Bijon Islam
Co-founder & CEO, LightCastle Partners
Registration openSummit · In person
LightCastle Smart Capital Summit 2026
Connecting global impact investors with high-growth enterprises in emerging South Asian markets. Join institutional leaders, policy makers, and founders for two days of keynotes, panels and roundtables.
- Date
- Wed–Thu, October 14–15, 2026
- Time
- 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (BST)
- Venue
- Radisson Blu Ballroom, Dhaka
Overview
About the summit
The Smart Capital Summit brings together institutional investors, policymakers and founders to map practical routes for deploying private capital into South Asia’s high-growth enterprises.
Over two days of keynotes, panels and closed-door roundtables, participants will examine blended finance models, regulatory reform and the pipeline of investment-ready SMEs in Bangladesh and the region.
Who should attend
- Impact investors
- Development finance institutions
- Policymakers
- Founders & SMEs
- Banks & NBFIs
- Ecosystem builders
What you’ll gain
Market intelligence
Fresh data on deal flow, valuations and sector demand.
Curated connections
Matchmaking between investors and investment-ready enterprises.
Financing models
Practical blended-finance structures that have worked.
Policy insight
Direct dialogue with regulators on reform priorities.
Agenda
Two days of keynotes, panels and roundtables
Day 1 · Wed, Oct 14
09:00to 09:30
NetworkingRegistration & networking breakfast
Ballroom foyer
09:30to 10:15
KeynoteOpening keynote: The state of smart capital in South Asia
Bijon Islam, Co-founder & CEO, LightCastle Partners
Main hall
10:30to 11:45
PanelBlended finance that works: lessons from Bangladesh
Mehedi Karim · Ayesha Rahman · Moderated by Zahedul Amin
Main hall
12:00to 13:00
RoundtableInvestor–founder matchmaking
Closed-door sessions by sector
Breakout rooms A–C
14:00to 15:15
PanelRegulatory reform for private equity deployment
Policymakers and DFI representatives
Main hall
15:30to 17:30
ShowcasePitch showcase: investment-ready SMEs
12 selected enterprises
Main hall
Speakers
Featured speakers
Mehedi Karim
Investment Strategy · South Asia
Ayesha Rahman
Public Policy · Bangladesh
Nusrat Begum
Climate Resilience · Field Research
Samir Hossain
Fintech Founder · Market Systems
Hosted with
Venue
Getting there
Radisson Blu Ballroom
Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, Airport Road, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka 1206
- Doors open at 8:30 AM. Please bring photo ID for check-in.
- The venue is step-free and wheelchair accessible.
- Parking available on site; shuttle from Kuril on request.
Who can register?
Registration is open to investors, DFIs, policymakers, founders and ecosystem partners. Seats are limited and confirmed by email.
Is there a registration fee?
Contact the events team for current registration terms.
Will sessions be recorded?
Keynotes and panels are recorded and shared on our videos page after the summit. Roundtables are not recorded.
Can I attend only one day?
Yes. Choose the day you plan to attend when you register.
How do I apply for the pitch showcase?
Enterprises apply through the events team. Twelve are selected for the showcase.
Reserve your seat
October 14–15, 2026 · Radisson Blu Ballroom, Dhaka. Seats are limited and confirmed by email.
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