Startup Support Spaces: BCC Expands Co-Working Initiative

To accelerate innovation and foster the growth of young entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, the “Establishment of Innovation and Entrepreneur Development Academy (iDEA) Project,” operated by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division, has taken a new step in co-working space management. Under this initiative, 33 out of 51 available desks at the ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka have already been allocated. According to BCC, the application process for the remaining 18 desks is currently underway.

Sources indicate that, following screening and evaluation, the unallocated desks will soon be distributed to new and promising startups. It has been learned that Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser in charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, instructed authorities to cancel allocations of non-performing startups and provide access to qualified and active startups to utilize the iDEA project’s co-working facilities. Accordingly, with the implementation of a new co-working space policy, the project’s activities have become more dynamic. So far, six meetings of the special committee have been held to allocate space to new startups, with the application and allocation process conducted entirely online.

The co-working space under the iDEA project offers entrepreneurs six months of free office space, high-speed internet, meeting and conference rooms, monitoring and corporate networking facilities, and special access to the iDEA Lab.

To avail these facilities, interested entrepreneurs must apply through the official website of the iDEA project. Only IT-based innovative startups are eligible to apply. Applicants are required to submit a copy of their Trade License or BIN, TIN Certificate, the founder’s National ID or Passport copy, and a copy of any grant agreement (if applicable).