Pakistani entrepreneurs and international investors engage in networking sessions, fostering global partnerships — Photo curtesy – Sibt-e-Arif
In the shadow of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, an event quietly unfolded that speaks volumes about the shifting landscape of Pakistani entrepreneurship. The sixth edition of the PakLaunch UNConference was not just another business meet—it was a powerful statement about the resilience, ambition, and innovation coming out of Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. In just three years, PakLaunch has helped attract over $110 million in investments for Pakistani startups, a feat that once seemed improbable in a country plagued by political instability and regulatory hurdles.
Held from April 9 to 11, 2025, this year’s UNConference drew more than 80 prominent global investors and 40 carefully selected startups, all converging from over ten countries. What makes this forum stand out is its uniquely immersive and participatory format. Instead of conventional panels and speeches, it encouraged deep engagement, spontaneous networking, and cross-border collaboration. The buzz wasn’t only about funding, but about community—connecting people with shared visions across geographies.
“This isn’t just a conference—it’s a movement,” said Aly Fahd, co-founder of PakLaunch. “When we started in 2021, we wanted to bridge a massive gap: Pakistani founders were building fantastic products, but they weren’t getting the visibility or capital they deserved. That’s changing now.”
The Pakistani IT and tech industry has quietly become one of the country’s most valuable export sectors. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, IT exports reached $2.6 billion in 2023, and the Ministry of IT projects this figure will surpass $5 billion by 2025 if the current momentum continues. The sector employs over 600,000 professionals, with 25,000 fresh graduates entering the field each year. Pakistan also boasts over 3,000 IT companies registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board.
Yet this growth is not without its challenges. Many founders cited the scarcity of venture capital within Pakistan, lack of streamlined government policy, and volatile macroeconomic conditions as key barriers. Accessing global markets remains difficult, and for every success story that makes it abroad, there are many more that fade out for lack of support.
Fatima Khan, a founder of a Lahore-based fintech app, noted, “The UNConference gave us exposure we could never dream of back home. In Pakistan, I’m constantly fighting for attention; here, serious investors are actually listening to our pitch.”
Many echoed her sentiment. Saad Tariq, CTO of a Karachi AI firm, added, “At home, the infrastructure barely supports our data needs. Abroad, we’re seen as high-risk because of the country’s economic situation. Events like this one are our best bet to show we belong on the global stage.”
Despite the hurdles, investor interest is growing. Venture capital firms from the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S. are beginning to look seriously at Pakistani talent. According to Data Darbar, a Pakistan-based startup data tracker, Pakistani startups raised $75 million in 2023 despite a global downturn in venture funding. The number of venture deals rose by 18% compared to 2022, signaling cautious optimism among investors.
One of the international investors in attendance, Jordan Blake of Delta Impact Capital, commented, “You don’t expect this level of ingenuity and technical sophistication from a country you often hear about in crisis headlines. But what I’ve seen here is world-class. The raw talent is staggering.”
Some of the most promising sectors highlighted at the conference included fintech, healthtech, e-commerce logistics, AI, and agritech—areas where local innovation meets pressing domestic needs. Startups like Sehat Kahani (telemedicine), PostEx (e-commerce logistics and BNPL), and Farmdar (agriculture AI) are among those that have recently caught investor attention.
A recurring theme was the urgent need for regulatory reform back home. Participants called on the government to reduce bureaucratic red tape, facilitate easier startup registration, enable smoother foreign exchange transactions, and offer more tax incentives. While the government has taken some steps—like the removal of income tax on IT exports and allowing 100% foreign ownership in IT companies—more needs to be done.
The UNConference also served as a rallying point for the diaspora, many of whom are key funders and mentors to Pakistan-based startups. “Pakistani expatriates in the tech world are uniquely positioned to open doors,” said Zain Shah, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and angel investor. “We’ve built credibility in our adopted countries. Now it’s time to give back in a structured, impactful way. PakLaunch has become our platform for that.”
With the next edition of the UNConference already being planned, the message is clear: the startup scene in Pakistan is alive and determined to make its mark globally. But for these sparks of innovation to become a roaring blaze, there needs to be alignment between private ambition and public support.
As the participants packed their bags in Dubai and headed home, one could sense a collective determination to prove the skeptics wrong. This wasn’t just an event. It was a promise—that with the right network, the right investment, and a little less friction, Pakistan’s innovators could change the story.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance.
