Bangladesh has seen significant growth in its startup ecosystem over the past ten years, attracting a diverse range of founders, investors, and innovators. Despite this progress, a key challenge remains: the need to empower more women to take on leadership roles in entrepreneurship and innovation. This is the driving force behind BWIN (Bangladesh Women Investment Network), a dedicated initiative focused on nurturing, mentoring, and backing women looking to forge their own paths in careers, ventures, and ideas.
Operating as a subsidiary of Bangladesh Angels Network (BAN), a prominent angel investment network in the country, BWIN is embarking on an exciting new chapter with the appointment of entrepreneur Alavee Hossain as its President on March 9. This collaboration brings together two accomplished leaders whose diverse experiences in global financial hubs, entrepreneurial endeavors, and community projects uniquely position them to create a platform that inspires the next wave of Bangladeshi women.
Both Ivy Huq Russell and Alavee Hossain have traversed international landscapes throughout their careers, shaping their current work in Bangladesh. Ivy Huq Russell kickstarted her career in global finance post her MSc in Finance and Economics from Warwick Business School. She gained expertise in investment analysis, portfolio strategy, and global client relationships while working in London with HSBC Alternatives and in Silicon Valley with Fisher Investments. Despite her successful finance career, Ivy’s entrepreneurial spirit led her back to Bangladesh, where she founded Maya Apa, a groundbreaking health-tech platform providing users with real-time advice from verified experts on health, legal, and life matters through anonymous messaging. The platform gained global recognition and partnered with Facebook under the Free Basics initiative, enhancing digital wellness services accessibility across the nation.
Alavee Hossain’s journey has been equally diverse, starting with a degree in Computer Engineering and Fine Arts from the University of Pittsburgh before embarking on a career in the United States with financial giants like BNY Mellon. Her work in New York’s financial realm exposed her to intricate investment structures and global markets. Transitioning back to Bangladesh, she co-founded luxury Japanese wellness brands Kenshō and Yūgen, renowned in Dhaka for their ethos centered on balance, minimalism, and mindful living. Alavee has successfully built ventures focusing on wellness and community experiences, with strong support from partners Shamima Huda and Fatema Zahir, who bring significant business acumen to the brands.
The formal appointment of Alavee Hossain as President of BWIN marks a pivotal moment for the platform, signaling its expansion and enhanced impact. BWIN’s objective is not only to bolster female-led startups and SMEs but also to cultivate women investors who understand the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to bridge the gap by providing women founders with access to capital, mentorship, and networks while building a supportive investor community sensitive to the nuances of female entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.
Globally, only a small fraction of venture capital goes to female-founded startups, and women representation in decision-making roles in venture and private equity funds remains low. In Bangladesh and South Asia, the disparity is even more pronounced, with less than 2% of startups led by women in Bangladesh securing external investment. BWIN seeks to shift this narrative by empowering a new wave of confident founders and aligned investors, fostering a more inclusive and impactful entrepreneurial ecosystem that equips women with the resources, connections, and backing to thrive.
Central to BWIN’s initiatives is the focus on organizing grooming and development programs for women, particularly at the university level. These sessions will concentrate on fundamental skills such as communication, leadership, career planning, and entrepreneurial mindset to bolster young women’s confidence and preparedness for competitive environments. Ivy Huq Russell and Alavee Hossain plan to actively engage with students and corporate professionals transitioning into entrepreneurship, sharing insights from their global experiences and entrepreneurial journeys.
BWIN also intends to collaborate with universities nationwide to host seminars, workshops, and innovation sessions, exposing students to real-world entrepreneurial challenges and connecting them with mentors and industry leaders. These engagements aim to identify young women with high potential who may emerge as future startup founders or leaders in the innovation sphere.
Emphasizing the importance of community building before capital acquisition, BWIN’s strategy revolves around cultivating a vibrant network through workshops, innovation seminars, and community-driven learning programs. By organizing hackathons and innovation challenges at universities and in partnership with corporates, the platform aims to unearth promising student founders and engage women professionals, fostering an inclusive funding environment.
BWIN will provide practical support for women venturing into entrepreneurship, offering assistance in developing business ideas, crafting pitch decks, and preparing for investor interactions. Through Bangladesh Angels Network’s network, promising startups stand to gain exposure to angel investors and venture capital opportunities, bridging the gap between innovative ideas and financial backing.
The partnership between Ivy Huq Russell and Alavee Hossain transcends titles, driven by a shared vision to enhance Bangladesh’s innovation landscape for women. By leveraging