Umar S Khan – SlushD Skip to main content

Umar S Khan serves as Visa’s Country Manager for Pakistan and Afghanistan based in Karachi. In his role, Umar is responsible for Visa’s overall strategy including business development, resource optimization, and building long-term relationships with Visa’s clients, regulators, and key stakeholders to drive the growth of digital commerce in these markets.

Umar S Khan is a highly experienced executive with over 20 years of global and cross-industry expertise. He has served in several senior roles across a range of markets, including Serbia, Montenegro, Hungary, Myanmar, Thailand, and Pakistan. With a strong understanding of high-volume transaction businesses and financial technology, Umar has launched and managed projects in customer experience, digital sales and distribution, and strategy.

Before joining Visa, Umar was the Chief Business Officer for Jazz Cash, one of Pakistan’s largest digital payment platforms with 10 million monthly active users. In this role, he led Government, Corporate, and Digital Partnerships and Solutions in the country. Prior to this, Umar headed Partnerships and Corporate Products as well as the Data and Digital Distribution function in Telenor Microfinance Bank.

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Jehan Ara

Jehan Ara

Founder & CEO, Katalyst Labs

Jehan Ara is the Founder & CEO of Katalyst Labs, a Startup Accelerator Innovation Hub and Women Leadership Fellows program. She is the former President of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA), where she spearheaded efforts for over 20 years and was responsible for developing the P@SHA brand and creating linkages between P@SHA and local and international partners.

Jehan has vast experience in Marketing, Communications and interactive New media in Hong Kong, the Far East, the UAE and Pakistan. She is a motivator, an entrepreneur, a social activist and a strong propagator of extending the power and use of Information and Communication Technologies beyond pure traditional business to empower and enable communities.

Currently Jehan serves as a Member of the PM’s Taskforce for IT & the Digital Economy, as a Member of the APAC Content Safety Advisory Board for TikTok and is on the Advisory Boards of the Punjab IT Board, the Governing Body of the Sindh Digital Advisory Board and on the Industry Advisory Board of various local universities including Habib University and the Institute of Business Administration (IBA). Jehan is also on the World Bank Advisory Group on Gender Diversity. She is a Board Member of the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS) and an International Expert for the World Summit Awards (WSA), a nonprofit research organization established to promote, assist, support, simulate, undertake and manage policy research and advocacy. She is an Independent Director on the board of the Central Depository Company and is on the Steering Committee of the Women on Board Allies and is on the Board of Trustees of the Karachi Biennale Trust. Jehan has recently been nominated for the Tamgha e Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan.

In January 2015, Jehan set up The Nest IO – a technology incubator, accelerator and innovation community hub in Karachi with the support of Google for Entrepreneurs to help provide a platform for aspiring technology businesses in the buzzing city of Karachi. The Nest IO incubated 217+ startup businesses and created a strong community of young people. Under her leadership The Nest I/O also organized the flagship innovation and entrepreneurship conference 021Disrupt/+92Disrupt which has become the go-to premier event that brings together startups, innovators professionals, investors and students on a platform to engage, learn and collaborate. She has been identified by Rest of World (ROW) as amongst the top global 100 Changemakers in Tech outside Silicon Valley.

Shehryar Hydri

Shehryar Hydri

Managing Director, Endeavor Pakistan

Shehryar Hydri, the Managing Director at Endeavor Pakistan, brings over two decades of diverse experience in Pakistan’s technology sector. He co-founded Trango Interactive, a pioneering game development and animation studio serving global brands like Lucas Arts, SEGA, Discovery Channel, Lexus, and Nike. Additionally, Hydri was a founding member of Convo, an enterprise SaaS that secured $15 million from investors like Adobe and Morgenthaler Ventures. His leadership extends to national IT policy formulation as the former head of PASHA. Before Endeavor, Hydri served as Managing Partner at Deosai Ventures, an early-stage VC fund focusing on Pakistan.

Misbah Naqvi

Misbah Naqvi

Co-Founder and General Partner, i2i Ventures

Misbah Naqvi is the Co-Founder and General Partner at i2i Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund and the country’s first female-founded VC fund. i2i Ventures has invested in TelloTalk, Edkasa, Creditbook, Abhi, Oraan, Tazah, Truck it In, EZBike, Metric, Rider and more.  

Misbah has over two decades of global experience in corporate finance, entrepreneurship, impact investing, fintech and development in both Pakistan and the US. She has worked with  Boloro Global Limited, Acumen, and Citigroup. Misbah has been closely involved with  Invest2Innovate (i2i)  as an Advisory Board Member since its inception in 2011 and is currently on its Board of Directors. She is also a Board Member at U Microfinance Bank Ltd and a Trustee on the Board of AAS. She has also recently joined the Board of Advisors for NOWPDP, a leading disability inclusion organization in Pakistan. 

 

Aatif Awan

Aatif Awan

Founder & Managing Partner, Indus Valley Capital

Aatif Awan is the founder of Indus Valley Capital, the leading early-stage VC fund focused on Pakistan. Indus Valley has been the first institutional VC to back many category-leading startups including Bazaar, Farmdar, BridgeLinx, Markaz, Zyp and Maqsad. Our portfolio startups have raised $270M+ in capital, more than a third of all funding raised by Pakistani startups in the last 3 years.

Previously, Aatif was VP Growth & International at LinkedIn and built the team that grew the network by half a billion members. Aatif also led the product integrations between LinkedIn and Microsoft after the $26B acquisition.

Faiza Yousuf

Faiza Yousuf

Founder, WomeninTechPK, CaterpillHERs & CodeGirls

Faiza Yousuf is a software engineer with over 14 years of experience building products and teams. She is a serial founder with initiatives focusing on women’s economic empowerment and improving gender parity in tech. She is a multi-award-winning community leader, and she founded WomenInTechPK and cofounded CodeGirls, and CaterpillHERs.

Faiza is an Expert-Vetted freelancer on Upwork and was featured in many of their campaigns. She is a well-known international speaker and writer, featured in various publications worldwide.

Faisal Aftab

Faisal Aftab

Founder & General Partner, Zayn VC
Faisal Aftab is a Pakistani-American who is a notable and respected figure in Pakistan’s thriving tech industry, boasting an impressive 25-year career as an executive, entrepreneur, and venture investor. As the Founder and General Partner of Zayn VC (formerly Zayn Capital VC), Faisal has played a pivotal role in driving the sector’s growth and development.
With a proven track record of success, Faisal previously served as the Managing Partner and Executive Director of Lakson Venture Capital, where he built the Lakson Fund from scratch and achieved exceptional returns within a mere three years. His investment expertise extends beyond traditional sectors, as he has made significant early investments in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Faisal’s educational background further enhances his investment acumen, with an MBA from Oxford University and joint Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Michigan State University. This unique combination of academic achievements, coupled with his deep understanding of blockchain technology and global macroeconomics, empowers him to make well-informed investment decisions.
With two decades of experience as an active angel investor and involvement in hedge funds and venture capital funds, Faisal brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being a limited partner of the prestigious Silicon Valley-based Venture Capital Fund, 500 Startups.
Through his continued involvement and strategic investments with Zayn VC, Faisal is poised to further propel Pakistan’s tech sector, fostering innovation and attracting both local and international investors. Notable investments made by Faisal include Haball, NayaPay, PostEX, Bookme.pk, Abhi Finance, AdalFi, EduFi, Bazaar-tech, KTrade, SnappRetail, Laam.pk, Krave Mart, GrocerApp, Truck It In, Savyour, Roomy.pk, Bagallery, Trellis Housing Finance, Tazah, Zaraye, and Colabs. With an extensive track record of successful investments and a commitment to making a significant impact on Pakistan’s tech industry, Faisal Aftab continues to be a driving force in the field, shaping the future of technology in the country.
Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram

Co-Founder, Sehat Kahani

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sehat Kahani, a Digital Healthcare platform in Pakistan that aims to democratize health care access for all using technology and a network of doctors. Before founding Sehat Kahani, Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram worked in micro health insurance and community health care initiatives with USAID. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the We-Empower Award 2021, Rolex Awards 2019, and UNICEF Global Goal Campaigner Award 2016.

Ziyad Parekh

Ziyad Parekh

CEO & Co-Founder, Safepay

Ziyad Parekh is the co-founder and CEO of Safepay. A software engineer and technology enthusiast by background, Ziyad enjoys tackling challenging problems by building tools to help solve them. Safepay, he believes, is the tool to solve the complex world of payments by giving businesses a modern platform to accept any form of digital payments without worrying about compliance, security, performance and integration. Ziyad graduated from Cornell University with a double major in Mathematics and Economics and currently resides in Karachi.

Sharmeen Khan

Sharmeen Khan

Co-Founder, Be Me

Sharmeen Khan is an American Psychological Association International Affiliate with an MS/MPhil in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. With over a decade of experience in mental health and wellness, she is also a theta-healing practitioner and instructor. Sharmeen has a private practice and founded her mental health startup, Be Me.

Having conducted two TEDx talks and been invited to speak at prestigious institutions such as Quaid-e-Azam University, JPMC, DUHS, Aman Health, Harvard South Asian Institute, NUST, Bahria University, and Federal Urdu University in Pakistan, Sharmeen is recognised for her expertise.

She has been featured on numerous podcasts and has worked in the development sector, specialising in emergency disaster relief and rehabilitation post floods, earthquakes, and other disasters. Additionally, Sharmeen’s nonprofit operates two schools in villages in Pakistan.

Abbas Shahid

Abbas Shahid

Vice President - Product, Bykea

Abbas is currently VP Product at Bykea, where has led different functions over the last few years. He has previously worked at Uber in Pakistan and East Africa, in various roles within the ride-hailing industry. He has also worked with OMD in New York, focusing on marketing analytics for clients including Pepsi, Starbucks and Lipton.

Amtul Baweja

Amtul Baweja

Actor, Comedian, Entrepreneur, and Content Creator

Amtul Baweja is a versatile talent, excelling as an actor, comedian, entrepreneur, and content creator. Her diverse online content ranges from comedy with social messages, to fashion, lifestyle, and collaborative work with her husband on Patangeer. Co-Founder of Patangeer Productions, she directs and produces digital content, including DVCs, documentaries, and music videos. Notably, her short films ‘Murder Tongue’ and ‘Solatia’ have garnered international acclaim, winning multiple awards and selection at prestigious film festivals. Amtul has also showcased her acting prowess in web series like ‘Churails’ and as a member of the groundbreaking comedy troupe ‘Khawatoons’. Additionally, she manages her e-commerce venture, PRCH, offering her own clothing line.

Kassim Shroff

Kassim Shroff

Co-founder, Krave Mart

Kassim Shroff is the CEO & Co-Founder of Krave Mart. He has 10 years of eCommerce experience in both Canada and Pakistan in various leadership roles including Product, Project Management, Business Development, Operations, Growth, Customer and Seller Experience, Localization, Incubation, Marketing and startups. Prior to this, Kassim was working at Daraz as Chief Customer Officer – leading the Customer and Seller experience team in Pakistan.

Aleena Nadeem

Aleena Nadeem

Founder & CEO, EduFi

Aleena Nadeem is the Chief executive officer and Founder of EDUFI Private Limited. EduFi aims to provide student financing solutions to the masses. The vision of EduFi is to financially assist as many middle class citizens of Pakistan as possible, in gaining higher education. EduFi has raised over $6.1 million USD to date, which is the largest pre-seed round to have ever been raised by a Pakistani start-up.

Aleena completed her high school from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where she also attained the regional distinction in Economics. She completed her bachelors from the Massachusetts’s Institute of Technology in 2016.Post MIT, Aleena started her career working at Goldman Sachs London in the credit division after which she worked as the fintech lead at Ventura Capital London, a late stage private equity fund in London. She left as the youngest and first female principal partner at Ventura. She raised over $50 million USD as part of the series G raise for PayTM in India, $20 million USD as part of Railsbank’s A+ round and over $60 million USD as part of Upgrade’s series D round. She is also a director in her family’s office based out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She serves as an active member of PEN (Progressive Education Network) which is a non for profit charity run by her family office which educates over 100,000 children for free every year. Aleena Nadeem is also a member of the Arts club in London and EO Pakistan where she serves on the Board.

Haider Raza

Haider Raza

Co-Founder, DealCart

8 years of experience in strategy, operations, team building and growth across FMCG, retail, mobility and marketplaces
Haider is a seasoned startup professional having built companies and products from scratch multiple times. As a Co-Founder of FindMyAdventure (acquired by GoZayaan), Haider built the first travel and experiences platform for Pakistan. At Careem, he launched and scaled multiple new categories and cities and then moved to Swl as its first hire for Pakistan where he launched the Pakistan market, set up a strong team and scaled. Recently, he also worked at the global quick commerce unicorn, JOKR, in the central operations team. Prior to startups, Haider spent 2 years at Procter and Gamble in operations and marketing, learning the ins and outs of the FMCG industry.
Haider has an MBA from London Business School and a Bsc Economics from LUMS.

Sabeena Abbasi

Sabeena Abbasi

Co-founder & Chief Digital Learning Officer, Taleemabad

Ms. Sabeena holds an MSc in Development Economics and Policy from the University of Manchester and has conducted research on policy implications on poverty and inequality in developing countries, including the impact of microfinance institutions, financial markets, education financing, and various facets of capitalism. She is passionate about empowering communities and has demonstrated this through her work on a startup that provided opportunities for female artisans, connecting them with global markets. At Taleemabad, she has developed several impactful products, including Pakistan’s first digital teacher training program, an animated curriculum for students, and scripted lesson plans, collectively resulting in an additional 1.5 years of learning. Ms. Sabeena collaborates closely with the government on various policy interventions to transform the education ecosystem. She is also a WISE Emerging Leader and has spoken at numerous forums, including TED-Ed.

 

Rabeel Warraich

Rabeel Warraich

Founder & CEO, Sarmayacar

Rabeel Warraich is the Founder and CEO of Sarmayacar, Pakistan’s pioneering venture capital firm. He holds a degree in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Rabeel started his career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley. He then delved into private wealth management at Convergent Wealth Advisors, offering financial counsel to high-net-worth clients and optimizing their portfolios. Later, he served as Vice President Private Equity at GIC Investment Management, overseeing foreign reserves for Singapore. Furthermore, he is the first Pakistan-focused Kauffman Fellow. In 2017, Rabeel established Sarmayacar, an early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to nurturing innovation within Pakistan’s growing startup landscape. Sarmayacar has since made investments in a wide array of promising Pakistani startups, including the likes of Abhi, Bykea, SimPaisa as part of its first $25 million fund. Rabeel’s commitment to fostering local entrepreneurship has solidified his position within Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. Beyond his work in the private sector and entrepreneurial sphere, Rabeel also teaches a weekly class on Venture Capital & Finance as visiting faculty at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi

Maha Shahzad

Maha Shahzad

Founder, BusCaro

Maha Shahzad an industry leader with 13 years of experience building and growing startups from the ground up. Under her leadership, BusCaro has already scaled to 3 cities and managed to secure 5.5 million bookings across Pakistan

Kasim Kasuri

Kasim Kasuri

CEO, Beaconhouse School System

Kasim Kasuri is CEO of Beaconhouse, an organisation that educates over 360,000 students in schools across Pakistan, Southeast Asia, and MENA. He founded TNS Beaconhouse in 2007, an innovative school promoting project-based, experiential learning, and has been instrumental in the international development of Beaconhouse. He chairs School of Tomorrow (SOT), an event series that imagines a better future for young people, as well as SparkTank, Pakistan’s first business incubator for children aged 10-19 years.

With an enduring commitment to promoting emerging artists, and the desire to reimagine the hospitality industry in Pakistan, he established Ambiance Hotels & Resorts in 2020, a network of boutique art hotels and resorts. Kasim’s  contributions have earned him global recognition, including ‘Young Global Leader’ at the World Economic Forum from 2009 to 2015.

Nayab Nazir

Nayab Nazir

Marketing Lead PK, Muzz

Nayab Nazir is a dedicated marketing professional with over 6 years of experience in the marketing and business domain. Currently, she leads the marketing efforts at Muzz for Pakistan, where her strategic leadership has driven exponential growth in various cities across the country. Her previous role at Metric allowed her to deliver impactful results, leveraging her extensive knowledge of markets in the MENA region. The global perspective she gained while working with markets such as UAE, US and the UK enables her to analyze and cater to diverse audiences effectively. Her journey began as a student at FAST NUCES, while she was a student she gained invaluable experience working with HR Consultants, Photoneers, and UnitedSol. Nayab’s commitment to continuous improvement and her passion for making things happen drive her to create value for herself and others. She is passionate about coaching and enabling others to reach their full potential, aspiring to grow startups through innovative marketing strategies.

Usama Naeem Nini

Usama Naeem Nini

Co-founder, Qureos

Usama Naeem Nini, Co-founder at Qureos, once played an instrumental role in Swvl’s expansion in UAE, Jordan, and KSA. With a vision for efficient products using data analytics, machine learning, and automation, he co-founded Qureos in 2021 with Alex Epure and Mehrad Yaghmi. Together, they aim to empower companies to discover their ideal candidates in just 24 seconds using Iris, an AI-enabled Talent Scout.

Ailia Naeem

Ailia Naeem

Senior Investment Associate, i2i Ventures

Ailia is a Senior Investment Associate at i2i Ventures. Prior to that, she has been on the Public Markets side, covering major listed equities on Pakistan Stock Exchange as an Investment Analyst. She brings the public markets’ rigor and data driven lens to the private markets. She has 8+ years of experience in investments and financial markets of Pakistan.

Atyab Tahir

Atyab Tahir

Co-Founder & CEO, HugoBank

Atyab Tahir combines two decades of experience in the financial sector with a deep understanding of emerging markets. Throughout his career, he’s played instrumental roles in various organizations like Tameer Bank, Easypaisa, HBL, JazzCash, and Mastercard, primarily focusing on enhancing financial inclusion within Pakistan, where a significant unbanked population exists.  Currently at the helm of HugoBank as its Co-Founder and CEO, Atyab is working towards establishing a financial institution tailored to its users’ specific needs. The objective is to make banking more accessible and relevant, a reflection of his consistent focus on user-centricity. His leadership is informed not only by his roles in digital banking and fintech but also by his academic pursuits—an MBA from Babson College and a policy design certificate from Harvard Kennedy School.

Azima Dhanjee

Azima Dhanjee

Co-Founder & CEO, ConnectHear

Azima Dhanjee is a Child of Deaf Adult (CODA), Co-founder/CEO of ConnectHear, Board Member of Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) and ex-member of the National Youth Council (a federal government initiative). She is an alumna of the Institute of Business Administration (Class of 2020), with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Most recently, Azima has been recognized as Pride of Pakistan by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Azima is raised by Deaf parents and Pakistani Sign Language (PSL) is her mother tongue. Growing up, she was always troubled by how simple communication was a challenge for the Deaf due to the language barrier. The lack of awareness and accessibility with regards to the Deaf community led her to initiate and manage “ConnectHear” along with her two high school friends. “ConnectHear” is a social enterprise that strives for sign language accessibility and Deaf inclusion of the Deaf community in Pakistan by utilizing technology and has recently launched a sign language recognition A.I. for the very first time in the country. She is also a Diana awards recipient and has been mentioned for her efforts in Forbes, Pioneers Post, and various other publications. Furthermore, ConnectHear is the winner of TiE Women Global Competition among 40 chapters, Young Innovators Award by the World Summit Award, the P@SHA ICT Awards as well as the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Competition. Azima has presented at sessions on Social Entrepreneurship, Disability Rights and Leadership at various national and international forums. Additionally, Azima has represented Pakistan in Kenya as a Global Encounters’ Participant; in Senegal as an English Language Instructor; and in the United States of America as a Cultural Exchange Ambassador. Azima has great faith in the growing social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan. She is committed to exploring new ways to use technology and design thinking to help the differently abled presently, and in the future, through her initiative, ConnectHear.

M. Owais Qureshi

M. Owais Qureshi

Co-Founder, Dastgyr

Owais is a serial startup enthusiast with a decade-long career covering multiple mass-market verticals, ranging from mobility to consumer goods. He has served as an early teammate at Rocket Internet’s Daraz (acquired by Alibaba), Careem (acquired by Uber), and Airlift in roles that have cut across strategy, analytics, operations, and market launches. As the co-founder of Dastgyr, he has spearheaded the company’s growth into an international operation with millions of dollars in monthly revenue. Owais, along with his co-founder Zohaib Ali, was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Retail & E-commerce entrepreneurs in 2021.

Saima Zaidi

Saima Zaidi

Founder and Director, Numaish-Karachi

Saima Zaidi, a Communication Designer, based in Karachi is the Founder and Director of Numaish-Karachi, an award-winning interdisciplinary collective, which opens public spaces of the city for cultural production. The collective is currently engaged in a project ‘The Reading Room’ to revitalise The  Khalikdina Hall and Library in Karachi supported by the Cultural Protection Fund, UK.  Presently, she serves as Additional Curator at the Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi, and has recently curated the exhibition titled ‘Jhuley Lal: Crafting the Contemporary’.

She is the editor and designer of the book Mazaar, Bazaar: Design and Visual Culture in Pakistan published by Oxford University Press (OUP), Karachi, Pakistan in collaboration with the Prince Claus Fund Library, Amsterdam, NL (2010). She is currently editing a sister volume Hazaar Bazaar to be published by OUP in collaboration with the Endowment Fund Trust (forthcoming 2024).

Zaidi has been teaching design at several institutions including the Department of Visual Studies, University of Karachi, Pakistan.

She received her BFA in Design from the National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan and her MSc from the Pratt Institute, New York, USA.

Saad Niazi

Saad Niazi

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Keenu

Saad Niazi is Co-Founder and CEO of Keenu. Under his leadership Keenu has become one of the top Fintechs in the country, specially one of the top players in payments.
Prior to banking Saad has been associated with Banking in the area of digital banking.
He is a seasoned industry professional with vast experience in payments and building the digital ecosystem

Maheen Adamjee

Maheen Adamjee

CEO & Founder, Dot & Line

Maheen Adamjee is a graduate from the London School of Economics (LSE), an award-winning journalist and educationalist. She serves on boards of various companies and was a featured speaker at the World Bank conference in Washington DC. She is the founder and CEO of Dot & Line which is an education-technology platform connecting instructors with students. Today, Dot and Line has teachers and students in 12 countries and has completed half a million classes this year.

Usman Riaz

Usman Riaz

Co-Founder, Mano Animation Studios

Usman Riaz, Co-Founder of Mano Animation Studios, Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animation studio, is a Berklee College of Music scholarship recipient and musician with albums released under EMI Pakistan. As a filmmaker, his notable works include ‘RUCKUS’ and ‘The Waves.’ His latest project, ‘The Glassworker,’ showcases his storytelling and animation skills and is an official selection in the Contrechamp category at Annecy 2024. Riaz’s work continues to inspire a new generation of creators worldwide.

Amneh Shaikh Farooqui

Amneh Shaikh Farooqui

CEO/Founder, Polly & Other Stories

Amneh is an accomplished social entrepreneur and leader with two decades of experience in Pakistan’s impact sector. She’s a recognized expert in gender mainstreaming, project management, leadership development, economic empowerment, and environmental initiatives. Amneh’s work is defined by her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices by leveraging indigenous heritage, storytelling, and artistic expression. Amneh’s approach operates at the intersection of social justice, gender equality, decolonization, and fashion. She is the Curator of Women of the World festivals in Pakistan and the Founder/CEO of Polly and Other Stories, an artisan-focused marketplace. She’s also an Acumen and Miller Center Social Enterprise Fellow and author of the book “Fearless,” which profiles 50 remarkable women from Pakistan.

Adnan Ali

Adnan Ali

CEO and Director, PayFast

Adnan Ali has over 18 years of diversified experience in leveraging innovation and technology within the banking and financial sector. He is an ambitious and results-oriented professional with a demonstrated record of success in strategy making, execution, and ramp-up. His career highlights include launching Pakistan’s first co-branded loyalty card with the largest retail shopping mall, envisioning the first real-time mutual funds redemption Visa debit card in Pakistan, and launching the first SMS banking services in the country. He has also worked closely with the government of Pakistan, regulators, and global banking entities to conceive the G2P program and set a roadmap for the digital journey of commercial banks in Pakistan.

At PayFast, Adnan is the visionary and architect behind a robust and diverse payment acceptance solution that is PCI-DSS certified. Under his leadership, PayFast synergized with UnionPay International to ignite a mobile payments revolution akin to China. His efforts have led PayFast to become the first financial technology company to achieve commercial approval for PSO/PSP for payment gateway services from the State Bank of Pakistan. Additionally, Adnan successfully launched Raast P2M as MSP, making PayFast the first payment gateway to implement Raast. 

Adnan also leads the “Knowledge Management Group” of the Pakistan Fintech Association, working tirelessly to accelerate the Pakistani digital payments industry. His ultimate vision is to digitize Pakistan, fostering a cashless economy that provides convenience and security through seamless digital payments.

In essence, Adnan Ali is not just a leader – he is a catalyst for change, inspiring the next wave of tech entrepreneurship in Pakistan through innovation, community engagement, and regulatory excellence. His journey exemplifies the transformative power of dedication, mentorship, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Tazeen Hussain

Tazeen Hussain

Associate Professor - Dept. of Communication Design, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture

Tazeen Hussain is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Design at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. She has served as Head of department in the Dept. of Communication Design and Foundation Program at IVS and as visiting faculty in the departments of Visual Studies at Karachi University and Media Sciences at Szabist. She also has an active media practice working as an Actor and Voice over Artist.

As a researcher, Hussain has presented her work at national and international conferences, and published internationally as well. Her current interests include the re-examination of Design Education, it’s conception and evolution, in the Pakistani context, whilst exploring the possibilities of design as an active contributor to the socio-cultural and political landscape. She has designed and led a yearlong program Critical Design Education and Practice funded by US – Pakistan University Partnerships Grants Program 2020-23 in partnership with IVS. She also serves actively on the Board of Studies of various Design institutions across Pakistan.

Hussain has been volunteering her services for projects falling in the realm of creative and social entrepreneurship, sustainable development, climate change, and merging education and design practice. Notable projects include ‘Karachi Art Directory’ with Karachi Biennale Trust, ‘Imparting education on Climate change to vulnerable communities’- UN GRIP with Indus Earth Trust, ‘Meri Duniya kay Rang’ with NOWPDP. Hussain also works in media, is a member of Act, Pakistan, while her other areas of contribution are theatre, journalism, and activism. Hussain received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Design from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, and a Masters in New Media and Society from the University of Leicester, UK.

Umar S Khan

Umar S Khan

Country Manager for Pakistan & Afghanistan, Visa

Umar S Khan serves as Visa’s Country Manager for Pakistan and Afghanistan based in Karachi. In his role, Umar is responsible for Visa’s overall strategy including business development, resource optimization, and building long-term relationships with Visa’s clients, regulators, and key stakeholders to drive the growth of digital commerce in these markets.

Umar S Khan is a highly experienced executive with over 20 years of global and cross-industry expertise. He has served in several senior roles across a range of markets, including Serbia, Montenegro, Hungary, Myanmar, Thailand, and Pakistan. With a strong understanding of high-volume transaction businesses and financial technology, Umar has launched and managed projects in customer experience, digital sales and distribution, and strategy.

Before joining Visa, Umar was the Chief Business Officer for Jazz Cash, one of Pakistan’s largest digital payment platforms with 10 million monthly active users. In this role, he led Government, Corporate, and Digital Partnerships and Solutions in the country. Prior to this, Umar headed Partnerships and Corporate Products as well as the Data and Digital Distribution function in Telenor Microfinance Bank.

Mashall Khattak

Mashall Khattak

Co-Founder, KAT Global

Mashall Khattak is a writer and creative technologist currently lecturing at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture ‘s Communication Design Department on the intersection between human centered interaction design and AI.

She has over a decade in traditional publishing experience and is currently focused on Machine Learning , Computer Vision, AR , VR and XR design technologies with D2C applications in the media industry.

As co-founder of KAT Global, Mashall is currently working on Code Create Design , a startup that focuses on micro learning sessions with human interactions assisted by machine learning and AI that is to launch this fall.

Hasnain Sheikh

Hasnain Sheikh

CEO & Founder, Jazari

Hasnain is the CEO and Founder of Jazari, a global Remit Now Pay Later platform headquartered in London, focusing on the financial needs of underserved migrant workers and their families who have little or no credit history.  This gives customers one platform on which to bank, remit, receive, and borrow, on both sides of the remittance corridor.

Hasnain is a repeat entrepreneur in the Fintech Space for over 2 decades, having worked and founded multiple ventures, including Inov8, FonePay, MicroBank, Genie and others.  He is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sibtain Jiwani

Sibtain Jiwani

Founder, Smartbenefits

Sibtain Jiwani has passion for transforming industries, he ventured into entrepreneurship, founding Smartchoice, which quickly became the country’s largest platform for comparing and buying insurance. This success inspired him to launch SmartBenefits, a digital-first solution reshaping how companies manage health insurance, provident fund and other benefits.

Ahmed Ayub

Ahmed Ayub

Chief Strategy Officer, Conrads Lab

Ahmed Ayub is the Chief Strategy Officer at Conrads Lab, a leading software services company specialising in AI/ML-based solutions for Healthcare, Infosec, Logistics, and Edtech. With over 24 years of experience in the software industry, Ahmed co-founded Airlift Technologies, a quick commerce startup that raised over $110 million, pioneering investments in the Pakistani startup ecosystem. Before this, he led software operations at firms like Folio3 and 10Pearls for over a decade. Ahmed holds an MBA from the Bradford University School of Management and a BS in Computer Science from FAST University.

Ali Ladhubhai

Ali Ladhubhai

COO and Co-founder of ABHI

Ali Ladhubhai is the COO and Co-founder of ABHI, a growing embedded finance platform in the MENAP region. With over a decade of experience in the finance & banking industry, Ali has honed his expertise in relationship management, premier banking, and business development.

His career in finance began in 2009 as a Relationship Manager at Samba Bank Ltd., followed by a role as a Premier Banker at HSBC Retail Banking and Wealth Management. Prior to launching ABHI, Ali co-founded KarloCompare.com.pk (CompareOn Pakistan Pvt Ltd) and later joined Foree as the Director of Business Development.

Ali holds a master’s degree from Cardiff University, Wales, specializing in banking and financial support services.

 

 Nouman Zahoor

 Nouman Zahoor

COO & Head of Growth, Waada

Nouman Zahoor is an accomplished insuretech enthusiast, marketing strategist, with an unwavering commitment to transform the insurance landscape in Pakistan through improvised solutions. As Chief Operating Officer of Waada (leading insuretech platform in Pakistan), Nouman draws upon his extensive background in mass market, small ticket products to drive the company’s strategic growth and innovation and has propelled Waada to the forefront of the industry.

Mubariz Siddiqui

Mubariz Siddiqui

Founding Partner, Carbon Law

Mubariz is a leading startup lawyer in Pakistan, known for facilitating over USD 250m in deals for tech startups and investors. He collaborates with regulators, notably the State Bank of Pakistan, to foster foreign investment and innovation. His initiatives also focus on educating founders on governance and fundraising.

Saif Ali

Saif Ali

Program Manager, Orbit Startups

Saif Ali is a seasoned business development and communications professional with over a decade of experience in advertising, media, and technology. As the former Executive Director of Dastgyr, a B2B e-commerce scale-up, he played a pivotal role in securing Pakistan’s largest Series A funding of $37 million. Saif has empowered over 150 businesses, spanning SMEs to Fortune 50 companies, with strategic branding, marketing, and sales initiatives. His industry insights have been featured in renowned publications such as The New York Times, Reuters, and Asharq Bloomberg. Saif has also been a guest speaker at prestigious events including Step Dubai, +92Disrupt, Delivery Hero, Unilever, LUMS, and IBA. He is currently the Program Manager at Orbit Startups, a global venture capital firm focusing on emerging and frontier markets.

Yasir Suleman Memon

Yasir Suleman Memon

Co Founder, Salesflo

Yasir is an avid tech enthusiast, builder, entrepreneur, runner, cyclist, husband, and a loving father to two. Yasir is the cofounder and CEO of Salesflo – An enterprise SaaS platform helping CPG companies to spearhead growth through a digitally enabled and effective sales force, automating and simplifying complex workflows and helping drive efficiency through a fully digitized supply chain.  Previously Yasir had also Co-founded Jugnu (A B2B eCommerce Platform) and has had a corporate career with Unilever for 8+ years.

Adnan Shafi

Adnan Shafi

Co-Founder & CEO, PriceOye

Adnan Shaffi is a serial entrepreneur. He has previously founded two companies both of which got acquired and is currently serving as Co-Founder & CEO at PriceOye.pk. PriceOye.pk is a leading eCommerce platform for consumer electronics, creating the most delightful online shopping experience by empowering consumers to find the best product for their needs.

Jawwad Farid

Jawwad Farid

Director and Chief Executive, Alchemy Technologies

Jawwad Farid is a serial founder with 4 ventures, 5 books and one cross border exit to his name. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Columbia Business School and FAST NUCES alumni.

Within the startup community his interest lies at the intersection of education, financial services, impact investments and teaching. He ran the financial modeling boot camp at Nest I/O, Katalyst Labs and was APICTA pitch mentor for Team Pakistan for 13 years. His own ventures specialized in compliance risk tech engines for financial services and teaching rocket science to ordinary mortals.

Jawwad taught at the SP Jain Global School of Management in Dubai and Singapore, at IBA and Habib University in Karachi.  He currently splits his time between risk and actuarial consulting for insurance clients at Alchemy Technologies, and as a Professor of Practice at IBA, Karachi. 

Jawwad is the author of Models at Work (Palgrave Macmillan), Option Greeks Primer (Palgrave Macmillan), Portfolio Optimization Models, Founder Puzzles and Reboot.

Hassaan Bin Shaheen

Hassaan Bin Shaheen

Comedian

Hassaan Bin Shaheen is a comedian, and rapper based in Pakistan. As a comedian he has performed all over Pakistan while having done shows in the UK and Pakistan.
He currently hosts his monthly open mic by the name of Fitna, Fasaad aur Muhabbat and works actively on the stand-up circuit, hosting shows, performing stand up and musical comedy. He also works as a Project Manager at Finsweet and has expertise in web development, low code SaaS product management and design.

Bilal Hassan

Bilal Hassan

Content Creator, Writer and Photojournalist

Mystapaki aka Bilal Hassan is a content creator, writer and photojournalist who posts primarily about travel and culture while opening up a window for the outside world to have a peek into what everyday life is like in Pakistan. He’s written for and been in numerous local and international publications namely VICE, the Guardian, Toronto Star, Print India and Dawn Pakistan.

Kazi Akber

Kazi Akber

Digital Content Creator and Photojournalist

Kazi Akber is a digital content creator and a photojournalist. He believes that everyone has a story worth sharing and he does so with utmost beauty and respect.

Salman Parekh

Salman Parekh

Managing Director, Manto Store

Salman Parekh, the founder of Manto, is a renowned storyteller known for his captivating narratives. With a keen interest in psychology and marketing, he creates compelling stories that resonate deeply with audiences. As a relentless learner and content creator, Parekh shapes the world through his evocative storytelling, leaving an enduring impact on all who encounter his work.

Jehan Ara

Jehan Ara

Founder & CEO, Katalyst Labs

Jehan Ara is the Founder & CEO of Katalyst Labs, a Startup Accelerator Innovation Hub and Women Leadership Fellows program. She is the former President of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA), where she spearheaded efforts for over 20 years and was responsible for developing the P@SHA brand and creating linkages between P@SHA and local and international partners. Jehan has vast experience in Marketing, Communications and interactive New media in Hong Kong, the Far East, the UAE and Pakistan. She is a motivator, an entrepreneur, a social activist and a strong propagator of extending the power and use of Information and Communication Technologies beyond pure traditional business to empower and enable communities. Currently Jehan serves as a Member of the PM's Taskforce for IT & the Digital Economy, as a Member of the APAC Content Safety Advisory Board for TikTok and is on the Advisory Boards of the Punjab IT Board, the Governing Body of the Sindh Digital Advisory Board and on the Industry Advisory Board of various local universities including Habib University and the Institute of Business Administration (IBA). Jehan is also on the World Bank Advisory Group on Gender Diversity. She is a Board Member of the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS) and an International Expert for the World Summit Awards (WSA), a nonprofit research organization established to promote, assist, support, simulate, undertake and manage policy research and advocacy. She is an Independent Director on the board of the Central Depository Company and is on the Steering Committee of the Women on Board Allies and is on the Board of Trustees of the Karachi Biennale Trust. Jehan has recently been nominated for the Tamgha e Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan. In January 2015, Jehan set up The Nest IO – a technology incubator, accelerator and innovation community hub in Karachi with the support of Google for Entrepreneurs to help provide a platform for aspiring technology businesses in the buzzing city of Karachi. The Nest IO incubated 217+ startup businesses and created a strong community of young people. Under her leadership The Nest I/O also organized the flagship innovation and entrepreneurship conference 021Disrupt/+92Disrupt which has become the go-to premier event that brings together startups, innovators professionals, investors and students on a platform to engage, learn and collaborate. She has been identified by Rest of World (ROW) as amongst the top global 100 Changemakers in Tech outside Silicon Valley.

Shehryar Hydri

Shehryar Hydri

Managing Director, Endeavor Pakistan

Shehryar Hydri, the Managing Director at Endeavor Pakistan, brings over two decades of diverse experience in Pakistan's technology sector. He co-founded Trango Interactive, a pioneering game development and animation studio serving global brands like Lucas Arts, SEGA, Discovery Channel, Lexus, and Nike. Additionally, Hydri was a founding member of Convo, an enterprise SaaS that secured $15 million from investors like Adobe and Morgenthaler Ventures. His leadership extends to national IT policy formulation as the former head of PASHA. Before Endeavor, Hydri served as Managing Partner at Deosai Ventures, an early-stage VC fund focusing on Pakistan.

Misbah Naqvi

Misbah Naqvi

Co-Founder and General Partner, i2i Ventures

Misbah Naqvi is the Co-Founder and General Partner at i2i Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund and the country’s first female-founded VC fund. i2i Ventures has invested in TelloTalk, Edkasa, Creditbook, Abhi, Oraan, Tazah, Truck it In, EZBike, Metric, Rider and more.   Misbah has over two decades of global experience in corporate finance, entrepreneurship, impact investing, fintech and development in both Pakistan and the US. She has worked with  Boloro Global Limited, Acumen, and Citigroup. Misbah has been closely involved with  Invest2Innovate (i2i)  as an Advisory Board Member since its inception in 2011 and is currently on its Board of Directors. She is also a Board Member at U Microfinance Bank Ltd and a Trustee on the Board of AAS. She has also recently joined the Board of Advisors for NOWPDP, a leading disability inclusion organization in Pakistan.   

Aatif Awan

Aatif Awan

Founder & Managing Partner, Indus Valley Capital

Aatif Awan is the founder of Indus Valley Capital, the leading early-stage VC fund focused on Pakistan. Indus Valley has been the first institutional VC to back many category-leading startups including Bazaar, Farmdar, BridgeLinx, Markaz, Zyp and Maqsad. Our portfolio startups have raised $270M+ in capital, more than a third of all funding raised by Pakistani startups in the last 3 years. Previously, Aatif was VP Growth & International at LinkedIn and built the team that grew the network by half a billion members. Aatif also led the product integrations between LinkedIn and Microsoft after the $26B acquisition.

Faiza Yousuf

Faiza Yousuf

Founder, WomeninTechPK, CaterpillHERs & CodeGirls

Faiza Yousuf is a software engineer with over 14 years of experience building products and teams. She is a serial founder with initiatives focusing on women’s economic empowerment and improving gender parity in tech. She is a multi-award-winning community leader, and she founded WomenInTechPK and cofounded CodeGirls, and CaterpillHERs. Faiza is an Expert-Vetted freelancer on Upwork and was featured in many of their campaigns. She is a well-known international speaker and writer, featured in various publications worldwide.

Faisal Aftab

Faisal Aftab

Founder & General Partner, Zayn VC

Faisal Aftab is a Pakistani-American who is a notable and respected figure in Pakistan's thriving tech industry, boasting an impressive 25-year career as an executive, entrepreneur, and venture investor. As the Founder and General Partner of Zayn VC (formerly Zayn Capital VC), Faisal has played a pivotal role in driving the sector's growth and development.
With a proven track record of success, Faisal previously served as the Managing Partner and Executive Director of Lakson Venture Capital, where he built the Lakson Fund from scratch and achieved exceptional returns within a mere three years. His investment expertise extends beyond traditional sectors, as he has made significant early investments in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Faisal's educational background further enhances his investment acumen, with an MBA from Oxford University and joint Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Michigan State University. This unique combination of academic achievements, coupled with his deep understanding of blockchain technology and global macroeconomics, empowers him to make well-informed investment decisions.
With two decades of experience as an active angel investor and involvement in hedge funds and venture capital funds, Faisal brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being a limited partner of the prestigious Silicon Valley-based Venture Capital Fund, 500 Startups.
Through his continued involvement and strategic investments with Zayn VC, Faisal is poised to further propel Pakistan's tech sector, fostering innovation and attracting both local and international investors. Notable investments made by Faisal include Haball, NayaPay, PostEX, Bookme.pk, Abhi Finance, AdalFi, EduFi, Bazaar-tech, KTrade, SnappRetail, Laam.pk, Krave Mart, GrocerApp, Truck It In, Savyour, Roomy.pk, Bagallery, Trellis Housing Finance, Tazah, Zaraye, and Colabs. With an extensive track record of successful investments and a commitment to making a significant impact on Pakistan's tech industry, Faisal Aftab continues to be a driving force in the field, shaping the future of technology in the country.

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram

Co-Founder, Sehat Kahani

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sehat Kahani, a Digital Healthcare platform in Pakistan that aims to democratize health care access for all using technology and a network of doctors. Before founding Sehat Kahani, Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram worked in micro health insurance and community health care initiatives with USAID. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the We-Empower Award 2021, Rolex Awards 2019, and UNICEF Global Goal Campaigner Award 2016.

Ziyad Parekh

Ziyad Parekh

CEO & Co-Founder, Safepay

Ziyad Parekh is the co-founder and CEO of Safepay. A software engineer and technology enthusiast by background, Ziyad enjoys tackling challenging problems by building tools to help solve them. Safepay, he believes, is the tool to solve the complex world of payments by giving businesses a modern platform to accept any form of digital payments without worrying about compliance, security, performance and integration. Ziyad graduated from Cornell University with a double major in Mathematics and Economics and currently resides in Karachi.

Sharmeen Khan

Sharmeen Khan

Co-Founder, Be Me

Sharmeen Khan is an American Psychological Association International Affiliate with an MS/MPhil in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. With over a decade of experience in mental health and wellness, she is also a theta-healing practitioner and instructor. Sharmeen has a private practice and founded her mental health startup, Be Me. Having conducted two TEDx talks and been invited to speak at prestigious institutions such as Quaid-e-Azam University, JPMC, DUHS, Aman Health, Harvard South Asian Institute, NUST, Bahria University, and Federal Urdu University in Pakistan, Sharmeen is recognised for her expertise. She has been featured on numerous podcasts and has worked in the development sector, specialising in emergency disaster relief and rehabilitation post floods, earthquakes, and other disasters. Additionally, Sharmeen's nonprofit operates two schools in villages in Pakistan.

Abbas Shahid

Abbas Shahid

Vice President - Product, Bykea

Abbas is currently VP Product at Bykea, where has led different functions over the last few years. He has previously worked at Uber in Pakistan and East Africa, in various roles within the ride-hailing industry. He has also worked with OMD in New York, focusing on marketing analytics for clients including Pepsi, Starbucks and Lipton.

Amtul Baweja

Amtul Baweja

Actor, Comedian, Entrepreneur, and Content Creator

Amtul Baweja is a versatile talent, excelling as an actor, comedian, entrepreneur, and content creator. Her diverse online content ranges from comedy with social messages, to fashion, lifestyle, and collaborative work with her husband on Patangeer. Co-Founder of Patangeer Productions, she directs and produces digital content, including DVCs, documentaries, and music videos. Notably, her short films 'Murder Tongue' and 'Solatia' have garnered international acclaim, winning multiple awards and selection at prestigious film festivals. Amtul has also showcased her acting prowess in web series like 'Churails' and as a member of the groundbreaking comedy troupe 'Khawatoons'. Additionally, she manages her e-commerce venture, PRCH, offering her own clothing line.

Kassim Shroff

Kassim Shroff

Co-founder, Krave Mart

Kassim Shroff is the CEO & Co-Founder of Krave Mart. He has 10 years of eCommerce experience in both Canada and Pakistan in various leadership roles including Product, Project Management, Business Development, Operations, Growth, Customer and Seller Experience, Localization, Incubation, Marketing and startups. Prior to this, Kassim was working at Daraz as Chief Customer Officer – leading the Customer and Seller experience team in Pakistan.

Aleena Nadeem

Aleena Nadeem

Founder & CEO, EduFi

Aleena Nadeem is the Chief executive officer and Founder of EDUFI Private Limited. EduFi aims to provide student financing solutions to the masses. The vision of EduFi is to financially assist as many middle class citizens of Pakistan as possible, in gaining higher education. EduFi has raised over $6.1 million USD to date, which is the largest pre-seed round to have ever been raised by a Pakistani start-up. Aleena completed her high school from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where she also attained the regional distinction in Economics. She completed her bachelors from the Massachusetts’s Institute of Technology in 2016.Post MIT, Aleena started her career working at Goldman Sachs London in the credit division after which she worked as the fintech lead at Ventura Capital London, a late stage private equity fund in London. She left as the youngest and first female principal partner at Ventura. She raised over $50 million USD as part of the series G raise for PayTM in India, $20 million USD as part of Railsbank’s A+ round and over $60 million USD as part of Upgrade’s series D round. She is also a director in her family’s office based out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She serves as an active member of PEN (Progressive Education Network) which is a non for profit charity run by her family office which educates over 100,000 children for free every year. Aleena Nadeem is also a member of the Arts club in London and EO Pakistan where she serves on the Board.

Haider Raza

Haider Raza

Co-Founder, DealCart

8 years of experience in strategy, operations, team building and growth across FMCG, retail, mobility and marketplaces Haider is a seasoned startup professional having built companies and products from scratch multiple times. As a Co-Founder of FindMyAdventure (acquired by GoZayaan), Haider built the first travel and experiences platform for Pakistan. At Careem, he launched and scaled multiple new categories and cities and then moved to Swl as its first hire for Pakistan where he launched the Pakistan market, set up a strong team and scaled. Recently, he also worked at the global quick commerce unicorn, JOKR, in the central operations team. Prior to startups, Haider spent 2 years at Procter and Gamble in operations and marketing, learning the ins and outs of the FMCG industry. Haider has an MBA from London Business School and a Bsc Economics from LUMS.

Sabeena Abbasi

Sabeena Abbasi

Co-founder & Chief Digital Learning Officer, Taleemabad

Ms. Sabeena holds an MSc in Development Economics and Policy from the University of Manchester and has conducted research on policy implications on poverty and inequality in developing countries, including the impact of microfinance institutions, financial markets, education financing, and various facets of capitalism. She is passionate about empowering communities and has demonstrated this through her work on a startup that provided opportunities for female artisans, connecting them with global markets. At Taleemabad, she has developed several impactful products, including Pakistan’s first digital teacher training program, an animated curriculum for students, and scripted lesson plans, collectively resulting in an additional 1.5 years of learning. Ms. Sabeena collaborates closely with the government on various policy interventions to transform the education ecosystem. She is also a WISE Emerging Leader and has spoken at numerous forums, including TED-Ed.  

Rabeel Warraich

Rabeel Warraich

Founder & CEO, Sarmayacar

Rabeel Warraich is the Founder and CEO of Sarmayacar, Pakistan’s pioneering venture capital firm. He holds a degree in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Rabeel started his career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley. He then delved into private wealth management at Convergent Wealth Advisors, offering financial counsel to high-net-worth clients and optimizing their portfolios. Later, he served as Vice President Private Equity at GIC Investment Management, overseeing foreign reserves for Singapore. Furthermore, he is the first Pakistan-focused Kauffman Fellow. In 2017, Rabeel established Sarmayacar, an early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to nurturing innovation within Pakistan's growing startup landscape. Sarmayacar has since made investments in a wide array of promising Pakistani startups, including the likes of Abhi, Bykea, SimPaisa as part of its first $25 million fund. Rabeel’s commitment to fostering local entrepreneurship has solidified his position within Pakistan's startup ecosystem. Beyond his work in the private sector and entrepreneurial sphere, Rabeel also teaches a weekly class on Venture Capital & Finance as visiting faculty at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi

Maha Shahzad

Maha Shahzad

Founder, BusCaro

Maha Shahzad an industry leader with 13 years of experience building and growing startups from the ground up. Under her leadership, BusCaro has already scaled to 3 cities and managed to secure 5.5 million bookings across Pakistan

Kasim Kasuri

Kasim Kasuri

CEO, Beaconhouse School System

Kasim Kasuri is CEO of Beaconhouse, an organisation that educates over 360,000 students in schools across Pakistan, Southeast Asia, and MENA. He founded TNS Beaconhouse in 2007, an innovative school promoting project-based, experiential learning, and has been instrumental in the international development of Beaconhouse. He chairs School of Tomorrow (SOT), an event series that imagines a better future for young people, as well as SparkTank, Pakistan’s first business incubator for children aged 10-19 years. With an enduring commitment to promoting emerging artists, and the desire to reimagine the hospitality industry in Pakistan, he established Ambiance Hotels & Resorts in 2020, a network of boutique art hotels and resorts. Kasim’s  contributions have earned him global recognition, including ‘Young Global Leader’ at the World Economic Forum from 2009 to 2015.

Nayab Nazir

Nayab Nazir

Marketing Lead PK, Muzz

Nayab Nazir is a dedicated marketing professional with over 6 years of experience in the marketing and business domain. Currently, she leads the marketing efforts at Muzz for Pakistan, where her strategic leadership has driven exponential growth in various cities across the country. Her previous role at Metric allowed her to deliver impactful results, leveraging her extensive knowledge of markets in the MENA region. The global perspective she gained while working with markets such as UAE, US and the UK enables her to analyze and cater to diverse audiences effectively. Her journey began as a student at FAST NUCES, while she was a student she gained invaluable experience working with HR Consultants, Photoneers, and UnitedSol. Nayab's commitment to continuous improvement and her passion for making things happen drive her to create value for herself and others. She is passionate about coaching and enabling others to reach their full potential, aspiring to grow startups through innovative marketing strategies.

Usama Naeem Nini

Usama Naeem Nini

Co-founder, Qureos

Usama Naeem Nini, Co-founder at Qureos, once played an instrumental role in Swvl's expansion in UAE, Jordan, and KSA. With a vision for efficient products using data analytics, machine learning, and automation, he co-founded Qureos in 2021 with Alex Epure and Mehrad Yaghmi. Together, they aim to empower companies to discover their ideal candidates in just 24 seconds using Iris, an AI-enabled Talent Scout.

Ailia Naeem

Ailia Naeem

Senior Investment Associate, i2i Ventures

Ailia is a Senior Investment Associate at i2i Ventures. Prior to that, she has been on the Public Markets side, covering major listed equities on Pakistan Stock Exchange as an Investment Analyst. She brings the public markets' rigor and data driven lens to the private markets. She has 8+ years of experience in investments and financial markets of Pakistan.

Atyab Tahir

Atyab Tahir

Co-Founder & CEO, HugoBank

Atyab Tahir combines two decades of experience in the financial sector with a deep understanding of emerging markets. Throughout his career, he's played instrumental roles in various organizations like Tameer Bank, Easypaisa, HBL, JazzCash, and Mastercard, primarily focusing on enhancing financial inclusion within Pakistan, where a significant unbanked population exists.  Currently at the helm of HugoBank as its Co-Founder and CEO, Atyab is working towards establishing a financial institution tailored to its users' specific needs. The objective is to make banking more accessible and relevant, a reflection of his consistent focus on user-centricity. His leadership is informed not only by his roles in digital banking and fintech but also by his academic pursuits—an MBA from Babson College and a policy design certificate from Harvard Kennedy School.

Azima Dhanjee

Azima Dhanjee

Co-Founder & CEO, ConnectHear

Azima Dhanjee is a Child of Deaf Adult (CODA), Co-founder/CEO of ConnectHear, Board Member of Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) and ex-member of the National Youth Council (a federal government initiative). She is an alumna of the Institute of Business Administration (Class of 2020), with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Most recently, Azima has been recognized as Pride of Pakistan by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Azima is raised by Deaf parents and Pakistani Sign Language (PSL) is her mother tongue. Growing up, she was always troubled by how simple communication was a challenge for the Deaf due to the language barrier. The lack of awareness and accessibility with regards to the Deaf community led her to initiate and manage “ConnectHear” along with her two high school friends. “ConnectHear” is a social enterprise that strives for sign language accessibility and Deaf inclusion of the Deaf community in Pakistan by utilizing technology and has recently launched a sign language recognition A.I. for the very first time in the country. She is also a Diana awards recipient and has been mentioned for her efforts in Forbes, Pioneers Post, and various other publications. Furthermore, ConnectHear is the winner of TiE Women Global Competition among 40 chapters, Young Innovators Award by the World Summit Award, the P@SHA ICT Awards as well as the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Competition. Azima has presented at sessions on Social Entrepreneurship, Disability Rights and Leadership at various national and international forums. Additionally, Azima has represented Pakistan in Kenya as a Global Encounters’ Participant; in Senegal as an English Language Instructor; and in the United States of America as a Cultural Exchange Ambassador. Azima has great faith in the growing social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan. She is committed to exploring new ways to use technology and design thinking to help the differently abled presently, and in the future, through her initiative, ConnectHear.

M. Owais Qureshi

M. Owais Qureshi

Co-Founder, Dastgyr

Owais is a serial startup enthusiast with a decade-long career covering multiple mass-market verticals, ranging from mobility to consumer goods. He has served as an early teammate at Rocket Internet's Daraz (acquired by Alibaba), Careem (acquired by Uber), and Airlift in roles that have cut across strategy, analytics, operations, and market launches. As the co-founder of Dastgyr, he has spearheaded the company's growth into an international operation with millions of dollars in monthly revenue. Owais, along with his co-founder Zohaib Ali, was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Retail & E-commerce entrepreneurs in 2021.

Saima Zaidi

Saima Zaidi

Founder and Director, Numaish-Karachi

Saima Zaidi, a Communication Designer, based in Karachi is the Founder and Director of Numaish-Karachi, an award-winning interdisciplinary collective, which opens public spaces of the city for cultural production. The collective is currently engaged in a project 'The Reading Room' to revitalise The  Khalikdina Hall and Library in Karachi supported by the Cultural Protection Fund, UK.  Presently, she serves as Additional Curator at the Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi, and has recently curated the exhibition titled 'Jhuley Lal: Crafting the Contemporary'. She is the editor and designer of the book Mazaar, Bazaar: Design and Visual Culture in Pakistan published by Oxford University Press (OUP), Karachi, Pakistan in collaboration with the Prince Claus Fund Library, Amsterdam, NL (2010). She is currently editing a sister volume Hazaar Bazaar to be published by OUP in collaboration with the Endowment Fund Trust (forthcoming 2024). Zaidi has been teaching design at several institutions including the Department of Visual Studies, University of Karachi, Pakistan. She received her BFA in Design from the National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan and her MSc from the Pratt Institute, New York, USA.

Saad Niazi

Saad Niazi

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Keenu

Saad Niazi is Co-Founder and CEO of Keenu. Under his leadership Keenu has become one of the top Fintechs in the country, specially one of the top players in payments. Prior to banking Saad has been associated with Banking in the area of digital banking. He is a seasoned industry professional with vast experience in payments and building the digital ecosystem

Maheen Adamjee

Maheen Adamjee

CEO & Founder, Dot & Line

Maheen Adamjee is a graduate from the London School of Economics (LSE), an award-winning journalist and educationalist. She serves on boards of various companies and was a featured speaker at the World Bank conference in Washington DC. She is the founder and CEO of Dot & Line which is an education-technology platform connecting instructors with students. Today, Dot and Line has teachers and students in 12 countries and has completed half a million classes this year.

Usman Riaz

Usman Riaz

Co-Founder, Mano Animation Studios

Usman Riaz, Co-Founder of Mano Animation Studios, Pakistan's first hand-drawn animation studio, is a Berklee College of Music scholarship recipient and musician with albums released under EMI Pakistan. As a filmmaker, his notable works include 'RUCKUS' and 'The Waves.' His latest project, 'The Glassworker,' showcases his storytelling and animation skills and is an official selection in the Contrechamp category at Annecy 2024. Riaz’s work continues to inspire a new generation of creators worldwide.

Amneh Shaikh Farooqui

Amneh Shaikh Farooqui

CEO/Founder, Polly & Other Stories

Amneh is an accomplished social entrepreneur and leader with two decades of experience in Pakistan's impact sector. She's a recognized expert in gender mainstreaming, project management, leadership development, economic empowerment, and environmental initiatives. Amneh's work is defined by her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices by leveraging indigenous heritage, storytelling, and artistic expression. Amneh's approach operates at the intersection of social justice, gender equality, decolonization, and fashion. She is the Curator of Women of the World festivals in Pakistan and the Founder/CEO of Polly and Other Stories, an artisan-focused marketplace. She's also an Acumen and Miller Center Social Enterprise Fellow and author of the book "Fearless," which profiles 50 remarkable women from Pakistan.

Adnan Ali

Adnan Ali

CEO and Director, PayFast

Adnan Ali has over 18 years of diversified experience in leveraging innovation and technology within the banking and financial sector. He is an ambitious and results-oriented professional with a demonstrated record of success in strategy making, execution, and ramp-up. His career highlights include launching Pakistan’s first co-branded loyalty card with the largest retail shopping mall, envisioning the first real-time mutual funds redemption Visa debit card in Pakistan, and launching the first SMS banking services in the country. He has also worked closely with the government of Pakistan, regulators, and global banking entities to conceive the G2P program and set a roadmap for the digital journey of commercial banks in Pakistan. At PayFast, Adnan is the visionary and architect behind a robust and diverse payment acceptance solution that is PCI-DSS certified. Under his leadership, PayFast synergized with UnionPay International to ignite a mobile payments revolution akin to China. His efforts have led PayFast to become the first financial technology company to achieve commercial approval for PSO/PSP for payment gateway services from the State Bank of Pakistan. Additionally, Adnan successfully launched Raast P2M as MSP, making PayFast the first payment gateway to implement Raast.  Adnan also leads the “Knowledge Management Group” of the Pakistan Fintech Association, working tirelessly to accelerate the Pakistani digital payments industry. His ultimate vision is to digitize Pakistan, fostering a cashless economy that provides convenience and security through seamless digital payments. In essence, Adnan Ali is not just a leader - he is a catalyst for change, inspiring the next wave of tech entrepreneurship in Pakistan through innovation, community engagement, and regulatory excellence. His journey exemplifies the transformative power of dedication, mentorship, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Tazeen Hussain

Tazeen Hussain

Associate Professor - Dept. of Communication Design, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture

Tazeen Hussain is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Design at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. She has served as Head of department in the Dept. of Communication Design and Foundation Program at IVS and as visiting faculty in the departments of Visual Studies at Karachi University and Media Sciences at Szabist. She also has an active media practice working as an Actor and Voice over Artist. As a researcher, Hussain has presented her work at national and international conferences, and published internationally as well. Her current interests include the re-examination of Design Education, it’s conception and evolution, in the Pakistani context, whilst exploring the possibilities of design as an active contributor to the socio-cultural and political landscape. She has designed and led a yearlong program Critical Design Education and Practice funded by US - Pakistan University Partnerships Grants Program 2020-23 in partnership with IVS. She also serves actively on the Board of Studies of various Design institutions across Pakistan. Hussain has been volunteering her services for projects falling in the realm of creative and social entrepreneurship, sustainable development, climate change, and merging education and design practice. Notable projects include ‘Karachi Art Directory’ with Karachi Biennale Trust, ‘Imparting education on Climate change to vulnerable communities’- UN GRIP with Indus Earth Trust, ‘Meri Duniya kay Rang’ with NOWPDP. Hussain also works in media, is a member of Act, Pakistan, while her other areas of contribution are theatre, journalism, and activism. Hussain received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Design from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, and a Masters in New Media and Society from the University of Leicester, UK.

Umar S Khan

Umar S Khan

Country Manager for Pakistan & Afghanistan, Visa

Umar S Khan serves as Visa’s Country Manager for Pakistan and Afghanistan based in Karachi. In his role, Umar is responsible for Visa’s overall strategy including business development, resource optimization, and building long-term relationships with Visa’s clients, regulators, and key stakeholders to drive the growth of digital commerce in these markets. Umar S Khan is a highly experienced executive with over 20 years of global and cross-industry expertise. He has served in several senior roles across a range of markets, including Serbia, Montenegro, Hungary, Myanmar, Thailand, and Pakistan. With a strong understanding of high-volume transaction businesses and financial technology, Umar has launched and managed projects in customer experience, digital sales and distribution, and strategy. Before joining Visa, Umar was the Chief Business Officer for Jazz Cash, one of Pakistan's largest digital payment platforms with 10 million monthly active users. In this role, he led Government, Corporate, and Digital Partnerships and Solutions in the country. Prior to this, Umar headed Partnerships and Corporate Products as well as the Data and Digital Distribution function in Telenor Microfinance Bank.

Mashall Khattak

Mashall Khattak

Co-Founder, KAT Global

Mashall Khattak is a writer and creative technologist currently lecturing at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture 's Communication Design Department on the intersection between human centered interaction design and AI. She has over a decade in traditional publishing experience and is currently focused on Machine Learning , Computer Vision, AR , VR and XR design technologies with D2C applications in the media industry. As co-founder of KAT Global, Mashall is currently working on Code Create Design , a startup that focuses on micro learning sessions with human interactions assisted by machine learning and AI that is to launch this fall.

Hasnain Sheikh

Hasnain Sheikh

CEO & Founder, Jazari

Hasnain is the CEO and Founder of Jazari, a global Remit Now Pay Later platform headquartered in London, focusing on the financial needs of underserved migrant workers and their families who have little or no credit history.  This gives customers one platform on which to bank, remit, receive, and borrow, on both sides of the remittance corridor. Hasnain is a repeat entrepreneur in the Fintech Space for over 2 decades, having worked and founded multiple ventures, including Inov8, FonePay, MicroBank, Genie and others.  He is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sibtain Jiwani

Sibtain Jiwani

Founder, Smartbenefits

Sibtain Jiwani has passion for transforming industries, he ventured into entrepreneurship, founding Smartchoice, which quickly became the country's largest platform for comparing and buying insurance. This success inspired him to launch SmartBenefits, a digital-first solution reshaping how companies manage health insurance, provident fund and other benefits.

Ahmed Ayub

Ahmed Ayub

Chief Strategy Officer, Conrads Lab

Ahmed Ayub is the Chief Strategy Officer at Conrads Lab, a leading software services company specialising in AI/ML-based solutions for Healthcare, Infosec, Logistics, and Edtech. With over 24 years of experience in the software industry, Ahmed co-founded Airlift Technologies, a quick commerce startup that raised over $110 million, pioneering investments in the Pakistani startup ecosystem. Before this, he led software operations at firms like Folio3 and 10Pearls for over a decade. Ahmed holds an MBA from the Bradford University School of Management and a BS in Computer Science from FAST University.

Ali Ladhubhai

Ali Ladhubhai

COO and Co-founder of ABHI

Ali Ladhubhai is the COO and Co-founder of ABHI, a growing embedded finance platform in the MENAP region. With over a decade of experience in the finance & banking industry, Ali has honed his expertise in relationship management, premier banking, and business development. His career in finance began in 2009 as a Relationship Manager at Samba Bank Ltd., followed by a role as a Premier Banker at HSBC Retail Banking and Wealth Management. Prior to launching ABHI, Ali co-founded KarloCompare.com.pk (CompareOn Pakistan Pvt Ltd) and later joined Foree as the Director of Business Development. Ali holds a master's degree from Cardiff University, Wales, specializing in banking and financial support services.  

 Nouman Zahoor

 Nouman Zahoor

COO & Head of Growth, Waada

Nouman Zahoor is an accomplished insuretech enthusiast, marketing strategist, with an unwavering commitment to transform the insurance landscape in Pakistan through improvised solutions. As Chief Operating Officer of Waada (leading insuretech platform in Pakistan), Nouman draws upon his extensive background in mass market, small ticket products to drive the company's strategic growth and innovation and has propelled Waada to the forefront of the industry.

Mubariz Siddiqui

Mubariz Siddiqui

Founding Partner, Carbon Law

Mubariz is a leading startup lawyer in Pakistan, known for facilitating over USD 250m in deals for tech startups and investors. He collaborates with regulators, notably the State Bank of Pakistan, to foster foreign investment and innovation. His initiatives also focus on educating founders on governance and fundraising.

Saif Ali

Saif Ali

Program Manager, Orbit Startups

Saif Ali is a seasoned business development and communications professional with over a decade of experience in advertising, media, and technology. As the former Executive Director of Dastgyr, a B2B e-commerce scale-up, he played a pivotal role in securing Pakistan’s largest Series A funding of $37 million. Saif has empowered over 150 businesses, spanning SMEs to Fortune 50 companies, with strategic branding, marketing, and sales initiatives. His industry insights have been featured in renowned publications such as The New York Times, Reuters, and Asharq Bloomberg. Saif has also been a guest speaker at prestigious events including Step Dubai, +92Disrupt, Delivery Hero, Unilever, LUMS, and IBA. He is currently the Program Manager at Orbit Startups, a global venture capital firm focusing on emerging and frontier markets.

Yasir Suleman Memon

Yasir Suleman Memon

Co Founder, Salesflo

Yasir is an avid tech enthusiast, builder, entrepreneur, runner, cyclist, husband, and a loving father to two. Yasir is the cofounder and CEO of Salesflo - An enterprise SaaS platform helping CPG companies to spearhead growth through a digitally enabled and effective sales force, automating and simplifying complex workflows and helping drive efficiency through a fully digitized supply chain.  Previously Yasir had also Co-founded Jugnu (A B2B eCommerce Platform) and has had a corporate career with Unilever for 8+ years.

Adnan Shafi

Adnan Shafi

Co-Founder & CEO, PriceOye

Adnan Shaffi is a serial entrepreneur. He has previously founded two companies both of which got acquired and is currently serving as Co-Founder & CEO at PriceOye.pk. PriceOye.pk is a leading eCommerce platform for consumer electronics, creating the most delightful online shopping experience by empowering consumers to find the best product for their needs.

Jawwad Farid

Jawwad Farid

Director and Chief Executive, Alchemy Technologies

Jawwad Farid is a serial founder with 4 ventures, 5 books and one cross border exit to his name. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Columbia Business School and FAST NUCES alumni. Within the startup community his interest lies at the intersection of education, financial services, impact investments and teaching. He ran the financial modeling boot camp at Nest I/O, Katalyst Labs and was APICTA pitch mentor for Team Pakistan for 13 years. His own ventures specialized in compliance risk tech engines for financial services and teaching rocket science to ordinary mortals. Jawwad taught at the SP Jain Global School of Management in Dubai and Singapore, at IBA and Habib University in Karachi.  He currently splits his time between risk and actuarial consulting for insurance clients at Alchemy Technologies, and as a Professor of Practice at IBA, Karachi.  Jawwad is the author of Models at Work (Palgrave Macmillan), Option Greeks Primer (Palgrave Macmillan), Portfolio Optimization Models, Founder Puzzles and Reboot.

Hassaan Bin Shaheen

Hassaan Bin Shaheen

Comedian

Hassaan Bin Shaheen is a comedian, and rapper based in Pakistan. As a comedian he has performed all over Pakistan while having done shows in the UK and Pakistan. He currently hosts his monthly open mic by the name of Fitna, Fasaad aur Muhabbat and works actively on the stand-up circuit, hosting shows, performing stand up and musical comedy. He also works as a Project Manager at Finsweet and has expertise in web development, low code SaaS product management and design.

Bilal Hassan

Bilal Hassan

Content Creator, Writer and Photojournalist

Mystapaki aka Bilal Hassan is a content creator, writer and photojournalist who posts primarily about travel and culture while opening up a window for the outside world to have a peek into what everyday life is like in Pakistan. He’s written for and been in numerous local and international publications namely VICE, the Guardian, Toronto Star, Print India and Dawn Pakistan.

Kazi Akber

Kazi Akber

Digital Content Creator and Photojournalist

Kazi Akber is a digital content creator and a photojournalist. He believes that everyone has a story worth sharing and he does so with utmost beauty and respect.

Salman Parekh

Salman Parekh

Managing Director, Manto Store

Salman Parekh, the founder of Manto, is a renowned storyteller known for his captivating narratives. With a keen interest in psychology and marketing, he creates compelling stories that resonate deeply with audiences. As a relentless learner and content creator, Parekh shapes the world through his evocative storytelling, leaving an enduring impact on all who encounter his work.

GO BACK

RESTART

A RECRUITMENT DRIVE BY KATALYST LABS

Date: 19 Aug 2023
Time: 11:00 - 17:00

Location: Katalyst Labs, NICL building, Main Korangi Rd, Karachi Cantonment

Looking for a job? Join us at Restart, an official Karachi Slush’D side event!
A networking and recruitment hotspot for unassigned talent in the startup ecosystem of Pakistan.
The day will bring together recruiters from some of the biggest companies in Karachi – candidates can explore different avenues to move forward in their careers as they expand their network and interview with recruiters in break-out rooms!

Please Note:
  • Karachi Slush'D ticket holders will have free entry.
  • Non-ticket holders will be required to pay an entry of Rs. 500.
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