International consulting firm LightCastle Partners, in partnership with global technology company Meta, has launched the Meta Small Business Growth Academy in Bangladesh to help small and medium-sized businesses strengthen their digital and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
The initiative will provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with hands-on training on Meta’s digital platforms and AI-powered tools to help them reach new customers, improve productivity, strengthen marketing efforts and explore opportunities to expand into local and international markets, said a press release issued on Sunday.
The programme will deliver workshops and other activities through LightCastle Partners, focusing on helping entrepreneurs strengthen their online presence, effectively use digital platforms and create new business opportunities.
Bangladesh has a growing ecosystem of small and medium-sized businesses, while its expanding digital economy is creating opportunities for garment suppliers, agricultural producers and other entrepreneurs to connect with customers and expand their operations.
The training will cover areas including strengthening online presence, improving digital platform capabilities, enhancing digital marketing, increasing the use of AI-powered tools, improving customer engagement and identifying opportunities for business expansion.
“At Meta, we see every day how small businesses use our AI-enabled tools to reach customers and grow,” said Tehara Punchihewa, Associate Public Policy Manager at Meta.
“The Small Business Growth Academy is about giving more entrepreneurs the practical skills and support they need to use these tools confidently, compete more effectively, and take part in the opportunities being created by the digital economy,” she said.
The Small Business Growth Academy will be implemented in 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, with an initial target of supporting more than 10,000 businesses.
Training programmes will be tailored to the needs of local markets and the specific business conditions of each country.
“At LightCastle Partners, we see every day how investing in grassroots entrepreneurship transforms communities and drives inclusive economic progress,” said Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners.
“Our partnership efforts are about giving more founders the mentorship, insights, and structural support they need to build competitive enterprises and contribute actively to regional development,” he said.
The initiative is part of Meta’s broader Asia-Pacific programme, through which the company will work with governments, industry partners and local business organisations to help entrepreneurs develop practical skills to participate in the digital economy.