Pathao

Pathao (Bengali: পাঠাও) is a Bangladeshi on-demand digital platform company headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founded in 2015 by Fahim Saleh, Hussain Elius, and Shifat Adnan, Pathao has grown into one of Bangladesh's leading consumer technology companies, offering ride-sharing, food delivery, courier, and e-commerce services through its SuperApp platform.

🚀 Founding Story

Pathao started as a delivery service in 2015 with its fleet of motorcycles and bicycles, acting as a delivery service for several e-commerce companies in Bangladesh. In mid-2016, Pathao launched bike-sharing services, and by March 2018, it had signed up more than 100,000 drivers and around 1 million users across the country.

"Pathao" is a Bengali word meaning "send" — reflecting the company's origins as a delivery platform. The company is the first major ride-sharing company in Bangladesh to receive an enlistment certificate from the authorities.

💰 Funding History

Pathao has raised a total of approximately $50+ million in funding, making it one of Bangladesh's most well-funded startups:

• 💰 2018 (Pre-Series B) — Raised over $10 million in a round led by Go-Jek (Indonesian ride-hailing giant), as reported by TechCrunch
• 💰 2024 (Pre-Series B extension) — Raised $12 million led by VentureSouq (MENA-based), bringing total capital raised to upwards of $50 million — the largest by a pre-Series B startup in Bangladesh

📱 Services

Pathao follows a SuperApp model, providing all services through one app:

• 🚗 Ride-sharing — Motorcycles, cars, and tuktuks across Bangladesh and Nepal
• 🍔 Food delivery — Available in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Nepal
• 📦 Parcel delivery — On-demand package delivery within cities
• 🛵 Courier services — Document and package delivery
• 🛒 E-commerce logistics — Delivery services for online businesses

🌍 Operating Cities

Pathao operates in 4 cities in Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet) and 3 cities in Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan). It has more than 100,000 registered vehicles across the country.

🏆 Key Milestones

• ✅ First major ride-sharing company in Bangladesh to get enlistment certificate
• 👥 100,000+ registered drivers and 1 million+ users (March 2018)
• 💰 $50+ million total funding — largest by a pre-Series B startup in Bangladesh
• 🇮🇩 Go-Jek led investment — First major international VC investment in a Bangladeshi startup
• 📱 SuperApp model — Integrated ride-sharing, food, parcel, and courier services