In a major milestone for Pakistan’s growing technology ecosystem, generative AI startup Jams, co-founded by Pakistani entrepreneurs Asad Awan and Hamza Aftab, has officially joined OpenAI, the global artificial intelligence leader known for developing ChatGPT. The announcement was made by Awan on LinkedIn, where he expressed his excitement about the development and the opportunity to continue building transformative AI products alongside one of the most influential companies in the field. “Excited to share that we are joining OpenAI. Hamza Aftab and I started Jams to explore the best AI experiences for the masses, and we are thrilled to continue this vision with the best product and AI builders of our time at OpenAI,” Awan wrote.
Founded by two former Meta engineers, Jams focuses on creating authentic video experiences using generative AI, bridging creativity and machine intelligence in ways that enhance user expression and content generation. Since its inception, Jams gained attention for its innovative approach to combining video and AI, and in 2022, the company secured investment from leading global venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Pakistan-based Indus Valley Capital (IVC). The partnership between the startup and OpenAI represents both a validation of its technological promise and a significant step for Pakistan’s representation in the global AI landscape.
The acquisition marks a major achievement for Indus Valley Capital as well, being the firm’s first exit since its founding. Aatif Awan, founder of Indus Valley Capital, congratulated the Jams team, describing their success as evidence that Pakistani talent continues to excel on the world stage. In a post celebrating the milestone, he said, “Thrilled about Indus Valley Capital achieving its first exit as Jams joins OpenAI. Jams creates video experiences that stay authentic while leveraging the best of generative AI. Congrats and kudos to Asad Awan and Hamza Aftab, exceptional founders we’ve been fortunate to partner with.” He added that Jams was the firm’s first investment under its new strategy of making small participating checks in Pakistani founders who are building globally, particularly those operating from the United States.
Awan explained that this model allows the venture capital firm to identify and support exceptional Pakistani founders wherever they are, ensuring access to competitive funding rounds and promising global opportunities. The exit of Jams from Indus Valley Capital’s portfolio demonstrates the growing influence and recognition of Pakistani entrepreneurs working in advanced technology sectors such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. It also signals increased investor confidence in the country’s tech talent, which continues to contribute to major international companies and innovation ecosystems.
The inclusion of Jams in OpenAI’s ecosystem highlights a new chapter for Pakistani-founded startups, showing how local talent is making meaningful contributions to the global AI industry. With this development, Jams’ founders will continue to expand their mission of enabling intelligent and creative AI-driven video experiences under OpenAI’s platform, strengthening Pakistan’s presence in the evolving world of generative technology.
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