PASHA Startups and Entrepreneurship Committee hosted a Startup Community Iftar Meetup in Islamabad on February 27, bringing together founders, ecosystem enablers and industry leaders for an evening of dialogue and networking. The event was sponsored by Cowork24 and aimed at strengthening collaboration within Pakistan’s expanding startup ecosystem during the holy month of Ramazan. The gathering reflected continued efforts by PASHA to build engagement platforms that connect entrepreneurs with investors, mentors and institutional partners.
The meetup was attended by Dr. Sonia Saleem, Central Executive Committee Member at PASHA, Shehryar Hydri, Managing Director of Endeavor Pakistan, and Arslan Yaqoob, Founder of Cowork24, along with a diverse group of startup founders and community members. In his keynote address, Arslan Yaqoob shared insights on scaling ventures in Pakistan’s evolving business environment, highlighting practical strategies for sustainable growth and the importance of fostering innovation driven workspaces. His remarks focused on strengthening entrepreneurial foundations and enabling startups to adapt to competitive market dynamics.
The keynote was followed by a panel discussion featuring Shehryar Hydri and Talha Afzal, Chief Executive Officer of Algoryte, who discussed entrepreneurship, scaling challenges and building resilient ventures in Pakistan. The speakers exchanged perspectives on navigating funding cycles, maintaining operational discipline and leveraging networks to unlock growth opportunities. Participants engaged in conversation around the realities of building technology driven businesses in Pakistan, particularly in an ecosystem that continues to mature with increasing institutional and corporate participation. The discussion also underscored the value of mentorship and structured support platforms in helping early stage startups transition toward expansion and sustainability.
The evening concluded with Iftar and informal networking, providing attendees an opportunity to deepen connections and explore collaboration prospects. PASHA acknowledged the contributions of its speakers, sponsor, ecosystem partners and participants for supporting the initiative. Representatives from organisations including NIC Islamabad, NICAT National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies, CITADEL Pakistan and Telenor Velocity were also noted among the broader community engagement. Through such gatherings, PASHA continues to facilitate dialogue and partnership within Pakistan’s technology and startup sector, reinforcing the role of collective engagement in strengthening the national innovation landscape.
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