Sonia Bashir Kabir

Sonia Bashir Kabir is THE ONLY female technology investor in Bangladesh focusing on tech startups in emerging markets of South Asia. She began her career as a tech corporate professional in Silicon Valley and her journey led her to become a technology entrepreneur, an angel investor and finally a licensed, Instituitonal Venture Capital Fund Manager.

Currently Sonia is:

1) Founder and Managing General Partner of SBK Tech Ventures: a licensed Venture Capital (VC) fund which aims to drive inclusion, bridge the digital divide and democratize technology. She is passionate about investing in gender and climate action startups and currently manages a potfolio of 40+ startups..

SBK Tech Ventures is not just a venture capital fund; it focuses heavily on building the ecosystem for gender and climate. Her accelerators, ExcelerateHER and Net Positive are 6 months courses with free training and incubation plus guaranteed funding.

2) Founder & Chairman of SBK Foundation - a licensed Micro Finance Institution (MFI) which believes in empowering rural communities (special focus on women & youth) with digital financial inclusion.

3) Board member of Brac University, appointed by Late Sir Abed in Bangladesh and is regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

4) Independent Board Member of IPDC, a non banking financial institution (NBFI) regulated by the Bangladesh Bank.

5) Board member of Shakti Foundation for Disadvantaged Women, a Micro Finance Institution (MFI) regulated by the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA).

Sonia has served as the Managing Director for Microsoft Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Laos, Country Director of Dell Bangladesh, Director Business Development for South East Asia, New Emerging Markets in Microsoft and Chief Operating Officer for Aamra Technologies Ltd. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Sonia in 2015 to the Governing Council of the Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries (LDC) for a three-year term. She was elected as Vice Chairman of UN Technology Bank in 2017.

Current UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres renewed Sonia's appointment  as Governing Council member and Sonia was reappointed as Vice Chair of the UN Tech Bank for the 2019–2022 term.

Sonia has served as a board member in UNESCO's Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development.

Sonia is the first woman to win the ICT Business Person of the Year Award from the Daily Star ICT Awards in 2019.

Sonia was one of the 5 recipients (among 100,000 Microsoft emloyees) to win the Microsoft Founder's Award in 2016 given by Bill Gates.

Sonia was recognized by UN Global Compact in 2017 as a SDG pioneer. 10 people globally got this recognition. She was recognized for integrating seven Global Goals into her business practices and strategies: no poverty; quality education; gender equality; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; creating partnerships to meet the Goals.

Sonia actively supports youth in technology and women empowerment with youth-led initiatives all over Bangladesh.

Early life and education
She completed her Senior Cambridge from Greenherald International School (St. Francis Xavier's) and Higher Secondary Certificate from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. She lived in Silicon Valley, Northern California for 20 years where she was educated and trained. She has a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from California State University, East Bay and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Santa Clara University.

Sonia was a Bangladeshi national athlete; she played for Abahani women's Volleyball and Cricket team and continued playing for Bangladesh National Volleyball team.

Career
Sonia worked in Silicon Valley for Fortune 100 companies (Sun Microsystems & Oracle), startups & in the financial district. Her expertise include strategic planning & growth, sales execution, financial management, team building and change management.

Sonia served in the Boards of the American International School Dhaka, Bangladesh Employers Federation, Bangladesh Cricket Board (Women's Wing), Abahani Women's Games Development Committee and Women Entrepreneur's Association.

She was the Advisor for Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), the apex trade organization of Bangladesh playing a pivotal role in consultative and advisory capacity, safeguarding the interest of the private sector in the country.

Sonia is the Founder of the 1st Women's IT Association in Bangladesh - Bangladesh Women in IT (BWIT) and the first Women Tech Investors Network (WTIN). She is also the Founder of The Angels Network (TAN) and the Founder President and a current Advisor of TiE Dhaka Chapter. TIE is a Silicon Valley headquartered not for profit association for fostering entrepreneurship.

Awards

 * Sonia is the first woman in Bangladesh to be named on the"Rest of World’s" 100 Global Tech’s Changemakers’ list in 2022.
 * She is the first woman in Bangladesh to receive the ICT Business Person of the Year Award from Daily Star, 2019)
 * She is 1 of the 5 employees (among 100,000 total employees of Microsft) to win the Microsoft Founders Award
 * She is 1 of the 10 global leaders to win the SDG Pioneer Award, 2017
 * She is also a recpient of Anannya Top Ten Awards, 2016