2 min read
When you Google Pakistan, many results default to the same tired storyline: terrorism, economic crisis, brain drain, pollution, and poverty.
But Chaymae Samir, founder of Third, visited Pakistan for ten days and discovered something very different: founders building with drive, investors going all in, and a tech spirit that often gets overlooked.
About Chaymae Samir
Chaymae Samir has dipped her toes in entrepreneurship before building Third. She founded madebySUNDAY, a fast-growing clean skincare brand recognized in the UK and Middle East, built with no outside funding. She’s been honored on Forbes’ 30 Under 30, has advised Fortune 500 companies on emerging markets, and combines media, AI, and venture to tell stories from places others often ignore.
On her trip through Pakistan, she aimed to find what is usually missing from global headlines. She met with local tech founders working in remote areas, navigating power issues, limited internet, and financial constraints.
She thanked the local crews who filmed in rain or traffic and overcame bureaucratic roadblocks. The government must also avoid conflicts of interest, structure the joint venture to protect national interests, and make the sale process inspire confidence among international investors.
Uniqueness of Pakistani Startup Culture
Chaymae noted how despite systemic obstacles, many Pakistani startups are delivering results: smart products, growing customer bases, creative marketing, and a sense of purpose. She was especially impressed with the investors who believe and provide resources, mentorship, and connections. For her, the energy is real, and the potential, huge.
She also emphasized that her speaking about the matter isn’t because she thinks of herself as a motivational speaker.
Her platform Third has already begun sharing many of these stories, and the interest is global. “300 million+ views and over a million followers in just over a year,” she said, reflecting how much appetite there is to see Pakistan’s story beyond the crises.
What Chaymae’s visit suggests is that Pakistan’s startup ecosystem is not waiting for conditions to improve. It is improvising, pushing forward, making do, and often finishing the job. And according to her, that’s what real change looks like.
