misaal: Recent Episodes
Zahid Lilani
Candid conversations with innovative minds building a better startup economy in Pakistan. Hosted by Zahid Lilani and presented by Techshaw.
In this 71st episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Asfar Anjum — the founder of CeePrinto.
A Print-on-demand platform that lets you design, customize, and sell your own products.
Guest: Asfar Anjum | https://www.linkedin.com/in/asfaranjum/
Startup: Ceeprinto | https://ceeprinto.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
In this 70th episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Saad Khawar — co-founder of Datacade. A provider of labeling and annotation solutions for LLMs.Guest: Saad Khawar | https://www.linkedin.com/in/saad-khawar/Startup: Datacade | https://datacade.ai/Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I’ll give you a quarterly update on the startup ecosystem in Pakistan.As far as startup funding goes, there isn’t much to discuss, as Pakistani startups raised $0 in Q1. Still, many things happened in Q1, such as SadaPay acquisition, startup closures, layoffs, etc.It’s mostly bad news, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.Tech & VC Landscape Pakistan 2023 Report: https://insights.datadarbar.io/tech-vc-landscape-pakistan-2023-report/Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilaniStartup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.comFree newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/Other ways to listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/misaal/Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
In this 68th episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Syed Azfar Hussain — the Project Director at NIC Hyderabad.
A public-private partnership-funded incubation center for ambitious entrepreneurs.
Guest: Syed Azfar Hussain | https://www.linkedin.com/in/azfar84/
Organization: NIC Hyderabad | https://nichyderabad.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
In this 67th episode of the misaal podcast, I unpack the recent $50 million acquisition of SadaPay by Papara.Despite a challenging month with no new startup funding rounds, the ecosystem showed signs of resilience with SadaPay’s acquisition. However, there are no whiners in this deal. Discover insights into the impact of political changes on the ecosystem, the significance of startup acquisitions, and what the SadaPay deal reveals about venture capital dynamics. I dissect the valuation, the terms of the deal, and its implications for investors and the broader ecosystem.Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilaniStartup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.comFree newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaalBuy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
In this 66th episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Gohar Shafique — a serial entrepreneur and founder of We Want Design.
An easy-to-use design and development service for startups, enterprises, and agencies.
Guest: Gohar Shafique | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gohardotme/
Startup: We Want Design | https://www.wewantdesign.co/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
In this 65th episode of the misaal podcast, you will listen to my conversation with Huzaifa Ahmad — the co-founder of Rizq
A social impact startup that tackles the problem of food insecurity and waste through its many different programs.
Guest: Huzaifa Ahmad | https://www.linkedin.com/in/huzaifa-ahmad-7026aa165/
Startup: Rizq | https://rizq.org/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
In this episode, Adeel Raza, co-founder of eLearning Evolve, shares how his free WordPress plugin proved more valuable than he first anticipated, allowing him to offer a paid version.Guest: Adeel Raza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeel-raza/Startup: eLearning evolve | https://elearningevolve.com/Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilaniStartup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.comFree newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaalBuy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
Hunain Kapadia, the co-founder and CTO of Smartbenefits, joins me to talk about how he is making it easier for employers to provide health and life insurance to their employees at an affordable price.
Guest: Hunain Kapadia | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunainkapadia/
Startup: Smartbenefits | https://smartbenefits.pk/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
E-commerce startups are commonplace in Pakistan. However, a significant segment of society sits on the sidelines as they can’t find the bargains they seek online. My guest in this episode of the misaal podcast wants to change that.
His name is Haider Raza, and he is the co-founder of DealCart.
A social commerce startup bringing community and group buying to Pakistan's rapidly growing e-commerce market.
Guest: Haider Raza | https://www.linkedin.com/in/haider-raza-036342aa/
Startup: DealCart | https://dealcart.io
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
From busy cities to remote villages, digital media has revolutionized how Pakistan shares information. The more we understand these changes, the better off we'll be at digesting news, engaging with stories, and understanding the world.
The topic of digital media is very close to my heart as a podcaster and publisher serving the Pakistani audience. However, I have an outsider’s perspective on digital media in Pakistan. And for that reason, in this episode of the misaal podcast, I'm thrilled to host someone much smarter on this topic.
Her name is Muna Khan, and she is a columnist for DAWN and a Journalism educator.
We discuss Pakistan's changing media landscape, challenges, opportunities, and the future of digital media in Pakistan.
Guest: Muna Khan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/muna-khan-584b7316/
Columns: DAWN | https://www.dawn.com/authors/1320/muna-khan
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
The quarter just ended, and the numbers are in. Pakistani startups raised $6.8 million in disclosed equity funding across five deals in Q3 2023.
That’s 87% less than the $55 million raised in Q3 of 2022 but 40% more than the $5 million raised in Q2 of 2023. This brings the YTD funding to $35 million.
So what gives? To answer that question and better understand the current trends in Pakistani startup funding, in this episode of the misaal podcast, I am joined by Mutaher Khan.
He covers startups for DAWN and is the co-founder of Data Darbar.
We discuss the funding winter, startup failures, and how media creates and shapes narratives.
Funding data and article links mentioned in the episode:
https://techshaw.com/pakistani-startups-raised-6-8-million-q3-2023/
https://insights.datadarbar.io/q323-startup-funding-deals-lowest-in-5-years/
https://insights.datadarbar.io/strategic-divestment-or-desperation-exploring-finjas-emi-sale-to-opay/
Guest: Mutaher Khan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/mutaherkhan/
Website: Data Darbar - https://datadarbar.io/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
Last year, Pakistani startups received half their funding from emerging market VC firms. This year, most emerging market VC firms are sitting on the sidelines and waiting for market conditions to improve.
However, my guest in this episode of the misaal podcast is actively funding deals and most recently invested in Truckistan.
His name is Michel Friedman, and he is the founding partner at Reflect Ventures.
Reflect Ventures is an early-stage VC firm investing in B2B and B2B2C startups focusing on logistics, supply chain, distribution, and transport.
Guest: Michel Friedman | https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfriedman88/
VC Firm: Reflect Ventures | https://www.reflectventures.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
It is not easy to monetize EdTech in Pakistan. Startups are competing with free content on YouTube.
However, my guest on this episode of the misaal podcast has successfully monetized his EdTech startup and built the go-to place for A levels prep.
His name is Asad Hashamali, and he is the co-founder of Alt Academy.
Alt Academy makes A Level exam prep a piece of cake. You get access to 9 expert-led courses for one low subscription.
Guest: Asad Hashamali | https://www.linkedin.com/in/asadhashamali/
Startup: Alt Academy | https://altacademy.org/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
Agriculture plays a huge role in Pakistan’s economy. It employs about 42% of the country’s workforce and contributes 19% to the GDP. But the sector still relies a lot on inefficient supply chains. And my guest in this episode of the misaal podcast wants to change that.
His name is Muhammad Mustafa, and he is the co-founder of EasyFresh.
A B2B startup connecting farmers with retailers across Pakistan, eliminating intermediaries and increasing efficiency.
Guest: Muhammad Mustafa | https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhammad-mustafa-06323a7/
Startup: EasyFresh | https://easyfreshtech.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In Pakistan, sourcing raw materials for manufacturing is complicated and fragmented. My guest on this episode of the misaal podcast wants to change that.
His name is Ahsan Ali Khan, and he is the co-founder of Zaraye.
A marketplace that simplifies and streamlines the sourcing process for buyers and sellers alike. Buyers get quality products, and suppliers get the best price.
Guest: Ahsan Ali Khan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahsan-ali-khan-86721b28/
Startup: Zaraye | https://www.zaraye.co/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Startup funding news: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
A couple of weeks back, Pakistan unveiled its federal budget for FY24. It is as predictable as one has come to expect. A lot of borrowing to pay for the basics. However, this budget had one unique feature: the focus on IT.
So I asked Mutaher Khan, who did an excellent round-up of all IT-related proposals in the budget for DAWN news, to come and share his thoughts.
Guest: Mutaher Khan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/mutaherkhan/
DAWN Article: https://www.dawn.com/news/1759282
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
My guest in this episode of the misaal podcast is helping blue-collar workers find the opportunities they deserve and get an edge in the job market.
His name is Salman Shahid, and he is the co-founder of Dost.
Find out why he believes Dost is the best platform for blue-collar workers to find jobs and for employers to hire qualified candidates.
Guest: Salman Shahid | https://www.linkedin.com/in/salman-shahid-678abb78/
Startup: Dost | https://dost.work/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Free newsletter: https://techshaw.substack.com/
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
Today I am joined by Ehsan Baig, the co-founder of GilgitApp. An online marketplace for buying and selling products.
He talks about solving a real problem people have in the remote areas of Pakistan, the technological challenges, the startup culture in Gilgit, and his decision-making process when building new features.
Guest: Ehsan Baig - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehsanullahbaig/
Startup: GilgitApp - https://gilgit.app/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Episode video on YouTube:
★ Support this podcast ★
Today I am joined by Nashit Iqbal, who is the co-founder of OkayKer. A B2B2C startup digitalizing the auto parts and service market. His first startup, Delivery Chacha, was acquired by Careem in 2017, where he worked as an Operations Manager until he co-founded OkayKer in 2020.
Nashit shares how he wants to disrupt the $5 billion auto parts and services industry and bring it into the digital age, achieving product-market fit, problems other startups can solve in the automotive industry, fundraising plans, team building, and much more.
Guest: Nashit Iqbal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nashit-naviwala-2b49823b/
Startup: OkayKer - https://okayker.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Episode video on YouTube:
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
Imagine that someone you know is about to graduate from high school. You're asked what career path or university is worth pursuing.
Since you graduated from university a few years ago, things have changed. It makes you wonder what might happen if an online resource or community could help guide someone seeking advice on a major decision in their lives.
Well, according to my guest on this episode of the misaal podcast, not only can his startup serve as a guide to students, but it can also connect them with volunteer mentors who can help them at every step.
His name is Mahad Imran, and he is the founder of Kis Uni, a community of current and former university students dedicated to helping you choose the best university for you.
Guest: Mahad Imran - https://kisuni.org/
Startup: Kis Uni - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahadimran29/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
The startup ecosystem in Pakistan attracted a lot of venture capital in 2021 and the first half of 2022. Unfortunately, since Q2, deals and funding have declined.
VCs are back to doing due diligence and shaking hands.
So, given the current economic environment, how can startups gain an advantage in fundraising? And more importantly, what should startups understand before seeking VC funding?
Zeshan Gondal joins me on this episode of the misaal podcast to answer those questions and more. He is an Investor and Head of Strategy at Zayn Capital, an early-stage VC firm with $65 million in assets under management.
Guest: Zeshan Gondal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeshangondal/
VC firm: Zayn Capital - https://zayn.capital/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
This episode of the misaal podcast is a little different.
Instead of a guest, I'm joined by a co-host. Her name is Nazish, and she is the founder of Secret Stash. An e-commerce store where you can buy and sell original pre-loved bags, shoes, clothes, and accessories.
We start by discussing how her business is doing in the current economic environment, and then we discuss startup funding for Q3.
Q3 startup funding: https://techshaw.com/pakistani-startups-funding-q3-2022/
Guest: Nazish Hussain - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazishhussain/
Startup: Secret Stash - https://www.secretstash.pk/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
Let's say you start a freelance marketplace like Upwork for the Pakistani market but soon discover the market for such services is trending towards a more frictionless experience.
And you have a decision to make. It's either stay the course, build a feature baked into the current offering or build something entirely new.
My guest in today’s podcast did just that. Built a new product using feedback from freelancers. Not only that, he and his team went on to raise money and are growing rapidly.
In this episode of the misaal podcast, my guest is Aizaz Nayyer. Co-founder and CEO of Linkst.ar.
During our conversation, he discussed building a new product based on existing data and switching to a SaaS model from a marketplace model.
Guest: Aizaz Nayyer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aizaz-nayyer-375952144/
Startup: Linkst.ar - https://linkst.ar/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
I was curious when I heard about Waggles, the pet food startup.
Not only does it produce pet food in Pakistan, but it also has export ambitions.
This makes sense. Globally, the pet food market is $95 billion. But how big is the pet food market in Pakistan?
More importantly, what are the challenges of producing pet food in Pakistan on a large scale?
In this episode of the misaal podcast, my guest is Rafae Dossal. Co-founder and CEO of Waggles.
Besides answering my questions about the market and challenges, he shares his insights on bootstrapping and scaling.
Guest: Rafae Dossal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaedossal/
Startup: Waggles.pk - https://waggles.pk/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
The evolution of technology occurs in waves. The first wave was known as Web 1.0, followed by Web 2.0 and, more recently, Web3.
In a nutshell, Web 1.0 was the static web, Web 2.0 was the dynamic web, and now we are entering Web3 or the decentralized web.
I know; it goes over my head too. And I have so many questions.
What exactly is Web 3? How is it different from Web 2.0? Is it better than Web 2.0? If so, why?
In this episode of the misaal podcast, my guest will answer all these questions and shed light on this new technology that has faced some criticism.
His name is Asad Iqbal, and he is a venture architect at minti labs. Digital collectible startup providing NFTs to enhance fan engagement.
Guest: Asad Iqbal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/asad-iqbal-khan/
Startup: Minti Labs - https://mintilabs.io/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
There’s a lot of information out there on how to make money. But not enough information on how to manage it, invest it and grow it. Especially for the 100 million Gen Zs in Pakistan, who don’t consume media like the generations before them
In today’s podcast, my guest will tell you how he is solving this problem using an app that will help you become money smart.
His name is Mohsen Siddiqui, and he is the co-founder and CEO of GenMo. Pakistan’s 1st money app designed for Gen Zs.
Gen Z & Money report: https://docsend.com/view/jixmngaxhd8zqart
Guest: Mohsen Siddiqui - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohsensiddiqui/
Startup: GenMo - https://www.genmocompany.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, you will hear my conversation with Neelam Shoaib.
She is the co-founder and COO of Shadiyana, a marketplace that makes planning a wedding stress-free.
She talks about using the process of elimination to work on the wedding marketplace idea, the customer discovery process, subscription vs. commission pricing for service providers, building a brand that creates a flywheel, and using content marketing as a foundation for generating traffic and helping the consumer.
Guest: Neelam Shoaib - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelam-shoaib/
Startup: Shadiyana - https://shadiyana.pk/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, you will hear my conversation with Sarfraz Hussain.
He's the co-founder and CEO of YPay, a savings and investment app for millennials in Pakistan.
He talks about his experience building an investing app instead of a Robinhood-like stock trading app, optimizing the user journey of opening a brokerage account, and financial literacy around investing.
Guest: Sarfraz Hussain - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarfrazhussayn/
Startup: YPay - https://www.ypayfinancial.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this 28th episode, I'm joined by Sennen Desouza.
He is the co-founder and Head of Business Development at Investors Lounge, a digital learning platform that helps Pakistanis make smart investments and manage their finances.
In our conversation, we discuss his experience being part of The Nest I/O's first batch, multiple pivots to achieve product-market fit, and delivering content involving dry topics like stock trading and personal finance in Pakistan.
Guest: Sennen Desouza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sennendesouza/
Startup: Investors Lounge - https://www.investorslounge.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
Thank you for tuning in to the 27th episode of the misaal podcast. In this episode, I'm joined by Hafiz Awais Afzal.
He is a Fulbright Scholar and the founder of Rahnumai, an EdTech startup.
While I have previously talked to startup founders about their startups, this conversation focuses more on the Fulbright Scholarship. Also, it’s mostly in Urdu.
Our discussion includes:
- Creating a platform for universal college applications.
- Fulbright scholarship; application, requirements, timeline.
- Scholarship opportunities for students on F1 visas.
- After returning to Pakistan, what do Fulbright scholars do?
- And why do 50% of Fulbright scholars leave Pakistan?
Guest: Hafiz Awais Afzal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/imrahnuma/
Startup: Rahnumai - https://rahnumai.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
Thank you for tuning in to the 26th episode of the misaal podcast. In this episode, I'm joined by Shehryar Hydri.
He is a managing partner at Deosai Ventures, an early-stage VC firm in Pakistan.
During our conversation, we discuss his journey from working at a startup to now investing in them, as well as the need for early-stage startup funding in Pakistan.
As we continue our conversation, you will discover:
- The state of startup funding in Pakistan and how entrepreneurs are navigating the new landscape.
- The impact of Airlift's shutdown on the broader ecosystem.
- Due diligence performed by venture capitalists before investing in startups and exit strategies. and
- The current trends in startup deal flow.
Guest: Shehryar Hydri - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shehryarhydri/
VC Firm: Deosai Ventures - https://deosai.vc/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this 25th episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Mutaher Khan.
He covers startups for DAWN and publishes insights and trends on Data Darbar.
His knowledge of the startup ecosystem makes him a great resource for understanding the realities on the ground. Our discussion covers startup funding in the wake of Airlift's shutdown, ongoing layoffs in both tech companies and startups, and TAG's alleged fraud.
He also discusses how his reporting unearthed the unethical and misleading behavior of instant loan apps.
Guest: Mutaher Khan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mutaherkhan/
Website: Data Darbar - https://datadarbar.io/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this 24th episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Shershah Hassan.
He is the co-founder and CEO of KalPay, a shariah-aligned Buy Now Pay Later service.
He talks about the origin story of KalPay, building a shariah-aligned BNPL service, gleaning insights from the financial behavior of Pakistani consumers, solving buy and sell side problems, and how BNPL works; the business model, the front end, and the back end.
Guest: Shershah Hassan- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shershah-hassan/
Startup: KalPay In - https://kalpayfinancials.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Asaad Sohail.
He is the co-founder and CEO of Stakehold Pakistan, a skills-based EdTech platform offering on-demand courses with certificates.
We discuss the origin story of Stakehold Pakistan, how he found product market fit, challenges in scaling the platform and providing more value than free information available on YouTube.
Guest: Asaad Sohail - https://www.linkedin.com/in/asaad-sohail-4996b6195/
Startup: Sapiens In - https://stakeholdpakistan.com
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Husnain Tariq.
He is the founder and CEO of Sapiens In, a health tech startup that provides fixed-fee treatment plans.
We discuss his vision of building a world-class tech startup in Pakistan, why patients need more than just a physician, and some of the challenges he has faced while building his startup.
Guest: Husnain Tariq - https://www.linkedin.com/in/husnain-tariq-88b4a31b5/
Startup: Sapiens In- https://sapiensin.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Zarlasht Faisal.
She is the co-founder and CEO of It’s Preloved, an e-commerce platform for gently used apparel.
During our conversation, we covered a variety of topics. But everything we talked about revolved around challenges and opportunities that come with running an e-commerce startup in Pakistan such as payments and last-mile delivery.
You will learn how to turn your passion into a sustainable business by doing things that don’t scale until they do and why it’s important to never consider a sale complete until the order is delivered and accepted. Also, some amusing things customers say and do when returning purchased items or refusing delivery.
Want to hear some weird reasons for customer returns? No worries, we have that covered too.
Guest: Zarlasht Faisal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zari-faisal/
Startup: It’s Preloved - https://itspreloved.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Meenah Tariq.
She is the co-founder and CEO of Metric, a startup accounting app that helps founders track finances, gain insights, and grow their business.
We discussed why she transitioned from being a VC to building her own startup, how Metric is helping startup founders with all their accounting needs, why we don’t see that many SaaS startups in Pakistan, and her experience raising $900,000 from top-notch VCs.
Guest: Meenah Tariq - https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenah-tariq/
Startup: Metric - https://metricapp.co/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Faaez-ul-Haq.
He is the managing partner and co-founder of the VC firm Kinnow Capital, a silicon valley based rolling fund that invests in early-stage startups in Pakistan.
We discussed how he helps entrepreneurs as an investor who is also an operator, what he looks for when investing in startups, and his advice to startups in the current economic environment.
Guest: Faaez-ul-Haq - https://www.linkedin.com/in/faaezulhaq/
VC Firm: Kinnow Capital - https://kinnow.capital/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Muhammed Bukhari.
He is the Co-founder of Farmdar, a Karachi-based agritech startup that recently raised $1.3 million in seed funding.
We discussed what led him to return to Pakistan to start Farmdar, why he went the VC route, how his product focuses on developing efficiencies in agri-supply chains, and what he looks for when hiring talent.
Guest: Muhammed Bukhari - https://bit.ly/3QrUBAb
Startup: Farmdar - https://farmdar.co.uk/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Yasir Ilyas.
He is the Head of Hysab Kytab, a personal finance app that lets you track expenses, prepare budgets, set saving goals, and view reports of your financial activities.
We discuss his motivation to return to Pakistan and lead Hysab Kytab, scaling both a consumer and business white-label product in the current economic environment and combining the dynamism of a startup with the maturity of a larger organization.
Guest: Yasir Ilyas - https://bit.ly/3mEFuWv
Startup: Hysab Kytab - https://hysabkytab.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
I love coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I talk to Mubariz Siddiqui.
He is known as the "go-to" lawyer for startups in Pakistan. He advises entrepreneurs and investors on a variety of legal issues including term sheets, regulatory compliance, and deal structuring.
We discuss the current funding climate, growth stage funding crunch, foreign VC motivations, typical startup valuations, founder dilutions, and preferred corporate structure for VC fundable startups.
Guest: Mubariz Siddiqui - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mubarizsiddiqui/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Support: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
This week's episode of the misaal podcast features my conversation with Adam Dawood.
He is the founder and CEO of bSecure, a 1-click checkout solution for e-commerce businesses in Pakistan.
Our conversation touches upon how bSecure effectively addresses the payment needs of Pakistani e-commerce businesses, the many challenges and opportunities in the e-commerce space, and the macro-level landscape of the Pakistani e-commerce market.
Guest: Adam Dawood - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamdawood/
Startup: bSecure: https://www.bsecure.pk/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Support: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Raza Matin.
He is the founder and CEO of Brandverse, an e-commerce enablement company based in Karachi. Brandverse's newest product, Chikoo, simplifies the process of launching an e-commerce store for offline businesses.
Our conversation covers a broad range of topics such as:
- Building Chikoo to help businesses get online.
- Why helping businesses get online is a problem worth solving.
- Unfair advantages and surprising use cases.
- Building and retaining talent through a high-performance culture.
- Challenges and opportunities in the payments ecosystem.
- The startup ecosystem in Pakistan; funding and opportunities.
Guest: Raza Matin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/razamatin/
Startup: Chikoo: https://getchikoo.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Support: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/zahid
Interested in being a guest on the misaal podcast? Book a slot here: https://calendly.com/zahidlilani/misaal-podcast-guest
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Omar Shah.
He is a co-founder and CEO of COLABS, a Lahore-based co-working startup that enables startups, entrepreneurs, and freelancers to build and grow their businesses.
Our conversation covers a broad range of topics such as COLABS’ recent seed funding of $3 million from top-tier VCs, productizing essential backend services to startups, and providing customized solutions to a growing segment of enterprise customers.
We also discuss hiring, funding environment, and exit opportunities for startups.
Guest: Omar Shah - https://www.linkedin.com/in/osshah/
Startup: COLABS: https://colabs.pk/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Saad Hasan
He is a venture capitalist at Pakistan's largest bank, Habib Bank Limited, where he invests in startups as part of the bank's venture capital fund.
Our discussion covers the adoption of mobile apps in Pakistan, startup valuations in the current investment climate, what HBL looks for in a startup, and what kind of strategic role the bank plays in helping startups scale.
Guest: Saad Hasan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/syedsaadhasan01/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Humza Khan.
He is a Growth Manager at Binance Pakistan, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world.
We talk about cryptocurrency adoption and regulations in Pakistan, why he is bullish about blockchain technology, and why it is important to understand the underlying intentions of cryptocurrency and NFT projects.
Guest: Humza Khan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/humzaukhan/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Umar Khan.
He is a Co-Founder of SocialBu, a social media management platform for small businesses.
He talks about how four of his classmates went from freelancing to building their own SaaS product, how they utilized online communities for marketing, and their experience during the incubation program at Plan9.
Guest: Umar Khan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyumarkhan/
Startup: SocialBu - https://socialbu.com/
Using Stripe in Pakistan - https://usamaejaz.com/using-stripe-pakistan/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Faisal Khan.
He is the Founder of ScholarDen, an online platform for GRE test preparation.
He talks about building a community of students seeking advice on test prep, creating a product that could be beneficial to those students, and defining a large enough problem to be solved.
Guest: Faisal Khan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/faisalkhanhr/
Startup: ScholarDen - https://www.scholarden.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
Other ways to listen: https://techshaw.com/misaal
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Ahmar Awan.
He is a General Manager at Truck It In, a freight marketplace startup in Pakistan.
He shares insights from his time at multiple growth stage startups, the day-to-day challenges of being a General Manager, and what he looks for when hiring.
Guest: Ahmar Awan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmarawan/
Startup: Truck It In - https://truckitin.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Hira Tariq.
She is the founder of Sisterhood.pk, a fashion marketplace for pre-loved items in Pakistan.
She talks about how sustainable fashion startups help the consumer and the planet and how to build and grow an e-commerce marketplace in Pakistan.
Guest: Hira Tariq - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiratariq1/
Startup: Sisterhood.pk - https://sisterhood.pk/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Bilal Sheikh.
He is the founder of Lettus Kitchens, a cloud kitchen startup based in Islamabad.
He discusses his transition from scaling operations at Careem to founding his startup, the problems restaurants face in Pakistan that his startup is addressing, and his experience raising money from angels and venture capitalists.
Guest: Bilal Sheikh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilalanwersh/
Startup: Lettus Kitchens - https://www.lettuskitchens.com/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Ariba Shahid.
She covers business and economy for Profit and is a Pakistan contributor for Deal Street Asia, reporting on startups and venture capital.
We talk about her recent article covering startup funding in Pakistan, factors attracting foreign investment, the Wapistani effect, innovative product-based startups, and what’s in store for the ecosystem in 2022.
Guest: Ariba Shahid - https://twitter.com/AribaShahid
Deal Streat Asia article: https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/pakistan-startup-funding-2021-277905/
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Kalsoom Lakhani.
She is the co-founder and General Partner at i2i Ventures, an early-stage VC fund that has invested in Tazah, Oraan, Abhi, Credibook, among others.
She shares insights on startup funding in Pakistan, valuations, and exit opportunities, as well as how macroeconomic factors can impact VC funding in 2022 and beyond.
We also discuss capital markets, wealth creation, fintech, crypto, taxation policy, and opportunities in solving real problems vs. following the latest trend.
Guest: Kalsoom Lakhani - https://twitter.com/kalsoom82
Website: https://i2iventures.com
Host: Zahid Lilani - https://twitter.com/ZahidLilani
Presented by: Techshaw - https://techshaw.com
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Usama Khalid.
He is an indie hacker and the creator of contentdrips.com. An online brand-building tool for freelancers and entrepreneurs. Also, he "builds in public," which means he shares his wins, fails, and metrics with everyone on social media.
We talk about:
- How he got into building SaaS products
- Why he likes building in public and how it's gotten him both investors and customers
- His experience building and running a SaaS product from Pakistan
Guest: Usama Khalid (Twitter)
Host: Zahid Lilani (Twitter)
Presented by: Techshaw
★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Mutaher Khan.
He writes about startups and technology for DAWN, the leading English-language daily in Pakistan. When he's not writing about startups, he's building Data Darbaar, an online data resource for startups and investors.
We talk about startup funding in Pakistan, why he thinks 2021 was a turning point, and what to expect in the next year.
Guest: Mutaher Khan (Twitter)
Host: Zahid Lilani (Twitter)
Presented by: Techshaw
★ Support this podcast ★
In this first episode of the misaal podcast, I invite you to listen in on my conversation with Zubair Naeem Paracha. He is the founder of MENAbytes, the go-to media outlet for startups to announce their funding rounds, as well as the co-founder of Flare, a live streaming e-commerce platform.
We discuss challenges building a digital media business from Pakistan, his transition from MENAbytes to Flare, and the future of e-commerce in Pakistan.
Guest: Zubair Naeem Paracha (Twitter)
Host: Zahid Lilani (Twitter)
Presented by: Techshaw
★ Support this podcast ★