SEIC is set to host a session focused on the practical realities of running a startup in Pakistan, moving away from theoretical discussions toward a direct conversation about the regulatory, operational, and commercial challenges founders face on the ground. The session, scheduled for July 21 at Catalyst Hall, will bring together two industry figures whose roles span both startup operations and ecosystem building within the country.
The session will feature Urooj Zia, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Startup Syndicate, and Khizer Ahmed, Director and Chief Operating Officer at Kaacib, who will discuss what it actually takes to build and operate a startup within Pakistan’s regulatory and business environment. Their conversation is expected to move beyond commonly discussed startup narratives and instead address the more procedural and operational aspects of running a business, including regulatory compliance and the commercial pressures that founders encounter as their ventures grow.
Given their respective positions, both speakers are expected to draw on direct operational experience rather than general industry commentary, offering attendees insight into the kind of decision making and problem solving required to keep a startup functioning within local regulatory and market conditions. The format of the session, structured as a dialogue between two operators rather than a single speaker presentation, is intended to allow for a more open exchange around the difficulties founders often face but do not always discuss publicly.
The session is scheduled to run from 2 in the afternoon to 3 in the afternoon at SEIC’s Catalyst Hall, with registration open for those interested in attending. Interested participants can register through the link at https://lnkd.in/dG7cFHWN, or reach out through the contact number +92 301 9469964 or via email at info@seic.ac.pk. More information is also available at www.seic.ac.pk.
The session forms part of a broader set of open house activities being organized by SEIC, reflecting a continuing pattern of incubation centers in Pakistan bringing in operators and founders to speak candidly about the practical side of building startups. As SEIC continues to prepare for its upcoming Cohort 2, sessions addressing the operational and regulatory realities of startups are increasingly being used to give prospective founders a clearer picture of what building a company in Pakistan actually involves, beyond the more commonly discussed aspects of ideation and fundraising.
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