Invest in Chattogram 2025 debuts to attract regional and global capital

The first edition of Invest in Chattogram 2025, a flagship initiative under Occean Venture, was inaugurated at the Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View recently, aiming to spotlight the port city as Bangladesh's next frontier for innovation and investment.

Organised by Startup Chattogram in partnership with Skill Station, BSRM, Chattogram City Corporation, and Shajinaz Hospital Limited, the event drew more than 450 participants including investors, startup founders, government officials, and ecosystem enablers.

Held under the theme "Empowering Startups, Attracting Investment, Building Chattogram's Future", the programme opened with remarks from Dr Shahadat Hossain, mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, who reaffirmed the local government's support for entrepreneurial growth.

In his inaugural address, Arafatul Islam Akib, founder and CEO of Startup Chattogram and managing partner of Occean Venture, positioned the event as part of a broader movement. "This is not just an event, but a commitment to unlock opportunities for youth, startups, SMEs, and women entrepreneurs," he said.

A keynote presentation by Al Muksid Alvi, founder of Skill Station and AR LEADS, highlighted Chattogram's emerging strengths in infrastructure, youth talent, and innovation, branding it as "The Next Investment Frontier".

Ten promising startups pitched their business models before a live investor audience, followed by two panel discussions focused on building sustainable investment ecosystems in secondary cities like Chattogram.

A key announcement was the launch of Occean Venture's national matchmaking platform (www.occeanventure.com), enabling startups to seek funding and connect with investors across Bangladesh and beyond.

The Invest in Chattogram initiative will continue throughout 2025, serving as a platform to catalyse regional entrepreneurship and global investor engagement.