Bangladeshi AI Startup Story Engine Raises $750K to Transform Software

This week, the spotlight is on Bangladesh’s software and startup industries as Story Engine Inc., an AI company co-founded by Sheikh Srijon, who graduated from Dhaka, has successfully raised $750,000 in funding. pre-seed funding from prominent Silicon Valley firm Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z). This move highlights the growing strength of our local tech talent and places Bangladesh on the global software development map. Founded by a team of three, Story Engine is building a generative AI platform that enables users to create original webtoon-style comics and anime stories with minimal effort. Their goal is to empower small studios and creative freelancers by automating complex storytelling steps, like character design, dialogue, and panel layout. With this funding round closed just within the past week, they’re ready to expand R&D and sharpen their software for international users. This news reflects larger trends in Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem, where software development is quickly evolving from basic outsourcing to creating global SaaS products. Story Engine is now among several promising ventures led by Bangladeshi founders, demonstrating that local software innovation can secure top-tier VC attention. The new funds will help Story Engine hire more AI engineers and build the technology for public use. By focusing on creative software, the team aims to tap into markets in Japan, South Korea, and other countries with strong interest in anime and digital storytelling. The success of Story Engine also connects to Bangladesh’s growing emphasis on startup support. Entities such as Startup Bangladesh Ltd., along with angel networks and accelerator programs, are actively encouraging scalable software ventures. This alignment shows how the core startup sector and software development are working in harmony to promote tech-led growth. From a software engineering perspective, the startup’s creative AI represents a new wave of applied machine learning tools—ones designed to be accessible for non-technical users. Its success could inspire developers to explore other verticals where content creation and automation merge. Global visibility: A16Z’s support signals that Bangladeshi software firms can compete globally. Local inspiration: The win may motivate other software startups in Dhaka, Chattogram, and across Bangladesh. Skill development: Engineers and designers will have growth opportunities in machine learning, UX, and cloud infrastructure. As development begins, Story Engine embodies a future where Bangladeshi software startups shape global creative industries—not just serve local markets. If successful, their model could be applied to sectors like educational content, local storytelling, and niche software tools—all powered by AI.