A New Chapter for Women in Innovation: Alavee Hossain Joins BWIN as President

Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem has grown remarkably over the past decade, attracting new founders, investors, and innovators. Yet one challenge remains persistent: ensuring that more women are empowered to take leadership roles in entrepreneurship and innovation. Addressing this gap is the mission behind BWIN, an initiative dedicated to grooming, mentoring, and supporting women who aspire to build careers, ventures, and ideas of their own.

The platform operates as a sister concern of Bangladesh Angels Network (BAN), the country’s leading angel investment network. Led by BAN’s CEO, Ivy Huq Russell, BWIN is now entering an exciting new phase with entrepreneur Alavee Hossain officially signing on as its President on 9 March.

The partnership brings together two leaders whose journeys across global financial centres, entrepreneurial ventures, and community initiatives have uniquely positioned them to build a platform that inspires the next generation of Bangladeshi women.

Global Journeys, Shared Vision

Both Ivy Huq Russell and Alavee Hossain have spent significant parts of their careers abroad, gaining international experience that now shapes their work in Bangladesh.

Ivy Huq Russell began her career in global finance after completing her MSc in Finance and Economics from Warwick Business School. She worked first with HSBC Alternatives in London, where she focused on hedge funds and portfolio allocation, and later with Fisher Investments in Silicon Valley in private equity and wealth management, gaining deep expertise in investment analysis, portfolio strategy, and global client relationships. Despite her successful international finance career, her entrepreneurial drive led her back to Bangladesh, where she founded Maya Apa, a pioneering health-tech platform connecting users with verified experts for health, legal, and life advice through anonymous, real-time messaging. The platform quickly established itself as an innovative solution in digital wellbeing.

Maya gained international recognition and partnered with Facebook under the Free Basics initiative, making digital wellbeing services more accessible to people across the country. Ivy’s work has also been globally acknowledged. She was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and has mentored startups through Google’s Launchpad programme. She further strengthened her leadership journey through executive education at the Harvard Kennedy School. Today, as CEO of Bangladesh Angels Network, Ivy focuses on strengthening early-stage investment in Bangladesh while helping promising startups access mentorship, networks, and capital.

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Alavee Hossain’s journey has been equally global and multidimensional. After completing her degree in Computer Engineering and Fine Arts at the University of Pittsburgh, she began her career in the United States with global financial institutions including BNY Mellon, where she eventually became Vice President in Alternative Investment Services.

Working in New York’s financial ecosystem exposed Alavee to complex investment structures and global markets. Yet her interests extended beyond finance. Drawn to wellness, creativity, and community building, she later spent time in Thailand exploring holistic traditions and curated experiences.

Returning to Bangladesh, she translated that inspiration into entrepreneurship by co-founding luxury Japanese wellness brands Kenshō and Yūgen, which have become well-known destinations in Dhaka for their philosophy of balance, minimalism, and mindful living.

Alavee Hossain has successfully built wellness ventures including Kenshō, Yūgen, and Āhara Wood’s, each reflecting her vision of refined wellbeing and community-centred experiences. At Kenshō, she is joined by two partners, Shamima Huda and Fatema Zahir, whose support and collaboration have played an important role in shaping the journey and growth of the brand. Shamima Huda, often referred to as the queen of restaurants in Dhaka, owns several of the city’s most prominent dining establishments through Emerald Restaurants and Emerald Partners. Fatema Zahir is the Chairman of Bay Leasing Company and brings strong business leadership to the partnership.

Alongside her partners, Alavee’s mother Bali Hossain has been one of her greatest sources of support. With decades of experience in the beauty industry, she has been a constant inspiration throughout her journey. Surrounded by strong and accomplished women, Alavee believes deeply in growing together and supporting one another’s success.

Her commitment to supporting others has also been evident through community initiatives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alavee launched Mummy’s Kitchen, helping home-based mothers transform their cooking into sustainable businesses. She also co-founded Āhara Wood’s alongside Kanta Maswood and acclaimed actress Jaya Ahsan, creating a space where entrepreneurs, artists, and thinkers can gather for meaningful conversations, cultural exchange, and collaboration.

A New Chapter for BWIN

With Alavee Hossain formally joining BWIN as President on 9 March, the platform is set to expand its mission and impact.

The initiative aims not only to support more female-led startups and SMEs, but also to cultivate women investors who understand the problems female founders are solving and the unique challenges they face. The goal is to bridge the gap on both sides: ensuring women founders have access to capital, mentorship, and networks, while building an investor community attuned to the nuances of entrepreneurship as a woman in Bangladesh.

Globally, only about 2% of venture capital goes to female-founded startups, and women make up roughly 10–12% of decision-makers in venture and private equity funds. When these numbers are translated to Bangladesh and the broader South Asian region, the gap becomes even more stark: less than 2% of startups in Bangladesh led by women receive external investment, and women investors remain extremely rare.

BWIN aims to change this by building a pipeline of confident founders and aligned investors, creating a more inclusive, responsive, and impactful entrepreneurial ecosystem that gives women the tools, networks, and support to thrive.

Grooming the Next Generation

One of the core initiatives of BWIN will be organising grooming and development sessions for women, particularly at the university level.

These sessions will focus on foundational skills such as communication, leadership, career planning, and entrepreneurial thinking. The goal is to help young women develop the confidence and professional readiness required to thrive in competitive environments.

Both Ivy Huq Russell and Alavee Hossain plan to personally engage with students as well as experienced corporate professionals transitioning into entrepreneurship through these programmes, sharing lessons from their own journeys across global markets and entrepreneurial ventures.

BWIN also plans to collaborate with universities across Bangladesh to host seminars, workshops, and innovation sessions. These engagements will provide students with exposure to real-world entrepreneurial challenges while connecting them with mentors and industry leaders.

Such initiatives will also help identify young women with strong potential who may later build startups or become leaders in the innovation ecosystem.

Building Community Before Capital

An important principle guiding BWIN’s strategy is the belief that strong communities create strong startups.

Instead of focusing immediately on investors, BWIN plans to first cultivate a vibrant network through workshops, innovation seminars, and community-led learning programmes.

Hackathons and innovation challenges will be organised not only at universities to identify promising student founders, but also in collaboration with corporates to engage women across the professional ecosystem. These events aim to spotlight both talented future entrepreneurs and potential female investors who can contribute to building a more inclusive funding environment.

Those who demonstrate strong potential—whether students or corporate participants—will receive mentorship, guidance, and resources to further develop their ideas into viable ventures, while simultaneously expanding the network of women investors attuned to the challenges female founders face.

As the community grows, investment opportunities are expected to follow naturally through the networks of Bangladesh Angels Network and its partners.

Opening Doors to Entrepreneurship and Investment for Women

For women who wish to pursue entrepreneurship, BWIN will provide practical support in areas such as developing business ideas, building pitch decks, and preparing for investor conversations.

Through the network of Bangladesh Angels Network, promising startups may gain exposure to angel investors and venture capital opportunities, helping bridge the gap between ideas and funding.

A Platform Built on Hope

The partnership between Ivy Huq Russell and Alavee Hossain goes beyond titles or roles; it is driven by a shared commitment to make Bangladesh’s innovation ecosystem more inclusive and accessible for women.

Both have worked and travelled across global markets, gaining experience and insights they are now bringing back home to support young women with entrepreneurial ambitions.

With Alavee officially taking the helm as BWIN’s President on 9 March, the platform is entering a new chapter—one focused on mentorship, community, and real opportunities.

At its core, BWIN sends a simple but powerful message: when women are equipped with the right tools, guidance, and confidence, they do not just build businesses—they shape the future of the ecosystem itself. Through this initiative, a new generation of Bangladeshi women will have the support and platform they need to turn ambition into meaningful impact.