Investment

Veon partners GSMA to support start-ups in Pakistan and Bangladesh

Veon partners GSMA to support start-ups in Pakistan and Bangladesh

Global digital operator Veon has announced a partnership with the GSMA’s Mobile for Development Foundation to co-fund digital innovation projects in Pakistan and Bangladesh that are supported by the GSMA Innovation Fund.

John Guisti, Chief Regulatory Officer of the GSMA and President of the GSMA Foundation, Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of JazzWorld, Pakistan’s leading integrated digital serviceco, and Johan Buse, CEO of Banglalink, a leading digital operator in Bangladesh, have launched the partnership with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Barcelona during MWC26.

Under the terms of the MoU, Veon-owned JazzWorld and Banglalink will collaborate with the GSMA Innovation Fund to co-fund Pakistani and Bangladeshi start-ups selected as grantees in the GSMA Innovation Fund’s 2026 funding rounds. In addition to financial support, Veon and its operating companies may also provide in-kind contributions including ecosystem visibility and capacity-building support to help selected projects scale.

John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA and President of the GSMA Foundation, says: “Jazz and Banglalink, both part of Veon Group, play a leading role in shaping the digital landscape in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Collaborating with them will further enhance the support of the GSMA Innovation Fund for entrepreneurs driving positive social impact in these two countries.”

The GSMA Innovation Fund identifies and supports start-ups with models that drive positive social, economic, and climate impact through mobile technology in developing countries. Projects are selected by the GSMA Foundation transparently and on a competitive basis through a rigorous evaluation process following publicly-announced funding rounds.



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