Startup Bangladesh Limited, the flagship venture capital company of the ICT Division, has announced a significant investment of BDT 20 million in Hishab Technologies Limited. This strategic move cements Hishab’s position as a global leader in telephony-driven conversational engines powered by generative AI.
Hishab Technologies has earned recognition in the field of Conversational AI, boasting over 30 patents across 23 countries, including India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the ARIPO region. Their groundbreaking innovation allows users to seamlessly interact with technology through simple voice commands, eliminating the need for internet connectivity, smartphone applications, and digital literacy.
Hishab is set to revolutionize the Microfinance Industry by serving 8 million users, providing Conversational AI to automate various financial services. The company is also collaborating with retail banks to introduce “HiPay,” allowing individuals to send money via telephone conversation. Notably, Hishab’s call center solution is currently being piloted with “333,” inaugurated by the Honourable Prime Minister on October 18, 2023. In Japan, Hishab serves 22 million TEPCO customers through integration with its Japanese-language call center solution.
After a successful pilot with the State Bank of India, Hishab plans to launch on a full-scale in the third quarter of 2024. Additionally, the company has partnered with a local FMCG company to automate the MSMEs of Bangladesh.
State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication & ICT, expressed confidence in Hishab’s role in developing a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ and making a lasting imprint on the global technology market. MD Shamsul Arefin, Secretary, ICT Division, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Startup Bangladesh, highlighted the transformative impact of Hishab’s service, emphasizing its alignment with the ‘Smart Citizen’ and ‘Smart Society’ facets of a ‘Smart Bangladesh.’
Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Limited, remarked on Hishab’s potential to enrich the startup ecosystem in Bangladesh and create a positive impact on the global investor community.
Mohammad Fayadan Hossain, Co-founder & Managing Director of Hishab Technologies Limited, expressed pleasure in having Startup Bangladesh as an investor, foreseeing their valuable guidance and support in positively impacting every citizen of Bangladesh through telephony-driven Generative AI services.