Sonia Bashir Kabir

Sonia is a technology investor with a strong focus on supporting tech startups in the emerging markets of South Asia. Her career trajectory spans from serving as a technology corporate professional to becoming a successful technology entrepreneur, an angel investor and a dedicated technology philanthropist. She is one of the earliest and most active investors in the Bangladesh startup ecosystem and leads one of the few 100 percent women-led venture funds actively investing in South Asia: SBK Tech Ventures. 

As the Founder of SBK Tech Ventures and SBK Foundation, Sonia is deeply committed to empowering rural communities through the transformative power of technology. Her not-for-profit entity, the SBK Foundation, drives initiatives like “Tech Hubs,” which are aimed at bridging the digital divide, fostering innovation in underserved areas and encouraging youth to provide assisted technology to the public. 

Sonia’s professional journey includes serving in prominent leadership roles, such as managing director for Microsoft in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Laos. She held key positions as country director of Dell Bangladesh and chief operating officer for Aamra Technologies Ltd. She currently serves on the CXO Advisory Board for Dell Technologies. 

Beyond her corporate achievements, Sonia’s contributions are acknowledged on a global scale. She was appointed to the governing council of the Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries by former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and her position was renewed during the tenure of U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. She was subsequently elected vice chairman of the bank. Sonia actively supports youth in technology and women empowerment, leading various youth-led initiatives across Bangladesh. 

Sonia was one of five Microsoft employees globally to win the prestigious Microsoft Founders award from Bill Gates in 2016. She was also among 10 individuals globally recognized by the U.N. Global Compact as an sustainable development goals pioneer in 2017. 

Sonia holds the distinction of being the first woman in Bangladesh to receive the ICT Businessperson of the Year award in 2019 from the leading English daily of Bangladesh: The Daily Star. She has been honored as a Global Tech Changemaker by Rest of Asia, placing her among the top 100 individuals in the field. In 2023, she was recognized for her work in promoting women’s entrepreneurship with an award of Excellence in Gender Lens Investing by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.