In 2019, as Bangladesh’s financial inclusion crisis deepened, few could have expected that a telecom executive with no prior banking pedigree would go on to influence the region’s digital financial infrastructure. But Tanvir A. Mishuk, the founding architect of Nagad, did exactly that—Working on a fintech platform based in South Asia and later pivoting to global compliance change with his RegTech venture.
Today, Mishuk is seen as a experienced professional in fintech and regulatory technology (RegTech), introducing models of digitisation, compliance automation, and inclusive access that are now reviewed and adopted across markets from Southeast Asia to the Middle East.
The Rise of Nagad: Digitising a Cash-Heavy Economy
Launched in partnership with the Bangladesh Post Office, Nagad entered a market dominated by entrenched incumbents. in five years, the platform reached, handling monthly transactions around $10 billion, according to company data.
What differentiated Nagad wasn’t just scale—but speed.
The company introduced instant e-KYC onboarding, enabling customers to activate accounts using national ID verification in under 60 seconds—effectively digitising millions who had never used formal banking systems.
With zero-fee QR payments, micro-savings tools, insurance, and digital remittance, Nagad evolved into a complete digital financial ecosystem.
A hybrid smartphone–USSD model ensured accessibility even in rural areas where 3G and 4G infrastructure remained patchy.
By 2023, Mishuk had turned Nagad into Bangladesh’s tech unicorn, reaching a valuation of $1 billion within a few years.
From Fintech to RegTech: The Compliance Frontier
With Nagad on a solid footing, Mishuk turned his attention to a less glamorous but critical frontier: regulatory technology.
In 2024, he founded a cross-border compliance startup focused on using AI AML, KYC, and financial reporting infrastructure—a space gaining attention due to tightening global rules.
The startup, operating under the working name “RegTech,” started operations. Within its first 12 months, it signed a $12 million agreement with Turkish banks to overhaul their AML systems, and was reportedly in talks with Gulf regulators for sandbox pilots.
Mishuk’s RegTech platform aims to address a persistent pain point: how to expand financial services in frontier markets adhering to global regulations. “We want to build systems that earn trust before they enforce compliance,” Mishuk said during a recent panel discussion in Dubai.
A Global Voice in Responsible Innovation
Beyond operational success, Mishuk has become a speaker for ethical fintech. He has spoken at forums including the UN SDG Finance Summit, the World Fintech Festival, and RegTech Global Week, frequently calling for a relationship between innovation and regulation.
He argues that compliance and innovation aren’t mutually exclusive. Rather, they’re two sides of the same coin—particularly in emerging economies.
Investments, Advisory, and Ecosystem Building
Mishuk has also become a investor and advisor across the Asia–Middle East fintech corridor. His early-stage capital and strategic advice have helped startups in digital identity, embedded finance, and compliance automation achieve early growth milestones.
Previously, he held executive roles in telecom and digital ventures, including the T-Asia Group and Sigma Technologies, where he contributed to growth of consumer tech platforms across South Asia.
What’s Next
With his RegTech platform operating in europe and Asia-Pacific, Mishuk is also considering digital banking licences in multiple jurisdictions, including Singapore and the UAE. He has mentioned plans for a combined compliance-fintech system that integrates payment, onboarding, and AML in a single interface—aiming to improve back-office processes that weighs on financial startups.
With his RegTech platform expanding into Europe and Asia-Pacific, Mishuk is also exploring digital banking licences in multiple jurisdictions, including Singapore and the UAE. He has hinted at deploying a hybrid compliance-fintech stack that integrates payment, onboarding, and AML in a single interface—potentially transforming the back-office burden that weighs on financial startups.
In an industry known for hype, Mishuk’s brand of execution-focused leadership stands out. His ability to scale across two of the most regulated verticals—finance and compliance—while keeping consumer access at the centre, is rare.
The Bottom Line
Tanvir A. Mishuk has built more than companies. He’s helped develop systems—ones that redefine how trust, regulation, and technology intersect in financial services. As fintech becomes more regulated and RegTech becomes more necessary, Mishuk’s dual legacy in working in digital finance and compliance may prove one of the most enduring.
Official website: https://nagad.com.bd
