Karandaaz & Planet N Group host workshop to outline challenges faced by startup ecosystem in Pakistan

Karandaaz Pakistan, in collaboration with Planet N Group of Companies and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), hosted a workshop on the “Challenges in the Startup Eco-system in Pakistan” to connect entrepreneurs with industry experts and exchange ideas to address those challenges.

The workshop covered the challenges faced by startup ecosystem and the impact of entrepreneurial advancements in Pakistan. The key discussion areas included Curriculum & Awareness, Company Law, Role of incubators/Accelerators and Exits & IPOs for which working groups were formed.

Mr. Nadeem Hussain, Founder Planet N Group, highlighted potential areas that need to be addressed for empowering entrepreneurial culture. Also, Planet N will publish a white paper which will provide solutions to the addressed challenges. Mr. Ali Sarfraz, CEO of Karandaaz Pakistan, said,

“Active collaboration and engagement between startups and ecosystem enablers, such as incubators, accelerators, and policymakers, is critical in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and developing creative solutions. We believe that this workshop organized by Karandaaz Pakistan in collaboration with Planet N and LUMS will inspire scalable programs to empower youth in the region,”

The workshop also included a presentation titled “Seeding Innovation Landscape: A Framework for Rooting FinTechs in Pakistan”.The opportunities and gaps that exist in the FinTech ecosystem in Pakistan and the future of digital financial services in the country were discussed in that presentation.

Karandaaz Pakistan, a not-for-profit company which promotes access to finance for small businesses and individuals by employing technology enabled digital solutions. The Company has financial support from leading international development finance institutions like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Established in 2015, Planet N Group is a platform for startups to collaborate and it provides financial and economic inclusion through technology. It has a diverse portfolio of startups across e-commerce, fintech, edutech, super food agriculture, retail and renewables.