Bold Beginnings, Better Building: Lessons from Bangladesh’s Investment Dreams and Global Tech Journeys

The recently concluded investment summit in Bangladesh left many inspired—driven youth, international guests, and a horizon filled with promise. Such events bring with them the echo of opportunity and open the nation’s door to new possibilities.

Reflecting on the summit, one young woman comes to mind—Asrar Damdam. Back in the summer of 2018, she was encouraged to attend a bootcamp organized by Saudi Arabia’s Misk Foundation in Silicon Valley. There, she won first prize for an innovative idea: using LED lighting to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer. Sparked by a lecture on wideband gap semiconductors, she applied the concept to create her idea.

With a pure dream in hand, Asrar went on to win more than a dozen prestigious accolades including MIT TR35, L’Oréal, Forbes, and Fast Company. She was invited to forums around the world—from the World Economic Forum in Davos to global media features. At these events, she shared stages with the likes of Professor Yunus. She even recently appeared at the Baku conference.

Yet, six years later, her startup still remains in the "mode" stage—no product has reached the market. Upon asking her recently, it became clear what was once suspected: the idea, while elegant, may have been too simple and failed to meet the demands of the market and reality.

Still, Asrar's courage is admirable—for she began. Just three weeks ago, a recommendation letter was written for her MBA application, despite already holding a PhD. During her MS with the author in 2018, they co-authored a paper in Applied Physics Letters, which was later selected as an Editor’s Choice.

Bangladesh’s youth is filled with energy and ambition, but there are critical lessons to be learned from global counterparts—because our aspirations are aimed at conquering the world.

Saudi Arabia has spent billions on Misk, GITEX, and LEAP, yet still lacks a globally acclaimed tech brand.
India, through Startup India, has registered countless startups, but continues to struggle with deep innovation despite its powerful NRI network.
Singapore, Malaysia, and Turkey have invested heavily in infrastructure, but the true global impact has remained modest.

South Korea and Taiwan, however, have taken a different route.

South Korea’s Samsung, LG, and SK hynix have demonstrated how innovation can be cultivated through patience, research, and national unity.
Taiwan’s TSMC is not just a company but a strategic force—built on silent, steady, and deep preparation.

So what path should Bangladesh take?

To the youth, the message is clear:
“Your idea may be beautiful—but think deeply about whether it is original.”
“Add substance and silent perseverance amid the surrounding hype.”
“Showcase your ideas—yes—but build to last.”

The nation must not rush toward a startup gold rush. Rather, it should evolve into a land of thought, innovation, and transformation. Our ideas should make the world say, ‘Wow, I never thought of it that way before!’ When our ideas reach that level, the world will lean on us—and then, we can hold others accountable.

Names like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, Jawed Karim, and Sal Khan all passed through the ecosystems of Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, and MIT—whether or not they graduated, they were shaped by innovation-driven environments. That exposure is critical.

Take Fahad, another student from Chattogram, now pushing his startup forward after completing a postdoc at UC Berkeley. It began with NASA funding and has gradually attracted investment. His product: a gas sensor crucial for the safety of electric vehicle batteries. A solid idea—backed by strong academic foundations. Competing in the global market with just copied ideas or basic services is tough. The mantra remains: STEM or extinction. Substance over appearance.

Another promising figure is Imtiaz Humayun, a BUET graduate whose childhood curiosity about the human brain took him to Rice University in the United States. There, during his research in computer science, he made significant breakthroughs in artificial intelligence with the concept of “grokking.”

“Grokking” is not merely learning—it’s deeply internalizing knowledge to the point of intuitive understanding. Imtiaz’s work has shown how deep neural networks can unexpectedly comprehend new information even after initial training—a revelation that may reshape AI, making it smarter and closer to human intelligence.

From fresh ideas to futuristic innovations, the message is resounding: Bangladesh must build not just to begin, but to last—to lead, to inspire, and to innovate.

--- Muhammad Mustafa Hussain
Professor, Purdue University, Indiana, USA

Note: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Digital Bangla Media in any way. As part of our commitment to reflecting diverse perspectives, this piece has been published without any editorial intervention. If anyone feels offended or agitated by its contents, it is entirely their personal concern.