Barriers to Green Startups in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study examines the barriers that constrain green startups in Bangladesh and 
explains why formal sustainability policies have not translated into accessible support 
for early-stage entrepreneurs. Using an exploratory mixed-methods design, the study 
combines a structured entrepreneur survey, interviews with green business founders, and 
secondary evidence from policy documents and academic literature. The findings indicate 
that green startups face four interconnected barriers: limited access to appropriate 
financing, weak startup-oriented institutional support, moderate confidence in intellectual 
property protection, and low market acceptance due to price-sensitive consumer behavior. 
This paper argues that the main problem is not a lack of policy but a policy-practice gap 
that prevents small ventures from using available instruments. It recommends targeted 
equipment finance, climate-focused incubation, stronger regulatory coordination, green 
product certification, and consumer awareness programs to improve the sustainability
oriented entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bangladesh.