Karachi is becoming one of the best places to build a startup, but most of the early-stage entrepreneurs we speak to aren't aware of the local tech resources that are available to help them.
With applications for the Karachi Founder Institute now open, we're excited to release the Karachi Startup Resource Guide, which is currently in Draft v4 below! It was developed by the Karachi Founder Institute and local leaders: Saira Qayyum (CEO, Dream Factory), Sayyed Ahmad Masud (Director, Change Mechanics Pvt Ltd), Umair Sheikh (Founder & CEO, Innovate47)
This is just a draft, and while we spent many hours on this research, more input is needed. Please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document to help us complete the list. There are definitely omissions on this current version.
Are you looking to build a startup in Karachi? Then apply to the Karachi Founder Institute today!
Text version included below, for ease of searching:
Startup Stages
There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.
1. Idea Stage
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.
A. Inspire
- Karachi Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters)
- Inspirational Karachi Startup Events: Open, inclusive startup events that often focus on ideation. (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)
B. Educate
- Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing tech events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire).
- Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development events and startup bootcamps for entrepeneurs. (Includes comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, code camps, etc)
C. Validate
- Team Formation: Events for Finding Co-founders in Karachi. (i.e. tech networking events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)
- Build First Product: Hackathons & product events in Karachi.
2. Launch Stage
In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.
A. Start
- Establish: Karachi law firms & banks for startups
- Karachi Workspaces: Co-working and flexible workspaces for startups in Karachi.
B. Develop
- Formalize: Karachi accounting, development and HR tools for early-stage startups.
- Karachi Incubators: Groups that prepare companies for seed investment and provide advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources)
C. Launch
- Karachi Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)
- Pitch & Demo Events: Tech events that showcase Karachi startups for investment.
3. Growth Stage
Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.
A. Recognition
- Karachi Investor Networking: Events and groups that connect professional investors with founders.
- Major Media: Mainstream local business press that often showcase local startups
B. Funding
- Karachi Angel Investors: Seed-stage investors and micro-vcs.
- Afaque Ahmed
- Atif Khan
- Humayun Mazhar
- Jamal Khan
- Nadeem Elahi
- Shabana Khan
- Yusuf Jan
- Karachi Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond
C. Growth
- Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- Expansion: Karachi Growth accelerators and consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
4. Karachi Startup Success Stories
Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.
- Bookme.pk
- Convo
- Dawaai.pk
- Dealtoday.pk
- EatOye.pk
- eFlorist.pk
- Ephlux Insights
- FundStak.com
- Groopic
- Hamariweb
- Happening.pk
- HerCareer.pk
- Homeshopping.pk
- LibertyBooks.com
- Messiah
- Olaround
- Pakwheels.com
- Petpeople.pk
- Popinjay
- Pring
- Rozee.pk
- Sehat.com.pk
- SentimentsExpress.com
- Shopistan
- Shophive.com
- Sponsify
- SuperMeal.pk
- Symbios.pk
- Tohfay.com
- Tune.pk
- Urbanite.pk
- Zameen.com
Supporters
To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.
1. Karachi Startup Leaders
Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies.
- Aaqib Gadit
- Abid Beli
- Adnan Masood
- Afaque Riaz Ahmed
- Ali Rehan
- Adam Dawood
- Adnan Fasih
- Atif Azim
- Azra Maqsood
- Azhar Rizvi
- Badar Khushnood
- Faisal Khan
- Farzal Dojki
- Hassan Qureshi
- Imran Moinuddin
- Jawwad Farid
- Jehan Ara
- Kalsoom Lakhani
- Khalid Awan
- Khurram Mujtaba
- Khurram Zafar
- Mahmood Mirza
- Mohammed Raza Saeed
- Monis Rahman
- Muhammad Jehanzaib
- Nabeel A. Qadeer
- Nauman Sikandar Mirza
- Noman Ali
- Owais Zaidi
- Rabia Garib
- Rai Umair
- Rehan Allahwala
- Reza Samad
- Saad Amanullah
- Salim Ghauri
- r. M. Shahid Qureshi - IBA CED
- Shahjahan Chaudhary
- Shehryar Hyderi
- Sumaan Azmi
- Umar Alam
- Umair Aziz
- Umar Saif
- Uzair Gadit
- Zain Tariq
2. Karachi Government Startup Resources
Public organizations that facilitate local economic development
- MITCEF Association of Pakistan
- Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication - MoITT
- National Incubation Center - Karachi
- National Incubation Center - Peshawar
- National Incubation Center - Lahore
- National Incubation Center - Quetta
- National Incubation Center - Islamabad
- National Information Technology Board - GoP
- Pakistan Software Export Board
- Smeda
3. Talent
Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.
- Local Karachi Tech Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)
- Bahria University - Karachi Campus
- CBM
- DHA Suffa University
- Institute of Business Administration Karachi
- IQRA University
- Karachi School of Business
- KSBL
- Mohammad Ali Jinnah University
- National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences - NUCES-FAST
- NED University
- Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology
- SZABIST
- University of Karachi
- Usman Institute of Technology
- Karachi Tech Employers
Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Karachi Canvas on this collaborative Google document (This is just a draft, and more input is needed!)
