Our Vision

We are a social enterprise helping to catalyze innovation, growth and business opportunities in the digital economy. To empower and inspire the next generation of technology entrepreneurs regardless of background.

Pathfinder will work with you from ‘concept to value’. We specialise in the digital and green economy transformation which all businesses can benefit from, leveraging public and private sector resources. Pathfinder will create a complete strategic roadmap for each phase of your business, connecting you with people having relevant skills. Whether your dream is to build an innovative healthcare mobile app or a cutting-edge fintech solution and everything in between, we are here to give you an extra hand.

Read the complete vision statement

The Platform

Inspire: Monthly webinars conducted by Pathfinder members. “Dragons Den” program in Q4 2021 focusing on British Bangladesh entrepreneurs; live and virtual learning workshops.

Motivate: Pathfinder Hub – connecting businesspeople/organisations, community enablers, and investors through a single digital network. Public and private chatrooms for members to brainstorm ideas, a directory of member profiles and a repository of business articles and news feeds.

Catalyse: Mentoring, crowd funding and access to a panel of professional advisors.

Enable

Pathfinder Innovation Incubator Hub. Providing mentorship and guidance on business plan development, strategic roadmap, financing and launch.

Learn

Pathfinder Entrepreneurship and Technology Academy offering online courses on key skills needed to develop and launch start-ups and scale existing

existing businesses. The enterprise academy will be established to deliver a 12 month enterprise graduation programme for people with enterprising ideas, new start-ups, at first in the UK, followed by Bangladesh, with an ambition to make available through partnerships in other countries who need it most.

Finance

Start-ups in the UK and Bangladesh struggle to raise funding and Pathfinder aims to overcome the lack of risk capital by developing a Business Angel Network

and access to institutional Venture capital and Government Innovation Funds. A crowd-funding platform will be established with necessary regulatory approvals by the end of 2021 to enable British Bangladeshi and start-ups to access broader financing

Who we are

Pathfinder has been started by a group of British Bangladeshi technology entrepreneurs with a passion for helping start-ups and the next generation unlock the opportunities in the innovation economy. They see the massive potential in both the UK and Bangladesh to think differently and unleash power of digital to empower the next wave of businesses.”

Meet your team

“My job is to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better.” — Steve Jobs

Bashir Ahmed

Chairman of Pathfinder

Bashir Ahmed, is an entrepreneur and prominent figure within the British-Bangladeshi business diaspora in the UK and Europe. He is the Current President of British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce

& Industry of United Kingdom and actively involved in trade and commerce related issues in Europe and Bangladesh. Bashir Ahmed was founder Chairman & Managing Director of Kohinoor of India Holding Group in Netherlands since 1981 was owning the largest chain of Indian- Bangladeshi Restaurants and the famous awards winning Indian restaurant the Kasturi restaurant and Catering at Aldgate, London since 2001.
Mr. Ahmed has a hotel management back ground and wide range of investments in Europe, UK and in Bangladesh, including aviation, property, food processing and financial institution. He is the Founder Chairman of Rock Asset management Limited of Bangladesh and Prospect gaze limited and has investment in many other institutions and has eye for innovative ideas and breakthrough projects.

Ifty Islam

CEO, Pathfinder

Ifty Islam is the Co-founder and Chairman of Infiniti Tech, a UK technology company, and Asian Tiger Capital, a Dhaka based Investment banking firm. Ifty is passionate aboutthe potential of

technology and digital entrepreneurship as being the foundation for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. He is also committed to building a bridge and synergies between the UK and Bangladesh digital economies.

Anwar Ali, OBE

Vice Chairman, Pathfinder

Social entrepreneur, devoted family man, Co-Founder and highly motivated CEO of Upturn Enterprise Limited. With over 20 years management experience leading teams that make a difference

to people, communities and business; proven business judgment, strategic capability;

leadership and management experience with the ability to influence all stakeholders and empower and motivate individuals to achieve the individual and collective business goals. Proven track record of managing multi-functional teams in FTSE 100 environment and more recently the social economy sector.

Anwar is highly capable, possessing both strong strategic and operational skills (specialist in social enterprise, business strategy & growth). Anwar carries extensive academic and professional qualifications (MBA, PG Dip (DMS), CMgr FCMI, MCIM, MIoEE). Operationally, he has extensive stakeholder, senior management and project management skills – which is based on 20 years’ successful experience of running multi-functional teams, managing publicly funded projects and developing socially focused business programmes, transforming lives and communities across the Northwest and beyond.

Motivated by challenge and the desire to make a difference to people, supporting communities and delivering a commercial social offer to businesses.

Litu Mohiuddin

Co-Founder, Pathfinder

Litu Mohiuddin is a Co-founder and Managing Director of One More One Group. Litu has over 20 years of experience in diverse fields of Food & Hospitality, Aquaculture, Marketing and Journalism. A Michelin Guide

Chef and sustainable farmer; Litu is a great advocate of human development and loves reading literature, meditating and listening to Tagore Music.

Muzahid Khan

Co-Founder, Pathfinder

After spending 30 years delivering services in local government, civil society and the private sector, Muzahid decided to capture his knowledge and experience by founding Janala Ventura.

Muzahid is actively involved on the boards of organisations such as Maggie’s Cancer Centre, Cranmer Education Trust, Positive Steps, making small contributions to improve the lives of people through knowledge, mentoring & coaching.

Jamal Ahmed

Treasurer and Company Secretary

Having created and managed businesses in the UK and Bangladesh as well as being an avid Liverpool FC fan; I’d like to believe that dreams if nurtured can become a reality

Abdus Hamid

Director, Pathfinder

Abdus Hamid has over 20 years of experience working in the technology sector across various disciplines. He also sits on numerous government friend’s groups such as Conservative Science and

Technology forum and Conservative Friends of Bangladesh. Abdus is also an advisor to Founders4School, a charity that improves the employment chances of students by connecting them to business leaders in their communities.

Seema Islam

Non-Executive Director

I graduated in Biotechnology and worked for the next decade in that field. After my younger son was diagnosed as autistic, I studied in the Department of Disability Studies and graduated from University of

Birmingham with a postgraduate degree in Autism (Children). Since then I been working in the pan disabilities field, across education, health and social care. I am looking forward to working with members on this platform in innovating and developing technology to enhance support for disabled adults and families with disabled children and young people. As I have always been interested in social inequalities and am excited in the potential that digital entrepreneurship holds for women in business today.

Nusrat Mirza

Non-Executive Director

Nusrat got her BSC in Mathematics, Statistics and Economics from Punjab University and MBA from Dhaka University. She has been working on different Fintechs specially in the SME Access

to Finance area. She has also been involved in Intereior Design and Healthtech system, Special educational needs and disabilities.

Anwar Haque

Non-Executive Director

Anwar Haque is an Assistant Headteacher & Technology Integrator within secondary education UK. As well as training teachers, he creates next generation Computing & digital science teaching and

learning curriculums for secondary schools. He is also founder and director of UDES CIC, a UK not-for-profit delivering Government level advisory and consultancy for developing, integrating and implementing Computing curriculums at state secondary education outside of UK. He is committed in facilitating computing education frameworks in Bangladesh.

Khandaker Erfan

Non-Executive Director

During 17 yrs. of experience in Fintech and telecom I have helped several technology companies to establish their digital services footprints. More recently as key Head of Africa operation manager of

Mahindra Comviva and COO of SWIFT TECHNOLGY, I have helped architect, device and execute DFS and Blockchain solution for Africa, US and South Asia market. As a founder and CTO of three technology companies i have innovate and delivered many international fintech project including wallet for AEON Bank, wallet and digital order system for Dhamecha a giant Whole sell company in UK and Digtial loan management platform on blockchain for Robi Bangladesh for 60 million customer.

Moshfeque Rizvi

Non-Executive Director

Moshfeque Rizvi believes Pathfinder shall become a major digital entrepreneurship platform for Bangladeshis and its diaspora to interact and help one another in establishing innovative tech

ventures and collaborations. In turn, he believes Pathfinder shall be a catalyst for Bangladeshi and NRB youth, women and minority empowerment through tech entrepreneurship
Moshfeque Rizvi is a non-practising Barrister, having qualified after an excellent academic record at The City of London School and Pembroke College, University of Oxford where he read Jurisprudence (First Class Honours) and continued to read for the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) Masters degree. After first six pupillage at 24 Old Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, he went to Bangladesh to pursue FinCo ventures and has been on the Board of Directors of Standard Bank Ltd and Desh General Insurance Co Ltd (where he remains a Sponsor Shareholder), and was Managing Director of Times Securities Ltd, a Corporate Member of the Dhaka Stock Exchange Ltd.
He is now a Partner (Development) of Legal Counsel, a leading law firm in Dhaka specialised in inward investment, diplomatic missions, international NGOs, MNCs and local businesses. He is involved with some start-ups in London, being a Director of Sphere Wealth Management Ltd, Emerging Homes Ltd and Capital Consulting Group Ltd, the latter dealing with international prime property brokerage and full-service consulting.

Prof Sanawar Choudhury

Senior Advisory Council Members

Sanawar, having qualified with PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a Chartered Accountant in 1993, has worked across 15 countries with blue chip companies and government organisations including the World

Bank, the IMF and has a number of large businesses in the UK that includes accountancy and audit practice [rciglobal.org], car retailing [swcarsupermarket.uk], warranty [warrantyfirst.co.uk], property and healthcare [swmc.edu.bd]
As a life choice, he now spends his time with his family and friends, strategically managing his businesses, both in the UK and Bangladesh – and – as Professor of Management Practice he innovates, promotes and lectures on digital entrepreneurship and education.

Matab Miah

Senior Advisory Council Members

Matab Miah is a successful businessman and entrepreneur within the Bangladeshi Diaspora since 1974 in the UK.
He actively works with the UK Government and other

private sectors and financial organisations to assist the Bangladeshi community in the UK and Europe.
He is currently Chairman of Newcastle Bangladeshi Association, Director of British Bangladeshi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and President of North East region BBCCI and is involved in trade and commerce related issues in UK and Bangladesh. Mr Miah is also Chairman of Cutpay Merchant Services. His contribution in Bangladeshi Catering Industry has earned him national rewards many times and he held the position of Senior Vice President of Bangladeshi Catering Association UK.
Mr Miah is a prominent business and community leader in the Bangladeshi community in UK and leads various community organisations as part of his voluntary work. He is regularly involved in raising funds for various charitable organisations; he was a member of the organising committee of the Bollywood Ball to raise funds for the St Oswald’s Hospice in 2013, which raised well over £65,000. He continues his work in these sectors and actively performs his corporate social responsibility.
Mr Miah enjoys spending his leisure time playing Golf and Tennis, and angling.

Zubair Hoque

Youth Member

Zubair Hoque – An ex racing driver and the only Bangladeshi to have competed at a professional level, Zubair has turned his drive and motivation towards the design industry. Whilst studying for his

Masters degree in Architecture, he has set up an architectural design business specialising in CGIs for the high end residential sector.

Jahed Miah

Team Member

Jahed Miah is an entrepreneur from the UK with expertise in digital marketing. He is the founder of Purple Social Ltd and the author of Jahed’s ‘Success with social media?’. Jahed’s current role involves

helping clients from all parts of the world, from start-ups to businesses in the events & hospitality sector, with social media management and upscaling their marketing strategies by using social media and creative content creation.
Jahed’s technical background goes back 10 years and comprises of digital design, web and video production.

Moshfeque Rizvi

Non-Executive Director

Moshfeque Rizvi believes Pathfinder shall become a major digital entrepreneurship platform for Bangladeshis and its diaspora to interact and help one another in establishing innovative tech

ventures and collaborations. In turn, he believes Pathfinder shall be a catalyst for Bangladeshi and NRB youth, women and minority empowerment through tech entrepreneurship
Moshfeque Rizvi is a non-practising Barrister, having qualified after an excellent academic record at The City of London School and Pembroke College, University of Oxford where he read Jurisprudence (First Class Honours) and continued to read for the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) Masters degree. After first six pupillage at 24 Old Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, he went to Bangladesh to pursue FinCo ventures and has been on the Board of Directors of Standard Bank Ltd and Desh General Insurance Co Ltd (where he remains a Sponsor Shareholder), and was Managing Director of Times Securities Ltd, a Corporate Member of the Dhaka Stock Exchange Ltd.
He is now a Partner (Development) of Legal Counsel, a leading law firm in Dhaka specialised in inward investment, diplomatic missions, international NGOs, MNCs and local businesses. He is involved with some start-ups in London, being a Director of Sphere Wealth Management Ltd, Emerging Homes Ltd and Capital Consulting Group Ltd, the latter dealing with international prime property brokerage and full-service consulting.

Taukir Aziz

Team Member

Majored in Actuarial Science and since then working in Finance. Tech enthusiast. Like to play chess. Big fan of cyberpunk culture and a graphic design aficionado. I read more fiction than non-fiction.

Safin Ahmed Tory

Team Member

Got my BBA and MBA from Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka. I have been working as a portfolio analyst since graduation. Worked as a Broadcast Journalist and TV News Anchor for 7 years.

Love working as a professional voiceover artist!

News & Media

What’s happening in the world of Pathfinder.

Articles

Covid, Accelerated Digitisation and New Economic Opportunities

The UK ends 2020 facing a bleak Christmas, with the twin threats of a third Covid wave, and Brexit

Doing business with Bangladesh in 2021

For many, Bangladesh is a country known for its garment trade, an industry that now accounts for nearly 78 per cent of total exports.

Press release Pathfinder – looking to the future

Pathfinder is a new Global Digital Entrepreneurship Platform and social enterprise whose vision is to catalyse innovation, growth, business opportunities

Webinars

Pathfinder Launch Webinar

We are a social enterprise helping to catalyze innovation, growth and business opportunities in the digital economy.

Technology and the Recovery in Restaurant Sector Post-Covid

Restaurants have been one of the worst casualties on the Covid Pandemic in the face ofrepeated lockdowns and enforced social…

Are global financial markets in a bubble and risks for Econ Recovery

The major question facing financial markets today, and a major influence on the Post Covid Recovery is whether Central banks

News

A Brainstorming Workshop Organised By BBCCI

To develop support for the next generation start businesses from the British Bangladeshi

ডিজিটাল ইকোনমি: পাথফাইন্ডার সেমিনার। Orthojog | News | Ekattor TV

ডিজিটাল ইকোনমি: পাথফাইন্ডার সেমিনার

Press release : Pathfinder – looking to the future

Pathfinder is a new Global Digital Entrepreneurship Platform and

New platform promotes digital business

A NEW platform which is seeking to encourage digital business was launched last Monday, 22nd March

New platform promotes digital business

A NEW platform which is seeking to encourage digital business was launched last Monday, 22nd March

New platform promotes digital business

A NEW platform which is seeking to encourage digital business was launched last Monday, 22nd March

Pathfinder – looking to the future

A NEW platform which is seeking to encourage digital business was launched last Monday, 22nd March

New platform promotes digital business

A NEW platform which is seeking to encourage digital business was launched last Monday, 22nd March

New platform promotes digital business

A NEW platform which is seeking to encourage digital business was launched last Monday, 22nd March

Upcoming Event

Join with us pathfinder upcoming event

April 06, 2021, 13:30 GMT, 07:30 PM BST

Fintech Webinar

April 06, 2021, 13:30 GMT, 07:30 PM BST

April 12, 2021, 2:00 PM GMT, 07:00 PM BST

Restaurant Webinar

April 12, 2021, 2:00 PM GMT, 07:00 PM BST

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