In a moment of national pride, Bangladesh has once again proven its capability to compete on the world stage this time in the cutting-edge world of fintech. At the prestigious Singapore FinTech Festival 2025 (SFF 2025), one of the largest and most influential fintech gatherings globally, PriyoShop was selected as one of the Top 15 Global Finalists at the Global Impact Champions Awards.
This isn’t just a win for PriyoShop. It’s a historic milestone for Bangladesh, signaling the country’s emergence as a serious contender in the global fintech ecosystem.
Standing Out Among 130+ Global Startups
Imagine competing against more than 130 innovative startups from across the globe, each with bold ideas, cutting-edge technology, and ambitious missions. Now imagine being selected among the top 15. That is exactly what PriyoShop achieved.
The competition was fierce, featuring startups from Asia, Africa and Latin America all working to solve critical challenges in financial inclusion, technology access, and economic empowerment. Yet PriyoShop’s vision, impact and innovative approach stood out, earning Bangladesh a seat at the table with the world’s most promising fintech disruptors.
This achievement is more than recognition; it’s validation. Validation that Bangladesh, with its 5 million MSMEs and vast untapped potential, is ready to lead in fintech innovation. Validation that homegrown solutions can compete globally. And validation that the barriers holding back millions of small businesses can and will be broken.
Bangladesh’s Untapped Fintech Opportunity
Bangladesh is home to over 5 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the backbone of the country’s economy. These businesses contribute significantly to GDP, employment, and community development. Yet for decades, they have faced systemic barriers:
- Limited access to credit: Traditional banks view MSMEs as high-risk, often requiring collateral and credit histories that these businesses don’t have.
- Exclusion from technology: Many small retailers and shop owners operate offline, cut off from digital tools that could transform their operations.
- Financial invisibility: Without formal records or digital footprints, MSMEs remain invisible to financial institutions.
According to the World Bank, the MSME credit gap in Bangladesh stands at a staggering $3.5 billion. This isn’t just a statistic, it represents millions ofsmall retailers unable to grow, innovate or compete.
But here’s the opportunity: Bangladesh represents one of the world’s largest untapped fintech markets. And PriyoShop is helping unlock it.
How PriyoShop is Rewriting the Story
PriyoShop isn’t just another B2B marketplace. It’s a fintech-powered ecosystem designed to empower MSMEs through:
1. Modern Digital Infrastructure
PriyoShop has built a digital backbone that connects over 200,000 active retailers across countless thanas and 1,424 delivery routes. Through a simple app, retailers can order products, manage inventory, track deliveries, and access financial services all from their smartphones.
2. Embedded Finance Solutions
In partnership with leading institutions like LankaBangla Finance, Mastercard, Community Bank Bangladesh, and BRAC Bank, PriyoShop has integrated financial services directly into the merchant experience. This includes:
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): Retailers can restock their shops and pay after selling products.
- Digital Micro-Loans: Fast, paperless, collateral-free loans approved in minutes.
- Bangladesh’s First CMSME Credit Card: Offering financial freedom and flexibility to small businesses.
3. AI-Powered Credit Scoring
Traditional credit scoring doesn’t work for MSMEs who lack formal credit histories. PriyoShop, in collaboration with InsightGenie and Community Bank Bangladesh, developed the country’s first AI-powered alternative credit scoring system. It evaluates retailers based on real-time data purchase patterns, payment behavior, sales trends ensuring fair, accurate and instant credit assessments.
4. Smart Distribution
PriyoShop is transforming traditional distribution models into Smart Distribution, leveraging data, logistics, and technology to ensure products reach retailers faster, cheaper and more efficiently. This not only benefits retailers but also strengthens supply chains and reduces waste.
The result? Retailers using PriyoShop’s platform see an average 20% revenue increase. That’s not just numbers, it’s real impact, real growth and real lives transformed.
The Global Impact Champions Awards: A Prestigious Honor
The Global Impact Champions Awards is not your typical startup competition. Organized by the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) and supported by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), this award celebrates high-impact fintech startups that are driving social and economic progress through technology.
Winners and finalists aren’t just judged on innovation or profitability, they’re evaluated on their ability to create meaningful, scalable and sustainable impact for underserved communities.
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health and Chair of the GFTN International Advisory Board, emphasized the importance of the awards:
“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Singapore FinTech Festival, it is inspiring to see how innovation continues to improve the financial lives of millions. The Global Impact Champions Awards for Financial Health highlight the fintech solutions that truly make a difference—those that help people manage their money, build resilience, and plan for the future. I commend the Global Finance & Technology Network and its partners for this initiative in advancing a vision of innovation that serves financial health worldwide.”
PriyoShop’s inclusion among the Top 15 finalists is a testament to its mission-driven approach and measurable impact on Bangladesh’s MSMEs.
A Proud Moment for Bangladesh
Asikul Alam Khan, CEO of PriyoShop, captured the significance of this recognition:
“Our recognition at SFF 2025 is not just an achievement for PriyoShop; it is a proud moment for Bangladesh. It validates our mission to unlock economic opportunity for MSMEs and places Bangladesh firmly on the global fintech map.”
This moment is bigger than one company. It signals that Bangladesh is no longer on the sidelines of global innovation, it’s stepping into the spotlight. It shows that Bangladeshi entrepreneurs can build world-class solutions. It proves that the country’s fintech ecosystem is maturing, competitive, and ready for global collaboration and investment.
What This Means for the Future
PriyoShop’s recognition at SFF 2025 is not the finish line; it’s the starting point of a new chapter. Here’s what lies ahead:
For MSMEs:
Greater access to financial services, technology, and growth opportunities. More retailers will be empowered to compete, expand, and thrive.
For Bangladesh:
Increased global visibility as a fintech innovation hub. More international partnerships, investments and opportunities to showcase Bangladeshi talent and solutions.
For the Ecosystem:
Inspiration for other Bangladeshi startups to aim higher, think bigger, and compete globally. A validation that homegrown solutions can create world-class impact.
Building a More Inclusive, Future-Ready Economy
As Bangladesh continues its journey toward becoming a global hub for fintech and digital commerce, PriyoShop remains committed to its core mission: empowering MSMEs and building a more inclusive, future-ready economy.
With over 5 million MSMEs still waiting for access to credit, technology, and financial services, the work is far from over. But with recognition, momentum and a proven model, PriyoShop is poised to scale its impact and transform millions more lives.
This recognition at SFF 2025 is not just about celebrating past achievements; it’s about setting the stage for what’s next. A new era of economic empowerment. A new wave of innovation. A new Bangladesh on the global stage.
Final Thoughts
From a B2B marketplace to a fintech champion recognized on the world stage, PriyoShop’s journey is a story of vision, resilience and relentless commitment to impact.
But more than that, it’s a story of Bangladesh, a country with immense potential, driven entrepreneurs, and a growing ecosystem ready to compete globally.
As we celebrate this milestone, one thing is clear: Bangladesh is not just participating in the global fintech revolution, it’s helping lead it.
And PriyoShop is just getting started.