Investor Profile: SBK Tech Ventures — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

For founders in Bangladesh who feel overlooked by global capital, SBK Tech Ventures has built its reputation on a simple argument: Bangladeshi entrepreneurs are undervalued, not untalented. Founded in 2019 and led by founder and managing director Sonia Bashir Kabir, the fund invests in early-stage technology platforms that solve fundamental problems for ordinary people, with a particular focus on the digital development of rural areas.

Investment thesis

SBK Tech Ventures describes itself as an impact technology fund. Its thesis is that technology platforms can improve lives at scale in an underserved market, and that persistent funding and incubation for local innovators can unlock a much larger startup crop. The firm therefore looks for a unique value proposition and scalable social impact, not only a fast revenue story.

Sectors and stages

SBK Tech Ventures invests at pre-seed, seed and Series A. Its sectors span fintech, agritech, legaltech, edtech, e-commerce, e-governance, health and climate technology. The common thread is one kind of company: a tech platform that can reach users beyond Dhaka, including rural areas where digital services are still thin.

Fund size and cheque size

A single, firm-stated total fund size is not publicly disclosed in the sources read, and third-party listings vary, so founders should treat any single figure with caution. What is verified is deal-level scale. In 2024, SBK Tech Ventures invested USD 7.1 million across six startups in one reported quarter. Within that round, Markopolo.ai and Jatri each raised USD 1.5 million, Solshare raised USD 1.1 million, and Fashol, Arogga and 10 Minute School each raised USD 1 million. Those amounts describe the rounds, not a fixed cheque policy, and no official cheque range was confirmed from the firm's own site, which could not be fetched for this profile.

Notable portfolio

SBK Tech Ventures says it has 46 portfolio companies and one exit, as reported in 2024, while other databases count different totals depending on date and definition. Named companies include Jatri, a public transport and mobility platform, Arogga, a medicine delivery platform, Solshare, a climate technology company, PriyoShop, an e-commerce platform, Dmoney and Praava Health.

Partners

The firm is led by Sonia Bashir Kabir, whose background spans technology leadership in Bangladesh and international networks in Silicon Valley and Europe, according to third-party profiles. Its most visible partnership is the SM² accelerator, built with SOSV and Bangladeshi technology company Miaki.

Programs, credits and perks

The flagship programme is SM², a seed accelerator launched in November 2021 with SOSV and Miaki for high-potential Bangladeshi startups, initially taking three seed-stage companies and connecting founders with mentors and investors to scale rapidly. No standalone credits or perks bundle, such as cloud or software credits, is publicly disclosed by the firm in the sources read.

How to apply for funding

No open application portal for SBK Tech Ventures was verified in the sources read, so founders should not expect a public form with a fixed deadline. The real route is a direct approach through the firm's website, using the contact address listed in reputable directories, [email protected], with a clear pitch on the problem, the platform, nationwide or rural reach, and social impact alongside the commercial case. Founders interested in SM² should watch for cohort announcements