Invest in Chattogram 2025 Kicks Off with a Grand Opening Ceremony

The inaugural ceremony of Invest in Chattogram 2025, a flagship initiative under Occean Venture, was successfully hosted on May 7, 2025, at Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View. The event was proudly organized by Startup Chattogram, in partnership with Skill Station, BSRM, Chattogram City Corporation, and Shajinaz Hospital Ltd.

With the theme “Empowering Startups, Attracting Investment, Building Chattogram’s Future,” the event brought together over 450 individuals, including students, government officials, investors, startup founders, bankers, and ecosystem builders. It served as a vital platform to highlight Chattogram’s potential as Bangladesh’s next economic and innovation hub.

Event Highlights:

 Opening Remarks:

Delivered by Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Honorable Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, who reiterated the city’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and investment.

 Inaugural Address:

Arafatul Islam Akib, Founder & CEO of Startup Chattogram and Managing Partner of Occean Venture, emphasized,

“Invest in Chattogram is more than just an event—it’s a movement to unlock opportunities for youth, startups, SMEs, and women entrepreneurs. This signature initiative aims to build a future-ready Chattogram.”

 Keynote Presentation:

Al Muksid Alvi, Founder of Skill Station and AR LEADS, presented “Chattogram - The Next Investment Frontier”, highlighting the city's untapped potential in infrastructure, youth talent, and innovation.

 Startup Pitches:

A total of 10 promising startup entrepreneurs pitched their ventures to a room full of investors, receiving strong engagement and interest.

 Panel Discussions:

Two insightful panels explored the city’s investment ecosystem and strategies to strengthen entrepreneurship in secondary cities.

Occean Venture Launches Startup-Investor Matchmaking Platform A major announcement during the ceremony was the launch of Occean Venture’s national matchmaking platform website launch, ww.occeanventure.com where:

 Startups can now submit their business ideas online for funding consideration.

 Investors from Bangladesh and globally can discover and connect with vetted startups for investment opportunities. The platform will gradually scale across Bangladesh, strengthening regional innovation pipelines and investment linkages.

Looking Ahead

The Invest in Chattogram initiative will continue throughout 2025, serving as a signature platform to elevate regional entrepreneurship and global investor engagement. For further updates, visit: www.startupchattogram.org