Paklaunch has announced that its flagship event, UNConference 26.2, will take place at the Yale Club of New York on October 19-20, 2026. Abhi, a fintech company focused on embedded credit solutions across emerging markets, powers this edition as the strategic partner.
This marks the eighth edition of the UNConference series and its first appearance in New York. Previous editions took place in Palo Alto, Dubai, London, Riyadh, and Islamabad since the series began in 2020. To maintain a high-trust environment, attendance is strictly capped at 120 participants, including 80 global investors and 40 top startup founders.
“Paklaunch’s UNConference has become a unique event where the people building, backing and shaping Pakistan’s startup ecosystem come together in a meaningful way,” said Aatif Awan, Founder and Managing Partner of Indus Valley Capital. “I’m excited to see the community come together in New York this time, and to continue building stronger bridges between Pakistan’s founders and the global tech and investment ecosystem.”
The event prioritizes actionable formats over scripted presentations. The two-day agenda features peer-to-peer breakout rooms, pitch clinics, investor speed-networking, and closed-door leadership sessions. Discussions will also highlight initiatives such as the accelerator for women entrepreneurs, Bazaar on ARY, the PALS leadership program, and Pakistan’s semiconductor policy.
“Growth often comes from directions you didn’t plan for,” said Jerjees Seja, CEO of ARY Networks. “When like-minded people come together, you begin to see potential in other businesses and ways your strengths can complement theirs. We’ve seen conversations like these turn into real business partnerships. That’s the value of UNConference: it opens doors you wouldn’t have known to knock on.”
Paklaunch started in 2020 when founder Aly Fahd created a WhatsApp group with seven friends in the Bay Area. That small peer network has since grown into a global community of more than 500,000 members connecting Pakistan’s tech ecosystem with capital and opportunities worldwide. Over its trajectory, the platform has facilitated more than $140 million in deals, investments, partnerships, and mergers.
“I’ve been part of the Paklaunch community since it’s early days, and have rarely missed an Unconference, wherever they’ve been in the world,” said Kalsoom Lakhani, Co-Founder and General Partner of i2i Ventures. “The community is rich and thoughtfully curated, and I always walk out of these gatherings better than when I walked in — and that’s the power of Paklaunch and a testament to what Aly and the team have built. Look forward to seeing everyone in NYC!”
Key themes for the New York edition include cross-border capital flows, fintech and embedded financial services, AI and enterprise transformation, and building resilient global teams.
“For me, the biggest achievement isn’t the number — it’s the network behind it,” said Aly Fahd, Founder of Paklaunch. “Founders, investors, and operators who continue to connect, collaborate, and create value for one another. That’s the ecosystem we set out to build, and we’re only getting started. I’m excited to bring this community together in New York and build the next chapter of Paklaunch.”
