5 Pakistani startups that made headlines
Daraz, Zameen.com, Bykea, Airlift and Careem: five companies that shaped Pakistan's startup story, from Alibaba's 2018 buyout to quick-commerce.
Pakistan's startup scene has grown fast in the last 15 years. These five companies are often mentioned in its story.
1. Daraz
- Online shopping marketplace, launched in 2012
- Bought by Alibaba Group in 2018
- Operates in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar
2. Zameen.com
- Property portal founded in 2006 by brothers Zeeshan Ali Khan and Imran Ali Khan
- One of Pakistan's best-known websites for buying, selling and renting property
3. Bykea
- Started in Karachi in 2016
- Motorbike rides, parcel delivery and payments through one app
4. Airlift
- Quick-commerce (fast grocery delivery) startup
- Raised $85 million in 2021, then one of the largest rounds for a Pakistani startup
- Shut down in 2022 as funding dried up worldwide, a reminder of how hard scaling can be
5. Careem
- Ride-hailing company co-founded by Pakistani Mudassir Sheikha
- Bought by Uber for $3.1 billion in 2019