What BUILD (Business Initiative Leading Development) does

BUILD (Business Initiative Leading Development) is a private, non-profit think-tank founded in October 2011 as Bangladesh's first national public-private dialogue (PPD) platform. Jointly launched by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), it operates under an institutional framework in which it is formally recognized as the primary source of recommendations for meetings of the Private Sector Development Policy Coordination Committee (PSDPCC) at the Prime Minister's Office. Its core activities span three pillars — dialogue, research, and advocacy — operationalized through seven working committees covering 4IR/ICT, Financial Sector Development, Logistics, SME Development, Sustainability and Green Growth, Taxation, and Trade and Investment.

BUILD's products are knowledge publications rather than software: regulatory guidebooks (a general Business Start-Up Licenses guide plus sector-specific editions for Fish & Fisheries, Leather & Leather Goods, and Pharmaceuticals), the bi-monthly Connect newsletter, policy papers and presentations, annual Business Confidence Surveys, issue briefs, and annual reports. These outputs serve entrepreneurs, private sector firms, and policymakers navigating Bangladesh's licensing and regulatory environment. BUILD does not employ commercial pricing — all outputs are provided free of charge — and the organization is funded through institutional grants and partnerships with multilateral bodies (IFC, UNDP, ITC), national agencies (BIDA, Bangladesh Bank), chambers (DCCI, MCCI, CCCI, FBCCI), and academic/civil society affiliates (University of Dhaka, BCAS, and others).

The organization is headquartered at the DCCI Building in Motijheel, Dhaka, and operates with a lean team of approximately 20 employees. Governance is overseen by a Board of Trustees, with chairpersonship rotating among chamber leaders; Nihad Kabir currently chairs the organization, succeeding Syed Nasim Manzur. Its go-to-market is event-driven and advocacy-focused, leveraging chamber networks and government relationships rather than commercial sales channels.

Name

BUILD (Business Initiative Leading Development)

Legal name

Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD)

Website

https://buildbd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BUILD is a Bangladesh-based non-profit think-tank and public-private dialogue platform founded in 2011 by DCCI, MCCI, and CCCI. It produces regulatory guidebooks, policy papers, and the Connect newsletter while serving as the primary recommender to the PSDPCC at the Prime Minister's Office.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advocacy Services

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)

Keywords

• Public-private dialogue
• Policy research advocacy
• Regulatory guidebooks
• Private sector development
• Business licensing guides

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Support and Grants: As a non-profit organization, BUILD operates through institutional funding from international development partners (IFC, UNDP, ITC) and national affiliations (BIDA, Bangladesh Bank). The organization does not generate commercial revenue but relies on grants and partnerships to fund its research and advocacy activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BUILD is a public-private dialogue platform and private sector think-tank that conducts policy research, facilitates structured dialogue between government and private sector stakeholders through the PSDPCC (Private Sector Development Policy Coordination Committee) at the Prime Minister's Office, and produces regulatory guidebooks, policy papers, and surveys to support private sector development in Bangladesh.

Product overview

BUILD (Business Initiative Leading Development) is a private sector think-tank and national public-private dialogue platform that does not offer a traditional software product. Instead, it provides knowledge products and publications including regulatory guidebooks (Business Start-Up Licenses series covering fish & fisheries, leather & leather goods, and pharmaceuticals sectors), the Connect bi-monthly newsletter, policy papers and presentations, business confidence surveys, and issue briefs. These publications support entrepreneurs, policymakers, and private sector stakeholders in navigating business licensing, understanding regulatory requirements, and engaging in evidence-based policy advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Start-Up Licenses: A Regulatory Guide

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2011Founding partner and co-founder of BUILD. DCCI is one of the largest chambers in Bangladesh representing businesses in Dhaka. Jointly launched BUILD in October 2011 to facilitate public-private dialogue.
• Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2011Founding partner and co-founder of BUILD. MCCI represents major corporations and multinational companies operating in Dhaka.
• Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2011Founding partner and co-founder of BUILD. CCCI represents businesses in Bangladesh's principal port city and second-largest commercial center.
• Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation providing linkage to investment promotion activities and regulatory reforms for investors.
• Bangladesh BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation with Bangladesh's central bank for financial sector policy dialogue and reforms.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational affiliation providing technical expertise and support for private sector development initiatives and policy research.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational affiliation supporting development of policy frameworks and sustainable growth initiatives in Bangladesh.
• International Trade Centre (ITC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational affiliation supporting trade policy research and export competitiveness programs.
• University of DhakasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational academic affiliation providing research collaboration and academic expertise.
• Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation representing the broader chamber ecosystem across Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation providing research expertise on development and policy issues.
• Advantage AustriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational affiliation supporting Austrian-Bangladesh trade and investment linkages.
• WEConnect InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational affiliation supporting women's economic empowerment and women-owned business development.
• Business New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational affiliation providing linkages to New Zealand private sector development expertise.
• Chemonics InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development consulting firm supporting technical assistance programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM): Regional economic research network with a strong Bangladesh base, producing policy-relevant economic research and convening dialogues. Comparable in research orientation with a slightly broader South Asian footprint.

Direct peers

• Policy Research Institute (PRI): Bangladesh-based policy think tank producing research on governance, economy, and private sector issues. Directly comparable scope and domestic focus.
• Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS): Government-affiliated national policy research institute conducting economic and development research. Highly comparable in research output and Bangladesh-focused policy mandate, though with a different funding/governance model.
• Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD): Bangladesh's most prominent independent policy think tank focused on private sector development, trade, and macroeconomics. It is the closest direct comparable to BUILD in mission, donor base, and domestic policy positioning.
• BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD): Research arm of BRAC focused on governance, development, and inclusive growth in Bangladesh. Comparable in research depth, donor-funded model, and policy engagement.

Regional players

• Institute of Policy Studies (IPS): Sri Lanka-based policy think tank serving a similar economic policy advocacy function in South Asia. Comparable as a regional peer in policy research and convening role.

Others

• Adam Smith International: International development consultancy supporting private sector development, governance, and economic reform programmes. Adjacent peer operating on the consulting/implementation side rather than the pure think-tank model.

Broad incumbents

• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): UK-based global development think tank working extensively on private sector development and economic policy. Comparable as a large-scale institutional peer, though operating at a much broader geographic scale.
• International Growth Centre (IGC): UK aid-funded research organisation providing evidence-based advice on growth and private sector development in developing countries. Comparable in donor-funded policy research and country-level engagement.
• Center for Global Development (CGD): US-based policy think tank focused on global development and private sector-led growth. Comparable in research quality and donor-supported policy advocacy, but at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMXJiDuj-BlWfvGioiz2O7Q/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/buildbdorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/build-business-initiative-leading-development-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 BUILD (Business Initiative Leading Development)