Over 100 Startups, 400+ Investors Unite for Five Days of High-Impact Innovation
The Pakistan Investor Summit 2025 – Summer Edition wrapped up in style on May 18 after five powerful days at NIC Karachi. The summit brought together a vibrant mix of 100+ startups and 400+ investors, VCs, angels, regulators, and global experts, marking a defining moment in Pakistan’s growing innovation ecosystem.
More than just a startup event, the summit became a launchpad for funding, mentorship, and global exposure, all while highlighting NIC Karachi’s pivotal role as the country’s leading hub for entrepreneurial growth.
Summit Highlights: Day-by-Day Recap
Day 1: Pitch Fest & Alumni Power
âś… Startups from multiple industries pitched their ideas in a high-energy Pitch Fest.
âś… NIC Karachi alumni turned mentors returned to guide new founders, including:
- Muhammad Ghayas Ahmedani (Zaaviaa Solutions)
- Anusha Shahid (autocore.io)
- Muhammad Furqan Karim Kidwai (ASF Tech Partners)
- Aurangzaib Alamgir (Porter Pakistan)
- Sidra Shakeel (Fortify)
- Mirza Saad Baig (RAWTS)
Their mentorship provided valuable, real-world insights to early-stage startups.
Day 2: Educating Both Investors & Founders
Workshops for investors focused on smarter capital strategies, led by:
- Muhammad Humair (YB Holdings) on strategic investments
- Farhan Bashir Khan (Alpha Beta Core) on risk-return dynamics
Engaging panels like “The 3x Equation” decoded investment strategy with Harris Jamali moderating.
The Founders’ Panel featured top voices like:
- Kassim Shroff (Krave Mart)
- Abdul Mannan (Bykea)
- Sharmeen Khan (BeMe.global)
- Laiba Amir (Closet)
Their honest stories on growth, failure, and resilience resonated deeply.
Day 3: Demo Day – Pitch to Win
Early-stage startups showcased their progress in sectors like:
- âś… Fintech
- âś… Edtech
- âś… AI
- âś… SaaS
- âś… Sustainability
Key investors in attendance included:
- Abdul Sattar Jumani (Lucky Landmark)
- Muhammad Ali Taufeeq (Gobi Partners)
- Kashaf Jamal (Fatima Gobi Ventures)
Standouts like Atfaal, Biomic, Blinq, Chaajao, Haprow, and She6 made waves, with several follow-up meetings already underway.
Day 4: Going Global with Google Cloud
In collaboration with Google Cloud, the summit introduced global perspectives on cloud computing and AI.
Notable speakers:
- Esna Ong
- Fannie Soubiele
- Kathleen Chiu
- Osman Ahmed
NIC’s Salik Khan stressed the importance of data storytelling to win investor trust. Google’s Gemini AI tools were also showcased for early-stage scalability.
Day 5: Big Picture & Future Vision
The regional launch of the Pakistan Startup Fund (PSF) and BridgeStart Pakistan marked a big leap. At the same time, presenters Dr. Rabia Enam and Mr. Nayab Babar outlined strategies to unlock early-stage capital and global access. The capstone panel, “Beyond Unicorn Chasing”, urged founders to build sustainable, governance-first businesses.
A Defining Moment for Pakistan’s Startup Scene
With official backing from SECP, FPCCI, and global investors, the summit cemented NIC Karachi’s role as the national epicenter of innovation.
Syed Azfar Hussain, Project Director, summed it up best:
“This summit is a movement… a bridge between founders and capital that’s shaping our economic future.”
Asim Ishaq Khan, VP at LMKT, added:
“We don’t just incubate startups—we co-create ecosystems.”