A lively panel discussion in Dhaka brought attention to how impact startups can grow stronger with better support and smarter links to schools, funders and industry. It began with a clear fact: many small startups struggle to keep going past a few years. Speakers at the Pitch | Propel | Prosper Startup Showcase said this happens not because founders lack will, but because the system around them is still weak. They pointed to gaps in training, little practical research space at universities, and a shortage of patient funding that matches the early needs of young firms. Panel members urged a new focus on teaching creative thinking and hands-on skills in schools and colleges so students can learn to test ideas, solve problems, and build products that users want. They also said university labs should move beyond being symbolic and become real places where teams can try, fail and improve their work. The discussion highlighted success stories from local firms that grew by solving simple daily problems, showing that homegrown ideas can scale and help many people. Speakers asked development groups, local companies and schools to work together to give startups low-cost access to real users for testing and to share lessons that speed up learning. Training on product design, quality checks and value chains was seen as a practical way to reduce early failures and help founders build stronger offers for buyers. On money matters, the panel called for funding options that suit each stage of a startup: small grants and loans to test ideas, followed by patient investment when a product proves itself. Experts warned that asking for big equity too early can push founders to chase cash instead of making a better product. They suggested simpler deals and shared-risk support to help founders reach the point where outside investors can step in with confidence. Legal and patent help also came up as a priority because new teams need basic steps to protect their ideas without long waits or heavy costs. More local mentors, clearer rules on ownership, and faster processing of simple protections would give founders more courage to try new things. The session ended on a hopeful note: Bangladesh has a young population and growing groups that help startups, including accelerators and local labs. With steady work on education, hands-on labs, smart seed funding and closer ties between business and schools, the panel said impact startups in health, climate and social services could grow faster and make a big difference across communities. Small, steady steps and clear practical help can turn early experiments into lasting businesses that create jobs and solve real problems. Community groups, chambers and traders can join to support marketing, sales and wider adoption.
