Pakistan’s growing startup ecosystem has reached a major milestone as myco.io, a local video streaming platform, emerged among the top winners of Season 9 of Meet the Drapers, a global startup reality show based in Silicon Valley. Competing against over 2,000 startups from around the world, myco became the first-ever Pakistani-origin startup to reach the finale of the show and walk away with both a significant investment and a SaaS business contract. Following an extensive due diligence process post-finale, myco has secured a total of PKR 42 crore (approximately USD 1.5 million), including an investment of $500,000 and a $1 million SaaS services contract awarded by Tim Draper.
The platform’s recognition as the most voted global startup and an audience favorite helped secure its invitation to the finale, which was recorded in California in April 2025. After several months of review and evaluation, the investment and business deal were finalized in July 2025, positioning myco as the highest-valued finalist in terms of total outcome achieved. Tim Draper’s decision to award a substantial SaaS contract in addition to equity investment serves as a strong validation of myco’s product and market potential.
The journey to Meet the Drapers began when Aly Fahd, founder of PakLaunch, convinced Tim Draper to feature an episode focused on Pakistani startups in October 2024. This marked Pakistan’s first appearance on the show and led to two startups progressing to the semi-final stage. Myco’s standout performance ultimately earned it a place in the finale, representing Pakistan on a global stage and enhancing the country’s visibility in international startup circles.
Tim Draper, known for his early investments in companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Coinbase, and Skype, has been a long-time advocate for decentralized platforms and blockchain-based innovation. His support for myco reflects his belief in the potential of emerging markets like Pakistan, especially in digital content, media, and SaaS sectors. The investment and contract further underscore how Pakistani tech ventures are starting to attract serious attention in global innovation networks.
PakLaunch, a platform that connects Pakistani entrepreneurs with global investors and mentors, played a key role in enabling this success. Aly Fahd expressed pride in the outcome, highlighting how myco’s recognition on an international stage demonstrates the capabilities of Pakistani-origin founders and the value PakLaunch provides in fostering such talent.
Umair Masoom Usmani, Founder and Managing Director of myco, credited the achievement to the combined efforts of PakLaunch and Draper Associates. He shared that the experience aims to inspire other Pakistani entrepreneurs building global products and emphasized the importance of being part of a supportive global ecosystem. With this recognition, myco not only strengthens its presence in the global media-tech space but also sets an example for other startups emerging from Pakistan.
