United Finance has handed out its first startup loan under Bangladesh Bank’s Special Startup Refinancing Scheme, marking a new step in support for early-stage entrepreneurs and more inclusive finance in Bangladesh. The first cheque went to AponTech, a social enterprise and fintech startup founded in 2017 that uses a “phygital” platform to improve access to financial services, lower costs, and raise incomes for underserved communities. Under the scheme, eligible startups can borrow at a preferential 4% interest rate, giving young companies a better chance to grow their products and services without facing heavy financing pressure. The handover event brought together Bangladesh Bank officials, United Finance leaders, and AponTech’s co-founder and COO, showing that the move was not only about one loan but also about building a stronger startup system. Central bank officials used the occasion to stress that startups can play a major role in solving real business problems, creating jobs, and supporting the wider economy. They also praised United Finance’s startup product, URise, and encouraged all stakeholders to keep improving the quality of the country’s startup ecosystem. United Finance said it sees these schemes as an important way to help CMSMEs and new entrepreneurs access the kind of support that is often hard to find in the early stages of business. The company also said it remains committed to working with Bangladesh Bank’s refinancing programs and to helping more small businesses benefit from formal finance. For AponTech, the loan is another sign that its model is gaining trust. The startup has built its business around financial access and social impact, and it now hopes to expand beyond Bangladesh to serve non-resident Bangladeshis in the Middle East. That goal shows how a local startup can move from solving small community problems to thinking about larger regional opportunities. The company’s journey also reflects a broader shift in Bangladesh, where more attention is being given to technology-driven businesses that can serve people who are often left out of the formal system. United Finance, which has operated since 1989 and works through 23 branches, says it wants to stay active in CMSME financing and digital financial services. Its mobile app, UMA, also shows how the lender is trying to support modern banking habits. Together, the loan, the platform, and the refinancing scheme point to a useful message: when banks, regulators, and startups work together, new businesses can get the support they need to grow in a steadier and more practical way.
