Pakistani startups raised 59 million dollars in the first half of 2026, with the majority coming from Fasset's 51 million dollar Series B, according to a new round-up from i2i Ventures.

Startup World Cup 2026 Pakistan Edition Qualifiers are coming to NIC Hyderabad, giving founders the chance to pitch investors and compete for a 1 million dollar investment prize on July 21.

The Global Capacity Building Coalition has opened applications for its 2026 Accelerator, welcoming organisations providing capacity building support for country platform development in emerging markets, with virtual information sessions scheduled for July 22 and 29.

NIC Lahore is hosting an in-person orientation session for startups and tech companies applying to P@SHA ICT Awards 2026, covering categories, eligibility, timelines, and a live Q&A with the P@SHA team.

Telipano, a NIC Karachi startup incubated in Cohort 16, is transforming how businesses showcase properties, venues, and commercial spaces through immersive 3D and 360 degree virtual tour experiences that build customer trust and enable interactive exploration from anywhere.

NIC Faisalabad has opened applications for startups building in healthtech, fintech, mobility, food tech, and AI and SaaS, offering mentorship, research support, and investor connections to founders.

NICAT is encouraging women founders to apply for Cohort 8, offering 12 months of free incubation, PKR 5 million worth of startup benefits, zero equity, and global exposure across aerospace, deep tech, AI, and frontier technology domains.

NIC Lahore is inviting startup founders to apply at niclahore.com, offering pitch refinement, direct feedback, and mentorship from experienced founders to help entrepreneurs sharpen their message for global venture capitalists. The programme has supported over 350 startups with PKR 1 billion plus in funding.

Kashmeta, a Lahore-based XR and Metaverse startup building one of the world's first metaverse-based medical universities, is showcasing at FUTUREPLAY Investor Summit 2026 at CEGA NED University Karachi on July 16, 2026.

RILITS, a startup from NIC Karachi Cohort 13, has successfully launched its first RFID tunnel at Soorty Textile's Cumilla Export Processing Zone facility, with the company now operating RFID tunnel installations across Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Nectar Social co-founder Misbah Uraizee says the company's Lahore engineering team is developing core AI technology powering over 10 million brand conversations weekly, positioning Pakistan as one of the startup's biggest engineering investments following its USD 30 million Series A.

Licious, a startup from IU CORE Cohort 1 at Iqra University, has been selected to participate in WIBCON 2026 Karachi, organised by the Pakistan Society for Training and Development at Pearl Continental Hotel, marking another milestone for the university's entrepreneurship programme.

Spinal Power, founded by M Umair Khan and incubated at NICAT, grew from PKR 10 million to over PKR 50 million in project sales after NICAT connected the military-grade battery tech startup with major players including NLC, demonstrating the impact of the incubator's elite industry network.

NIC Karachi Campus Ambassador Fateema Amin conducted an online Cohort 16 induction and awareness session for Habib University students, introducing them to the NIC Karachi ecosystem, startup journey, and entrepreneurial opportunities available through the incubation programme.

Pakistani startups raised 59 million dollars in the first half of 2026, with the majority coming from Fasset's 51 million dollar Series B, according to a new round-up from i2i Ventures.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has approved Tasdeeq Information Services Limited's IPO, the first of fiscal year 2026-27, allowing the SBP-licensed credit bureau to list 219 million shares on the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Shareholders of LSE SPAC-I Limited have unanimously approved the Draft Scheme of Arrangement to merge the company with Ningbo Green Light Energy Limited, pending sanction from the Lahore High Court under the Companies Act 2017.

Shandong Hi-Speed Group, one of China's leading state-owned infrastructure enterprises, has expressed interest in investing in Pakistan's transport, logistics, and connectivity projects following talks with the Board of Investment.

Pakistan has invited Chinese companies to invest, innovate, and manufacture jointly as both countries deepen cooperation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare at a bilateral B2B investment conference.

Startup World Cup 2026 Pakistan Edition Qualifiers are coming to NIC Hyderabad, giving founders the chance to pitch investors and compete for a 1 million dollar investment prize on July 21.

NIC Lahore is hosting an in-person orientation session for startups and tech companies applying to P@SHA ICT Awards 2026, covering categories, eligibility, timelines, and a live Q&A with the P@SHA team.

Iqra University held the Orientation Ceremony for IU CORE Cohort 4, introducing participants to the programme's vision, mentorship opportunities, and incubation support ahead of building their startups.

AIDE AI, incubated at NICAT, has grown from a pre-revenue MVP to processing over 8 million handwritten pages at scale within ten months, with NICAT providing startup benefits, customer access, and government engagement opportunities that accelerated the EdTech startup's growth.

NIC Islamabad's Cohort 5 founders continued their Founder Institute Mentor Idea Review on Day 2, testing their startup ideas, research, and validation against feedback from experienced mentors.

Endeavor Pakistan has welcomed KamelPay founders Ehsan Rahman, Saadaat Yaqub Bajwa, and Zishan Rahman to its network, recognising their work bringing digital financial services to migrant workers across the GCC.

Applications are now open for the 4th batch of the Prime Minister's National Youth Council, inviting young Pakistanis aged 15 to 29 to apply for a 2-year national policymaking opportunity by August 15.

The State Bank of Pakistan has introduced a formal start-up category under its revised SME financing regulations, though experts caution that regulatory recognition alone won't transform lending without broader banking reforms

Higher Education Commission has asked universities across Pakistan to review and modernize degree programmes and curricula as part of a nationwide transformation exercise aimed at Industrial Revolution 5.0.

SMEDA is encouraging entrepreneurs and small businesses across Pakistan to register through the SME Registration Portal, SMERP, as part of the Government of Pakistan's vision for inclusive and sustainable economic growth through MSME formalisation.

PAIDAR Grant Cycle 4, implemented by ACT International and funded by the European Union under the UNIDO-led Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh programme, is offering micro grants of up to EUR 10,000 to entrepreneurs in Thatta district, with a deadline of July 31, 2026.

SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu announced a target of 2.5 million investors in Pakistan at the SECP Talk Series, outlining plans to simplify account opening, implement T+1 settlement, and align Pakistan's capital market with international standards, with renowned businessman Arif Habib attending as chief guest.

Shark Tank Producer Usman on the two-year Sony negotiation, the casting calculus, the off-camera valuation coaching, and the production mechanics that turned a skeptical market into the site of the biggest deal in the franchise's global history.

NICAT, in partnership with DEMO Pakistan (SPIN-IDG), hosted a session on data-driven decision-making, exploring how digitization, analytics, and innovation are shaping Pakistan’s economic and enterprise future.

Industry leaders discuss how fintech, agritech, and edtech are enabling women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan, while startups leverage technology, partnerships, and community engagement to scale solutions.

Discover how Sialkot's world-renowned sports manufacturing industry can evolve into sports-tech innovation, using smart equipment, AI, sensors, and connected technology to shape the future of global sports.

Pakistan Super League offers startups more than sponsorship. Discover how PSL can drive brand awareness, customer acquisition, and long-term growth.

NIC Karachi hosted a session on Saudi Arabia’s PDPL, led by data protection expert Bilal Ghafoor, guiding startups on compliance, risks, and strategies for expanding into the Kingdom.

The Global Capacity Building Coalition has opened applications for its 2026 Accelerator, welcoming organisations providing capacity building support for country platform development in emerging markets, with virtual information sessions scheduled for July 22 and 29.

Paklaunch is hosting a meetup in Singapore on August 20, 2026, bringing together founders, investors, operators, and professionals from Pakistan's global tech ecosystem for an evening of networking, idea exchange, and community building. Seats are limited.

Ali Moiz, who grew up in Karachi, built Streamlabs into a dominant streaming software ecosystem before its 170 million dollar acquisition by Logitech, following three earlier startups that fell short of similar success.

Pakistan and Japan agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, Web3, and digital technologies at a startup innovation event organized by the Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo and the Asia Web3 Alliance Japan.

The Asia Web3 Alliance Japan hosted a cross-border tech summit at the Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo, announcing plans to establish an institutionalised Japan-Pakistan innovation corridor connecting Pakistani tech talent with Japanese capital to address Japan's engineer shortage.

Accelerate Prosperity's ESO Program brought representatives from 10 Pakistani entrepreneur support organisations to Istanbul for a five-day ecosystem visit, exploring venture capital, corporate innovation, and cross-border collaboration with Turkish stakeholders.

Pakistan’s startup ecosystem in 2025 entered a new phase shaped by selective funding, hybrid financing, debt-backed growth, AI innovation and institutional maturity, as startups adapted to tighter capital markets and evolving investor priorities.

Exactly two years ago, on 24th April 2024, the United Nations Development Programme’s State of Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Pakistan presented a comprehensive assessment of the country’s youth entrepreneurship landscape.

Circa early 2024, as Pakistan’s startup story was beginning to fray at the edges of what had only recently been framed as a breakout moment, the stepped in with a short but pointed intervention. Published on January 26, 2024, “Monumental Shifts in Pakistan’s Startup Landscape: For the Better or Worse?” was written at a time when the exuberance of 2021–22 had already given way to funding slowdowns, startup shutdowns, and a growing unease around valuations that had once been celebrated.