3 min read
In a year when Asias startup scene grappled with funding winters and geopolitical headwinds, Pakistan claimed a prominent place on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list, announced December 2. Among the 600 honorees from all over the South Asian countries, two rising Pakistani talents, Salman Habib and Hassan Chaudhry, have earned spots on the Forbes 30 Under 30 United States 2026 list. It is a prestigious annual ranking that highlights the most influential young innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs across the country.
Salman Habib was selected in the Transportation and Aerospace category for his work as co-founder and CEO of Burq, a delivery infrastructure platform helping businesses offer on-demand logistics without building their own networks. Founded in 2021 by Salman and his brother Shaban, Burq now operates in more than 4,000 cities across the United States by integrating over 500 delivery providers, including major players such as Uber and DoorDash.
Pretty surreal to be on @Forbes 30 Under 30!
Really excited for what’s ahead and grateful for everyone who’s been part of the journey so far.https://t.co/GsIfQtQNvb@burqup @ForbesUnder30 pic.twitter.com/4kj6X6x6li
— Salman Habib (@M_SalmanHabib) December 2, 2025
The company has raised more than 10 million dollars in funding and powers deliveries for major grocery chains including Albertsons, Safeway and Kroger. Reacting to the recognition, Salman called the moment surreal and expressed gratitude to supporters, saying the company is only at the beginning of its journey.
Hassan Chaudhry earned his place in the Venture Capital category. He is a vice president at BlackRock Private Equity Partners, where he leads growth equity investments ranging from Series C rounds to pre-IPO stages. Born in Pakistan, Hassan returned to BlackRock in 2023 to help establish its Growth Equity platform. In just two years, he has deployed more than 800 million dollars across high-impact investments.
Forbes notes that his portfolio includes three successful exits and major roles in funding rounds for companies such as Groq, where he served as Series D lead and board observer, and Applied Intuition, where he co-led the Series F round alongside Kleiner Perkins. Hassan also contributes to advancing diversity in the venture ecosystem through his involvement with Glasswing Ventures II, a woman-led artificial intelligence fund based in Boston.
Their inclusion signals the growing presence of Pakistani talent on global innovation stages, reflecting a new generation of leaders making their mark across technology, venture capital and high-growth industries in the United States. Forbes says every year it is becoming increasingly difficult to pinpoint a person who has outdone competition completely. The report says:
“Each year, more than 10,000 people apply, and the bar to make the list continues to rise. Despite sweeping change, the requirements to be a pioneering entrepreneur remain constant: imagination, intelligence, and plenty of grit.”
