YY Ventures

What YY Ventures does

YY Ventures Limited is a Bangladesh-headquartered, privately-held incubation and investment Social Business company that supports early-stage entrepreneurs addressing carbon emission, poverty, and unemployment. Founded in partnership with Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen network, the company operates three integrated business lines: (1) Incubation via YY Goshthi, a four-month program launched in 2016 as the first independent Social Business incubator in Bangladesh, which has produced 70+ alumni whose ventures have reportedly impacted 800,000+ Bangladeshis; (2) Direct investment in untested, overlooked social and environmental businesses in Bangladesh, with active assistance in navigating to follow-on venture investors and partners; and (3) Advisory services for family foundations, impact funds, corporations, development agencies, and government bodies covering incubator/accelerator design, innovation challenges, venture building, Social Business strategy, impact measurement and reporting, and investment/grant evaluation.

The company operates a portfolio of sub-brands — YY Goshthi (incubator), YY Trust (non-profit humanitarian arm established 2021), Impact Hub Dhaka (member of a global Impact Hub network), and the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (blended finance program active in 21 countries through 2030). Revenue mechanics combine professional services fees (incubation programs, advisory engagements), transaction-based returns (equity participation in portfolio companies), and grant/soft-loan intermediation through OCIF. Geographic presence is anchored by headquarters in Dhaka (Grameen Telecom Bhaban, Mirpur 1) and a UAE regional office in Dubai (Level 41, Emirates Towers), serving South Asia and the Middle East with selected global reach via the OCIF and Impact Hub networks. The firm employs 101–250 people and positions itself as a Social Business rather than a purely philanthropic or commercial venture, distinguishing it from conventional venture capital and grant-making entities.

Name

YY Ventures

Legal name

YY Ventures Limited

Website

https://yy.ventures

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

YY Ventures is a Bangladesh-based Social Business incubator and investor that supports early-stage entrepreneurs addressing carbon emission, poverty, and unemployment through YY Goshthi cohort programming, direct investments in overlooked social ventures, and advisory services to family foundations, corporations, and development agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Business Incubation & Impact Investment

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM), Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Social business incubation
• Impact investment
• Startup advisory
• Entrepreneurship development
• Venture building

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Incubation Services: YY Ventures incubates early-stage social businesses through a structured program providing training, mentorship, co-working space, and access to investor networks. The organization supports entrepreneurs in launching minimum viable products and raising seed capital.
2. Investment Returns: YY Ventures invests in early-stage social businesses solving social and environmental challenges. Returns are generated through equity participation and successful exits when portfolio companies raise subsequent funding or achieve growth milestones.
3. Advisory and Consulting Services: Corporate services including incubator/accelerator design and management, innovation challenges, venture building, social business strategy development, impact measurement and reporting, and investment/grant evaluation for family foundations, corporations, and development agencies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

YY Ventures is a Social Business incubation and investment company that supports early-stage entrepreneurs in Bangladesh through a structured incubation program (YY Goshthi), seed-stage investment via the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF), and advisory services for organizations. It focuses on social businesses addressing carbon emissions, poverty, and unemployment, and operates a community space (Impact Hub Dhaka) and an affiliated non-profit foundation (YY Trust) in partnership with Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank.

Product overview

YY Ventures operates as an incubation and investment Social Business company supporting early-stage entrepreneurs fighting carbon emission, poverty, and unemployment in Bangladesh. The portfolio comprises multiple brands and services: YY Goshthi (incubator program), YY Trust (non-profit humanitarian organization), and Impact Hub Dhaka (entrepreneurial ecosystem part of global network). The Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) provides blended finance investment for early-stage ventures. Advisory services include Innovation Programs, Venture Building, Social Business Strategy Development, Impact Measurement and Reporting, Investment & Grant Evaluation, and Convening. These offerings work together to provide a comprehensive ecosystem supporting social entrepreneurs from incubation through investment and scaling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YY Goshthi: First independent Social Business incubator of Bangladesh created in 2016, established in partnership with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. Four-month program helping early-stage social entrepreneurs launch minimum viable products and raise seed capital.
• YY Trust
• Impact Hub Dhaka
• Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF)

Products and services

• YY Goshthi

Quantifiable outcome

• 70+ youth entrepreneurs from YY Goshthi program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• YY TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021YY Trust, established in 2021, is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to socio-economic development, health, nutrition, and education for marginalized communities in Bangladesh. Works with local partners to deliver humanitarian relief including flood response and water treatment facilities.
• YY GoshthicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016YY Goshthi was created in 2016 as the first independent Social Business incubator of Bangladesh, established in partnership with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. The four-month program helps early-stage social entrepreneurs launch MVPs and raise seed capital. 70+ alumni have improved lives of 800,000+ Bangladeshis.
• Impact Hub DhakacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImpact Hub Dhaka brings together entrepreneurs, enablers, young talents and professionals from across Bangladesh. Part of a global network offering local experience of a global movement for entrepreneurial, compassionate individuals working toward shared purpose.
• Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCIF is designed to empower young entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, bridging the critical funding gap for early-stage businesses deemed 'too risky' by traditional investors. Uses blended model of grants, soft loans, and technical assistance. Part of global initiative active in 21 countries until at least 2030.
• Professor Muhammad Yunus (Grameen Bank)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNobel Peace Laureate (2006) and Founder of Grameen Bank. Professor Yunus established the Social Business model and has encouraged young people to become Social Business entrepreneurs. His foundational work with Grameen Bank underpins YY Ventures' mission and methodology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Global organization supporting leading social entrepreneurs through fellowships, incubation support, and ecosystem programs. Comparable as a pioneer social entrepreneurship platform with fellowship-style support and a similar global-to-local operating model.
• Acumen: Global impact investment fund and incubation platform operating in South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Directly comparable as an impact investor with blended finance (grants + equity) and accelerator-style programs serving early-stage social enterprises in underserved markets.
• Intellecap (part of Climate Policy Initiative): India-based impact investment advisory and fund manager with advisory, venture building, and blended finance programs across South and Southeast Asia. Comparable as an impact advisory + investment platform serving the same donor and family foundation client base.
• Aavishkaar Group: India-based impact investor and fund manager providing early-stage capital and incubation support to enterprises serving low-income communities. Comparable in offering blended finance, advisory, and incubation across South Asia, with overlapping family foundation and impact fund clients.
• BRAC Enterprises: Bangladesh-headquartered social development organization operating enterprises, microfinance, and programs for marginalized communities. Highly comparable as a Bangladesh-anchored social business platform combining enterprise incubation, investment, and humanitarian relief under one umbrella.
• Omidyar Network: Global impact investment firm with active South Asia portfolio and advisory programs supporting early-stage social enterprises. Comparable as a well-capitalized impact investor and ecosystem builder operating in similar geographies and segments.

Direct peers

• Village Capital: Global impact investment and venture support organization running peer-selected accelerator programs for early-stage social enterprises. Comparable as an early-stage social enterprise accelerator with similar methodology, peer-cohort design, and emerging-market focus.
• Impact Hub Network: Global network of locally rooted impact hubs that YY Ventures already participates in via Impact Hub Dhaka. Comparable as a co-working, incubation, and community-building platform serving purpose-driven entrepreneurs across multiple emerging markets.
• Yunus Social Business (Yunus Social Business GmbH): Berlin-based social business incubator and fund also founded in partnership with Professor Muhammad Yunus, with similar advisory and investment programs across emerging markets. Closest comparable by mission, methodology, and named association with the Yunus brand.

Others

• British Council (Orange Corners Programme): Operator of the parent Orange Corners global initiative (under which YY's OCIF operates). Comparable as the upstream program partner providing YY Ventures access to the blended finance pipeline and 21-country distribution that underpins its investment pillar.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yyventures
• Facebookfacebook.com/yyventures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yyventures
• Instagraminstagram.com/yy.ventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about YY Ventures