Startup Dhaka organised a wealth management forum on 9th September, in partnership with IDLC Finance Limited, LightCastle Partners, and Upskill. The event was packed with 16 speakers, 8 presentations, 2 panel discussions as well as some insightful Bangladesh market forecast. Participants can learn in detail about managing money and investment opportunities. The event was designed to break the misunderstandings related to financial planning and show various investment and tax saving schemes that everyone can apply to grow their savings.

Following the success of the alternate investment forum hosted on April 2019, Startup Dhaka believed that a wealth management forum is of high relevance. The wealth management conference from Startup Dhaka had explored core themes impacting personal financial sector, including how various investment products can offer solutions and gain greater savings. The event was an opportunity to share ideas, discover trends and network with peers across the wealth industry. The event had brought thought leadership from brands like IDLC, IFC, MetLife, Ace Advisory, Huda Vasi Chowdhury & Co, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Edge AMC Ltd., Build Bangladesh, Light Castle Partners, The Legal Circle, Bangladesh Angels, and Startup Dhaka.

The 16 different influential speakers at the event who have mastered wealth management in their professional and personal life are Bijon Islam, the CEO of LightCastle Partners; Asif Khan, managing partner of Edge AMC; Ahmed Abdullah-Al- Tamjeed, head of marketing and sales, IDLC Asset Management Ltd.; Anita Ghazi, advocate, supreme court of Bangladesh; founder & partner, The Legal Circle; publisher & co-Editor, LCLR & Think Legal BD; Seezan M. Choudhury, partner, ACE Advisory; Mohammad Kamruzzaman, director, Employee Benefits, MetLife; Nirjhor Rahman, CEO, Bangladesh Angels, former country director, YGAP; Nuzhat Anwar, senior country officer at International Finance Corporation; Arastoo Khan, chairman, Build Bangladesh Advisory Board; Arif Khan, CEO & managing director, IDLC Finance Limited; Javed Noor, general manager, IDLC; Shameem Ahsan, general partner of Pegasus Tech Ventures and Samad Miraly, co-founder, Startup Dhaka.

Shameem Ahsan, general partner of Pegasus Tech Ventures stated, "I think globally the venture capital companies have a lot of contribution in building companies like Google and Facebook.  Sequoia was instrumental in supporting Google. There were Accel Partners and Greylock Ventures who helped Facebook to be a multi-billion dollar company. I think the members of venture capital and private equity associations in Bangladesh will equally contribute in developing the startup ecosystem of Bangladesh and building a few unicorns from within."

Shawkat Hossain, consultant, Huda Vasi Chowdhury & Co and ex-CEO of BD Venture stated, "There is a general lack of awareness among people, even those who have money. They don't have a lot of idea about the money growth instruments in the market. People know about one or two investment instruments but there are many other investment opportunities that needs to be highlighted."

Panel discussion on "Impact Investment, Changing Bangladesh" took place under Bijon Islam as the moderator. Another panel discussion took place on "Alternative Investment in Bangladesh - the way of the future" moderated by Samad Miraly, co-founder of Startup Dhaka.

After the panel discussion ended, the networking session started.

Dr. Ismail Sayeed, CEO and founder, VIOS Health care said, "A doctor will say health is wealth. An entrepreneur knows that wealth gives health. By making the right financial decisions as I learned here at the wealth management forum by Startup Dhaka, people like you and me can lead a life with purpose and freedom as we always wanted."