTER BOOT CAMP:
MOST INTERESTING IDEA I HAD:
FAVORITE QUOTES:
PRESENTATIONS I MUST
CHECK ON LATER:
PEOPLE I WANT TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER:
@
@
@
@
@
@
T h e G I S T I n i t i a t i v e i s a p a r t n e r s h i p l e d b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e a n d C R D F G l o b a l .
58
FOLLOW US TO RECEIVE NEWS ON NEW EVENTS
HOW TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE GIST INITIATIVE
@GISTinitiative
facebook.com/GISTinitiative
tiny.cc/LinkedInGIST
http://pinterest.com/gistinitiative
tiny.cc/gistnews
www.gistinitiative.org
The GIST Initiative is not responsible
for information provided by third parties.
SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMUNITY SPONSORS
GIST START UP BOOT CAMP PRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close