Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy- IDEA

What Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy- IDEA does

Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) is a government-backed startup support initiative launched in 2016 by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Headquartered at ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka, iDEA serves as Bangladesh's flagship state-run platform for building the domestic startup ecosystem, targeting early-stage ICT startups, SME entrepreneurs, university students, and hardware/deep-tech innovators.

iDEA's core offering is a non-equity, non-repayable grant portfolio comprising pre-seed startup grants up to BDT 10 lakh (~USD 8,500) for early-stage ICT ventures, SME grants of BDT 50,000 (~USD 425) for small businesses adopting digital tools, and access to free co-working space (up to 6 months, 3 seats per startup). The iDEA Lab provides free hardware prototyping infrastructure, including PCB CNC milling machines, 6 GHz digital oscilloscopes, function generators, VNA/spectrum analyzers, humanoid robotics stations, and VR/AR devices. Supporting services include mentoring by industry consultants, networking events, university activation programs, and exposure to national and international expos. The organization's wholly-owned subsidiary, Startup Bangladesh Limited (spun off in 2020), operates as Bangladesh's first government-backed flagship venture capital fund offering multi-stage investment (seed up to BDT 1 crore, growth up to BDT 5 crore).

iDEA operates on a non-commercial model: it is entirely funded by the Government of Bangladesh and does not generate revenue from its services. Its go-to-market is event-driven (national and international expos, boot camps, hackathons such as Bangabandhu Innovation Grant), community-led (university activation and 'Student to Startup' programs), and channel-partner driven (Startup Circle partnerships with UNDP and UC Berkeley). Since inception, iDEA has funded 450+ startups across 17 categories with 90+ in growth stage, distributed BDT 11.64 crore to 2,329 SME entrepreneurs, supported 357 individuals and 134 startups via co-working, and catalyzed BDT 3,000 crore+ in foreign investment into portfolio companies. The portfolio includes notable alumni such as Truck Lagbe (revenue exceeding BDT 100 crore), Markopolo AI (BIG 2023 winner), Moner Bondhu (5.3 million users), and SKOOT (120+ e-bikes across 5 cities, Walton manufacturing partnership).

Name

Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy- IDEA

Legal name

Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA)

Website

https://idea.gov.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

iDEA is a Bangladesh government-backed startup support initiative under the ICT Division, providing non-equity grants, free co-working space, hardware prototyping lab access, and mentoring to early-stage ICT startups, SME entrepreneurs, and university students across Bangladesh.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Government Grants

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)

Keywords

• Startup incubation
• Government grants
• Co-working spaces
• Entrepreneurship training
• Hardware prototyping lab

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Grant Programs: iDEA is a government-funded project under the ICT Division of Bangladesh that provides non-equity, non-repayable grants to startups and SME entrepreneurs. The project does not generate commercial revenue but distributes funds to support the startup ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

iDEA is a government-backed startup support platform that provides equity-free grant funding (Pre-Seed Startup Grants up to BDT 10 lakh and SME Entrepreneur Grants of BDT 50,000), free co-working space in multiple Bangladeshi cities, hands-on access to a hardware prototyping iDEA Lab, structured mentoring, training, and networking sessions for early-stage ICT startups, SME entrepreneurs, students, and deep-tech innovators in Bangladesh.

Product overview

iDEA (Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy) is a government-backed startup support platform operated by Bangladesh Computer Council under the ICT Division. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of programs including pre-seed grants (up to BDT 10 lakh), SME grants (BDT 50,000), free co-working spaces, access to the iDEA Lab for hardware prototyping, mentoring and training support, and networking opportunities. Investment programs include multi-stage venture capital funding through the main fund and its subsidiary Startup Bangladesh Limited. The ecosystem has supported 450+ startups across 17 categories, creating approximately 7,000 direct and 100,000+ indirect jobs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Seed Startup Grant Equity-free grant of up to BDT 10 lakh provided to early-stage ICT startups in Bangladesh, intended to support idea validation, MVP development, and early operations without dilution.
• SME Entrepreneur Grant Equity-free grant of BDT 50,000 offered to SME entrepreneurs in Bangladesh to support digitization, modernization, or the launch of a new technology-enabled offering.
• iDEA Co-Working Space Free co-working workspace allocated to iDEA-supported startups and entrepreneurs, distributed across multiple Bangladeshi cities.
• iDEA Lab (Hardware Prototyping Lab) Free hands-on access to a hardware prototyping lab equipped with PCB milling, 3D printers, robotics workstations, oscilloscopes, VR/AR tools, and CNC/fabrication equipment for hardware and deep-tech startup teams.
• iDEA Mentoring Program Structured mentoring that connects iDEA-supported startups and entrepreneurs with experienced founders and subject experts for guidance on product, growth, and operations.
• iDEA Training and Networking Sessions Curated training programs and networking sessions delivered to iDEA-supported startup founders and entrepreneurs, often in collaboration with ecosystem partners.
• Startup Bangladesh Limited (Venture Capital Track) Government-linked venture capital fund that iDEA-supported startups can graduate into, providing larger-ticket scale-stage funding beyond the Pre-Seed grant program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ startups funded with over 90 in growth stage
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Walton GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SKOOT Limited, an iDEA portfolio company, partnered with Walton (Bangladesh's largest company) to jointly manufacture e-bikes proudly made in Bangladesh, enabling technology transfer and local production.
• Startup Bangladesh LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Bangladesh's first and only government-backed flagship venture capital fund, emerged from the iDEA Project. Continues to support the wider startup ecosystem with investment and follow-on funding.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2019Strategic partnership through Startup Circle network. UNDP collaborates with iDEA to leverage its global development network, knowledge resources, and international expertise to support Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and startups.
• Berkeley - University of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2019Partnership through Startup Circle to connect Bangladeshi startups with UC Berkeley's academic resources, entrepreneurship programs, and Silicon Valley ecosystem for knowledge sharing and mentorship.
• Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC)coreOthers · 1 January 2016BCC is the parent organization under ICT Division that houses and funds the iDEA Project. BCC provides institutional framework, resources, and government oversight for the initiative.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SGInnovate: Singapore government-linked venture builder investing in deep-tech startups. Comparable in its emphasis on technology commercialization and government backing, but operates as an active investor rather than grant-giver.
• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore government agency supporting enterprise and startup growth through grants, incubation, and global market access programs. More developed but similar government-driven accelerator-plus-VC support model.
• Y Combinator: World's largest startup accelerator providing equity-based seed funding and demo day exposure. Sets the global benchmark for cohort structure and deal flow that iDEA's BIG competition emulates, though YC is private and equity-taking.

Others

• Techstars: Global private accelerator offering mentorship-driven cohorts and follow-on capital. Comparable in operating model (cohorts, mentorship, demo days) but contrasts with iDEA on private vs. government backing and equity structure.

Regional players

• LightCastle Partners: Bangladesh-based management consulting and venture-building firm supporting local startups and SMEs. Operates in the same Dhaka ecosystem with overlapping founder and SME customer segments.
• a2i (Access to Information Programme): Bangladesh government program under ICT Division driving digital innovation and citizen services. Shares the same parent ministry and some funding pathways, with overlap in supporting grassroots tech entrepreneurship.
• BRAC Enterprise: Bangladesh's largest NGO with multiple social enterprise and incubation arms targeting micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs. Comparable as a Bangladesh-rooted ecosystem builder but with a development rather than ICT mandate.

Direct peers

• MaGIC (Malaysia Global Innovation & Creativity Centre): Government-affiliated innovation and entrepreneurship hub under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia providing grants, accelerator programs, and ecosystem support. Comparable emerging-market government-backed model.
• Startup India: Indian government flagship initiative under DPIIT offering tax benefits, funding access, and incubation support to startups. Closest South Asian peer with similar mandate and national-ecosystem framing.
• Start-Up Chile (CORFO): Chilean government-backed startup accelerator run by CORFO offering equity-free grants, co-working, and a global founder network. Closest international analogue to iDEA in mission, structure, and non-dilutive funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/iDEA_ICTD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/InnovationDesignandEntrepreneurshipAcademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/LetsStartupBD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idea-bangladesh
• Instagraminstagram.com/idea_bd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments8 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy- IDEA