Bangladesh's technology sector is undergoing a fundamental shift from services-only to a hybrid model that includes product development and SaaS (Software as a Service) platforms. While the country's IT industry built its foundation on outsourcing and freelance services, a growing number of Bangladeshi companies are now building and selling their own software products — both domestically and internationally. This overview examines the state of the SaaS ecosystem in 2026.

Why SaaS Is Growing in Bangladesh

Several converging factors are driving SaaS adoption and creation in Bangladesh:

  • Domestic digital transformation: Bangladesh's banking, retail, education, and healthcare sectors are rapidly digitizing, creating demand for cloud-based solutions.
  • Mobile-first economy: With over 130 million mobile internet subscribers, Bangladesh skipped the desktop era — SaaS products designed for mobile access have a natural market fit.
  • Rising labor costs: As manual processes become more expensive, businesses look to software automation. SaaS tools that reduce administrative overhead are seeing strong demand.
  • Lower development costs: Building a SaaS product in Dhaka costs a fraction of what it would cost in the US or Europe, making the risk-reward ratio attractive for entrepreneurs.

Notable SaaS Companies and Products

Horizontal SaaS (Cross-Industry)

Pathao: While primarily known as a ride-sharing and food delivery platform, Pathao's merchant dashboard and logistics management system function as a SaaS product for thousands of restaurants and retailers across Bangladesh.

SSL Wireless: Their SSLCOMMERZ payment gateway is the most widely used online payment processing platform in Bangladesh, essentially a fintech SaaS that processes millions of transactions monthly.

Nexis Limited: Nexis Limited has developed a portfolio of SaaS products targeting specific business verticals. Ultimate HRM provides cloud-based human resource management including payroll, attendance, and performance tracking. Digital Menu is a contactless ordering and menu management platform for restaurants and hotels. Digital School digitizes school administration from admissions to grade management.

Vertical SaaS (Industry-Specific)

Therap (BD) Ltd: The most successful SaaS export from Bangladesh, Therap's platform for disability service management is used by over 300,000 users across all 50 US states. The company generates the majority of its revenue from US-based subscription customers while maintaining its engineering team in Dhaka.

ShopUp: A B2B commerce platform that provides inventory management, digital payments, and logistics tools to small retailers. ShopUp has raised over $100 million in venture funding and serves hundreds of thousands of small shop owners.

Chaldal: Beyond e-commerce, Chaldal has developed proprietary warehouse management and logistics optimization software that could potentially be spun off as standalone SaaS products for the broader retail industry.

Market Size and Growth Projections

The domestic SaaS market in Bangladesh is estimated at $150-200 million in 2025, growing at approximately 30-35% annually. This figure includes subscription-based software for business operations, fintech platforms, edtech services, and enterprise productivity tools.

SaaS export revenue is harder to isolate from total IT exports but is estimated at $200-300 million, with Therap BD alone contributing a significant portion. The combined SaaS market (domestic + exports) is projected to reach $800 million to $1 billion by 2028.

Investment Landscape

Venture capital investment in Bangladeshi SaaS and tech companies has increased substantially:

  • ShopUp: Raised $75 million Series B in 2021 (led by Peter Thiel's Valar Ventures) and subsequent rounds
  • Pathao: Multiple funding rounds totaling over $100 million
  • Startup Bangladesh Limited: Government-backed VC with a $50 million fund investing in early-stage tech companies
  • Anchorless Bangladesh: A dedicated Bangladesh-focused venture fund

International investors are showing increasing interest, though Bangladesh still receives a fraction of the VC funding that goes to Indian or Southeast Asian startups. The gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity — SaaS companies in Bangladesh can achieve significant domestic market share with relatively modest funding.

Challenges Facing SaaS Companies

Payment Collection

Collecting recurring SaaS subscription payments from domestic B2B customers remains challenging. Many Bangladeshi businesses are not accustomed to software subscriptions, and digital payment adoption — while growing — is still not universal for B2B transactions.

Customer Education

Convincing traditional businesses to adopt cloud-based tools over spreadsheets and manual processes requires significant sales effort. The customer acquisition cost for domestic SaaS is often higher than expected due to the education required.

The Path Forward

The most promising strategy for Bangladeshi SaaS companies appears to be a dual-market approach: building and validating products domestically (where customer proximity enables rapid iteration) and then adapting them for international markets (where willingness to pay is higher). This is the model that companies like Nexis Limited are pursuing with products like Bondorix, which is designed for both local and global business operations. Learn more about these solutions on the products page.