7 startups from Pakistan to look out for in 2016

Photo credit: Heisenberg Media

As 2015 draws to a close, it’s time to look at the year ahead. Startups in Pakistan are entering the national consciousness, fueled by exponential growth in high-speed internet connectivity. Consumers understand that tech is capable of solving many problems in their lives – be it hailing transport, skimming through classifieds, or even booking spa appointments. The internet has the power to provide a level of transparency unmatched by any other medium; a fact that businesses, founders, and users have internalized to a great extent.

One of the more encouraging trends to emerge from Pakistan in 2015 was the capacity of founders to look beyond the local market. They’re innovating and building products that have global appeal. That’s not to undermine local consumers at all – with 200 million of them it’s certainly a sizeable market to tap. But as more investor money pours in, and founders are aware of existing opportunities in regional markets, this is a trend which will hopefully continue in 2016.

In no particular order, here’s a list of startups from Pakistan to look out for in 2016. The list consists of some emerging companies, as well as those who have been around for a few years, but all of them have one thing in common; if they play their cards right, the year ahead could prove to be extremely fruitful.

1. Travly

Photo credit: Pedro Carvalho

Think of Travly as an “Uber for Tuk-Tuks.” The startup solves a very real need in Pakistan and, arguably, the region too. Public transportation is dilapidated and tuk-tuks (auto rickshaws in the local parlance) flood the streets. Travly is making it easier to hail one, either through its smartphone app, or via a hotline. The tenacity of its founders is also something to note; the startup was initially just a smart route planner but was courageous enough to pivot when the initial model wasn’t working out. It’s grown rapidly in just a few months, entering new cities and scaling aggressively.

2. Wifigen

Wifigen is a startup that helps businesses increase their social media traction by offering free wifi to those in the vicinity. It’s had a stellar 2015 – locking in deals to serve tourists in Tahiti as well as those passing through Singapore’s Changi Airport. Sure, it has competitors like Fanswifi, but the encouraging thing is that Wifigen is hustling, and hustling hard. I wouldn’t be surprised if it enters several more markets in 2016 and locks down a significant investment round.

3. Soloinsight

Soloinsight is an incredibly futuristic startup building hardware solutions for businesses to help them with workforce management. Its flagship product, Cloud Gate, is a cloud-based hardware and software platform that comes with 3D facial and iris recognition and a host of other nifty features. The company started operations in Pakistan and was headquartered there for several years, before moving to the US last year after raising US$3 million in seed capital. It still maintains an offshore presence in the country, and founder Farhan Masood is fervent in his desire to scale it into a billion-dollar company.

4. Zameen

Zameen, an online real estate portal, raised an impressive US$9 million in series B funding this year, solidifying its position as market leader in the space. The startup already has presence in the Middle East through its venture Bayut, but a chunk of the money will be used to look at other business opportunities in the region. It’s executed and scaled well in Pakistan, and I wouldn’t put it past the founders to use their acumen for continued growth in 2016.

5. BeautyHooked

6. Trequant

7. Emperor’s Bazaar