I'm fortunate to have worked with amazing people!
If my many failures and few successes can provide perspective, email me.
Non-technical co-founder
I've wanted to work with entrepreneurs ever since I heard Ron Conway talk about Y-Combinator at SJSU in 2010. Took a few tries, lots of help, and tons of mistakes to get there! Some companies are still active.
At Planet N Group with Nadeem Hussain, we were often the first $100k- $500k cheque for growing companies in emerging markets where VC is scarce. Starting from Pakistan, many of the portfolio companies have now expanded to other markets in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. I worked closely with the Founders on sales, marketing, fundraising, partnerships, and recruitment while making introductions with investors, ecosystem partners, and emerging startups for acqui-hire opportunities. I was privileged to work with 22 investments across 3.5 years.
Tez Financial, co-founded by Naureen Hayat, Humza Hussain, and Nadeem Hussain, is the first 100% digital Non-Bank Microfinance Company focused on the unbanked and underbanked in Pakistan.
Founded by Yassir Pasha, Tapmad TV is an on-demand video streaming platform offering high quality live TV, sports channels, and original content.
Founded by Furqan Kidwai, Well.pk was an online retail e-commerce department store focusing on authentic products.
Founded by Nadeem Hussain, Alpha aimed to be a "one-stop shopping experience" for Pakistan's growing middle class segment using technology for virtual checkouts and digital commerce. Exclusive distributor for Tesco in Pakistan.
SRE provides reliable, cost-effective, and user-friendly Solar Home Systems (SHS), with plug-and-play solutions primarily focusing in off-grid areas.
Nadeem Hussain and I started 10xC to fill a lack of incubators and accelerators offering any funding to pre-seed companies in Pakistan. In the world's 5th largest market with 90+% 4g penetration and over 70% of the population being under the age of 30, we partnered with universities, incubators, and accelerators to invest between $10,000 to $35,000 in teams. A total of 19 investments where 10xC provided back-office, admin, and sales support by our main fund, PlanetNGroup.com, for 3.5 years.
Founded by Irfan Anwar, Feedience aimed to promote stage plays and productions from local theaters online.
Founded by Zain Mukhi, Bun ka Baap was a restaurant that built it's own delivery system before it was cool, making ISO-certified quality fast food "bun kebabs."
Founded by Farhan Ali, Mobile Doctor was a digital healthcare app using unique ways for users to identify their symptoms.
Founded by Roshaan Nayyar, Intellibit was an internet-of-things (IoT) solutions provider focused on home automation.
Founded by Hasan Ali and Wajahat Karim, RetinaVR creates 360 degree virtual tours e-commerce stores, real estate agents, and universities.
Founded by husband and wife team Jamal Khan and Sundas Khattak, Wifinity provided hardware and software solutions to enable on-demand digital sales for bus riders, mall visitors, and universities.
Rand Owens, Emeka Nwadibia and I started Spartups as a meetup group to connect university entrepreneurs with experienced advisors. With support from San Jose State University and the City of San Jose, we ran a 6,000 sq.ft incubation center in Downtown San Jose that supported students from SJSU, UC-Berkeley, Stanford, local community colleges, and many more in the Bay Area! 19 incubatees went through our formal program across 2 batches.
Founded by Andrew Watson, HealthDonor was a website that allowed the uninsured and underinsured to raise money to pay for medical bills.
Founded by husband and wife team Jamal Khan and Sundas Khattak, Wifinity provided hardware and software solutions to enable on-demand digital sales for bus riders, mall visitors, and universities.