Light of Hope Ventures held a landmark startup pitch event on Saturday at the Interactive Learning Centre in Dhanmondi, drawing more than 100 investors and five emerging entrepreneurs.

The participating companies — Bangladesh Supply Chain Solutions (BSCS), TYLO, Green Grocery, Protein Market and ICE — pitched their ideas, responded to investor questions and shared details of their growth strategies, the organisers said in a statement.

Waliullah Bhuiyan, Founder of Light of Hope Ventures, said the turnout for their first event “exceeded expectations,” noting that individual investors are increasingly interested in startup opportunities.

The event offered entrepreneurs a valuable platform to connect with investors, receive feedback and explore potential partnerships. Beginning this month, Light of Hope Ventures will hold similar pitch sessions on the last Saturday of every month, each featuring five to seven startups.

“Our mission is to build a platform where entrepreneurs can share ideas, collaborate and achieve real results,” Bhuiyan said.

Positioning itself as a “Y Combinator for Bangladeshi SMEs,” Light of Hope Ventures supports startups across agriculture, education, manufacturing, services and technology by offering mentorship, investment and market access. Its community now includes more than 1,000 startups and SME entrepreneurs across eight sectors.

Supported by Grofin, the event not only showcased innovative ideas but also injected fresh energy into Bangladesh’s growing startup ecosystem.