Starting a business from the ground up is a journey filled with late nights, tough decisions, and steep learning curves. But for those who’ve walked the path, it also offers lessons that no textbook can teach. We asked 9 inspiring founders to share their most important lessons from building their startups in Bangladesh—from tech platforms and food brands to health and hosting businesses. Their stories offer real-world insight into what it really takes to build something that lasts.
Table of Contents
1. Salman Ali – Founder & CEO, Pricekoto.com
Lesson: Be prepared to do it all—and focus on building, not hyping.
“When you’re building from scratch, you’ll have to do everything—from playing peon to CEO. It demands your full commitment. The second biggest lesson is this: focus more on the product than marketing. A great product markets itself. Prioritize building something that solves a real problem exceptionally well.”
2. A.M.M Habibul Mustafa – Co-founder, Khaas Food
Lesson: Passion, perseverance, and purpose fuel the journey.
“Building a company takes an endless supply of passion and effort. You’ll face hurdles, societal expectations, and questions like, ‘Why pursue this after a business degree?’ But if you’re passionate, hard work won’t feel painful. What’s critical is working as a team—build a culture where people feel valued and want to contribute.
We’re not doing this just for profit. Pure, adulteration-free food is a noble cause. This mission gives us strength to keep going, even through the toughest days.”
3. Sidrat Talukdar – Founder, Maverick Studios
Lesson: The right people are everything.
“Your partners, mentors, and support system shape your journey. Having great partners is like a cheat code to building a successful business. If you get the chance to work with people you respect—value it. Don’t waste it.
Also, don’t lose track of your personal life while giving your 100% to your venture. Believe in yourself, focus on fundamentals, and always keep learning.”
4. Shahrear Sattar – Pickaboo
Lesson: Confidence is good, but balance is better.
“Confidence is essential, but don’t let it cloud your judgment. Don’t sacrifice long-term goals for short-term wins. Sustainable growth always beats quick wins. Make decisions that are rooted in long-term vision and keep your work ethic strong.”
5. Saleh Ahmed – Founder, ExonHost
Lesson: Master the craft and stay patient.
“There’s a misconception that the hosting business is easy money. It’s not. This is a service business, and keeping customers happy is very hard. Before jumping in, make sure you know the technical details.
Learning never stops. Keep improving your skills, and always offer the best service possible. Patience and quality will build your business.”
6. Mehedi Hasan – Founder, Knock
Lesson: Passion fuels hard work—and vice versa.
“There’s no shortcut to success. I worked relentlessly—day and night—and still felt I could do more. That’s the level of dedication required. The amount of hard work you put in reflects how passionate you are about your venture. Passion without action leads nowhere.”
7. Habib Ullah Bahar – Co-founder, Field Buzz
Lesson: Start lean. Listen. Adapt. Repeat.
“The biggest lesson for us was embracing the lean startup model. We didn’t waste time writing detailed business plans or pitching to investors. Instead, we spent time in the field, talking to real users in rural areas. That feedback helped us pivot both our product and business model early on.
Build a minimum viable product. Test it. Measure results. Learn from them. Once you get it right, the business plan will write itself and investors will come looking for you.”
8. Muhammad Shahin – Founder, Pbazaar.com
Lesson: Focus on revenue, not investment.
“Too many startups chase investors early on. But what really matters is revenue. Focus on generating income first.
Also, patience is crucial, especially in Bangladesh’s online business space. You’ll stumble often, but resilience is everything. Find someone who supports you through the lows—and if you do, never let go.”
9. Muhammad Abdul Matin Emon – Founder, Doctorola
Lesson: Understand your market deeply and choose partners wisely.
“My first startup failed because we didn’t achieve product-market fit. The market simply wasn’t ready for what we were building. That was a critical lesson.
Also, partnerships can make or break your business. You need to strike a balance between personal relationships and professional decisions. In one of my earlier ventures, failing to manage this balance hurt us all.
Finally, we underestimated how much investment and effort our freelancing platform would require. That mistake taught me to plan realistically and prepare for the long haul.”
10. Md. Fahim Mashroor – Co-founder, Bdjobs & AjkerDeal
Lesson: Build for long-term value, not short-term buzz.
“Too often, startups focus on rapid traction instead of solving long-term problems. With Bdjobs, our focus was clear: create a job market solution that lasts. Sustainable growth takes time, and it’s okay to move slow as long as you move in the right direction. What matters is value creation—not just valuation.”
Final Thoughts
These founders come from diverse industries but share common wisdom: focus on solving real problems, build with purpose, choose the right people, and never stop learning. Whether you’re launching your first startup or trying to revive an existing one, these lessons can offer guidance that’s rooted in real-world experience.
What’s your biggest lesson from building something from scratch? Share your story in the comments below.