Experts believe startups in Pakistan need to solve real problems and understand their customers deeply through market research. They assert that data-driven insights are an excellent way to arrive at a clear value proposition before chasing money. Without these basics, building a business that survives is not realistic.
This message to act more came at NIC Karachi’s Pakistan Investor Summit 2026 where experts shared their opinions. Asma Zeeshan, Regional Business Head at Jazz, said building a lasting startup requires a balance of clarity, discipline and adaptability. She said resilience comes from maintaining financial discipline, creating agile processes and staying focused on core strengths. All the while continuously learning from the market.
Founders who ignore these fundamentals will struggle regardless of how much funding they raise.
She placed strong emphasis on team culture. Everyone in a startup should be heard, given value for their ideas, and have full clarity on the company’s vision. She said this kind of internal alignment helps strengthen collaboration, diversity and innovation from day one. It also helps secure early investments because investors want to see a team that works well together, not a single founder with a good pitch deck.
On the funding side, Zeeshan said a clear pitch, a validated market, solid financial projections and bootstrapping help reduce dilution early. These factors make it easier to secure initial capital without giving away too much equity. Long-term sustainability, she said, depends on acquiring and retaining customers, managing cash tightly and staying flexible enough to adapt when the market shifts.
Syed Azfar Hussain, Project Director at the National Incubation Center (NIC) Karachi, reinforced this message. He said the key to attracting investor interest lies in deepening their understanding of the ecosystem, facilitating direct connections between founders and investors, and positioning Pakistan as a credible destination for venture capital. He added that bringing together diverse stakeholders, including banks, regulators, telcos and corporate leaders, is essential to opening new growth pathways for startups.
The funding environment supports this shift toward discipline.
Pakistani startups raised $74 million in 2025, up 121% from $33.5 million in 2024. But capital is flowing to fewer, more carefully selected companies. The average deal size rose 68% to $3.75 million. Investors are writing bigger cheques for fewer founders. Those who do not meet the bar walk away with nothing.
The summit brought together around 25 investors and ecosystem enablers. Eight NIC Karachi alumni startups collectively raised over $1 million, and startups from Cohort 13 and Cohort 14 pitched directly to curated investor panels.
