Bangladeshi start-up partners with Malaysian firm to tap fintech and animation sectors

A Bangladeshi start-up has teamed up with a Malaysian production house to break into two fast-growing sectors -- digital finance and animation -- in a move its backers say could transform access to credit and diversify the country's exports beyond garments.

Brave Horse Ventures Ltd, a Dhaka-based IT and creative services firm, has announced a joint venture with Malaysia's Vav Productions Sdn. Bhd. The partnership aims to develop financial technology platforms for unbanked communities while also producing animation and visual content for global markets.

Brave Horse has already applied to Bangladesh Bank for permission to introduce several fintech products. Its Managing Director, M Mahbubur Rahman, believes the need is urgent.

"There is a huge opportunity in fintech here," he said. "Despite significant regulatory progress in the past decade, a large part of our population is still outside digital financial services."

Rahman pointed to the daily struggles faced by primary schoolteachers in rural Bangladesh as an example. Teachers, he said, are "secured borrowers" with regular salaries, yet many must travel for hours to reach a bank branch -- often making repeated trips before receiving approval for a modest loan. Others resort to informal lenders who charge exorbitant rates.

"If these schoolteachers can be brought onto a digital platform, banks can offer them loans online, and the disbursement process can be completed within half an hour," he explained.

The technology would rely on building a robust 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) database to allow banks to assess borrowers quickly and reliably. Advocates of fintech argue that such tools could cut costs for banks, broaden financial inclusion, and reduce reliance on predatory lending. But regulators remain cautious, concerned about risks of default and data misuse in a country where financial literacy is uneven.

Alongside its fintech ambitions, Brave Horse is investing in creative exports. The company already works with international animation studios, producing short clips and visual effects for advertising and entertainment.

Globally, the animation industry is booming -- driven by streaming services, gaming, and digital advertising. Bangladesh's share of that market remains modest -- exports are estimated at around $1 billion, but industry insiders see significant potential.

"An animation project has multiple components," Rahman said. "Some tasks require highly skilled professionals, others can be done by trainees. That means jobs for young people with different levels of training."

Rahman, who previously coordinated marketing for an Australian firm, discovered how expensive outsourced animation can be abroad. That realisation, coupled with Bangladesh's large pool of creative talent, sparked his interest in building an animation business at home.

"This sector can even become an alternative to garments," he suggested, pointing to the risks of over-reliance on clothing exports, which currently account for more than 80 per cent of Bangladesh's trade earnings.

The joint venture with Vav Productions was formally announced at a ceremony in Dhaka, attended by Malaysia's High Commissioner, Mohd Suhada Bin Othman, along with corporate leaders and academics from both countries.

Vav, which specialises in television, film, music and talent development, will bring creative expertise and global networks. Brave Horse will contribute its technological skills, animation capabilities, and AI-driven tools.

Company officials said the collaboration will pool resources to co-produce content, develop intellectual property, and open new markets across South and Southeast Asia.

Andrea Lau Li Ling, director of Vav Productions, described it as "a bridge between Malaysia and Bangladesh's thriving creative industries."

Brave Horse Chairman Jahangir Mia said the partnership could "showcase our regional culture to global audiences" while creating new employment opportunities.

For Bangladesh, the significance lies in more than just one company's ambition. Economists argue that fintech could extend credit to millions who remain excluded from formal banking, while animation could provide jobs for the country's growing young workforce. Both sectors would also help diversify an economy long dominated by garments.

According to Mr Rahman, challenges are considerable: regulatory barriers, weak infrastructure, and stiff global competition. Yet the optimism among Brave Horse's backers reflects a broader desire in Bangladesh to shift towards higher-value industries.

As the country prepares to graduate from least-developed-country status in 2026, such ventures will be closely watched.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com