Two Pakistani startups, DealCart and Nayapay, have been featured on Forbes ‘Asia 100 to Watch 2024’ list, marking a significant achievement for the country’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Forbes highlighted Karachi-based DealCart as a rising player in the online grocery market, targeting Pakistan’s expanding middle class.
The platform enables customers to conveniently order essentials like fresh produce, snacks, and household items, while also providing small grocery stores the opportunity to reach a broader customer base.
DealCart’s journey has been fueled by a successful $4.5 million pre-seed funding round, followed by an additional $3 million secured in a seed funding round co-led by Abu Dhabi’s Shorooq Partners and London’s Sturgeon Capital in July.
On the fintech front, NayaPay operates a payments processing platform designed to digitise transactions between consumers and businesses.
The startup’s app offers features like an e-wallet, virtual debit card, and online payment solutions, and for businesses, it provides point-of-sale devices that can be installed in physical stores.
NayaPay’s impact was bolstered by a $13 million seed funding round in 2022, one of the largest in South Asia, led by Zayn Capital, MSA Novo, and Graph Ventures.
This recognition follows a series of accolades for Pakistanis on Forbes lists, including seven individuals on the 30 Under 30 list for Asia earlier this year. Additionally, in March, two Pakistani businesswomen were named in Forbes ‘100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2024’ list.
