BSIC appoints Waiz Rahim CEO

Bangladesh Startup Investment Company (BSIC) PLC, a venture investment firm backed by 39 domestic banks, has appointed Waiz Rahim as its first Managing Director and CEO. The appointment marks a significant step as BSIC moves to build Bangladesh's leading institutional venture capital platform. Under the guidance of Bangladesh — Bangladesh Bank, BSIC was formed to mobilize domestic institutional capital for high-growth startups. The company has launched its first fund, 'Onkur', a US$35 million (Tk 4.25 billion) fund that will co-invest alongside domestic and foreign investors. The fund size is expected to exceed Tk 10 billion within five years, supported by a central bank guideline requiring all banks to invest 1% of their annual profits into startup equity funds. Prior to joining BSIC, Rahim served as Venture Partner for Bangladesh at Sturgeon Capital, a London-based VC/PE firm managing $300 million across Central Asia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. He also founded Deligram, an e-commerce platform, raising over $2.5 million from institutional investors. Mashrur Arefin, Chairman of BSIC and the Association of Bankers Bangladesh, praised Rahim's experience and capability.