Thought Behind Things

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit with Muhammad Danial, the creator who unintentionally turned simple kitchen experiments into one of Pakistan’s most engaging food communities. From growing up as a quiet kid dealing with OCD, to finding confidence through a camera, to balancing the pressure of online fame with the weight of personal identity, Danial shares the untold story behind hi...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit with Ibrahim Shaukat, the founder, who turned Daari Mooch from a small beard-oil experiment into one of Pakistan’s most recognized grooming brands. From building products in a market that didn’t exist, to opening their own salon, to navigating Pakistan’s unpredictable retail landscape, Ibrahim breaks down the real story behind Daari Mooch’s rise. Wh...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we speak with Obaid Arshad, Founder & CEO of Gingko Retail, Pakistan’s biggest ecommerce operating platform and the largest order aggregator in the country. We Explore: Less than 1% of Pakistan’s commerce has moved online How Gingko Retail became Pakistan’s largest ecommerce enabler 214+ merchants using the platform IPO plans for the future Why Pakista...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things , we sit down with a rapidly growing digital creator to unpack his journey from childhood struggles and losing his father at a young age to building a full-time career in online content creation From early exposure abroad to returning home, he explains why social media gave him more earning power than settling for a corporate job — and why algorithm underst...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Shane and Adnan, founders of Software Finder — a global marketplace for buying and selling software, like an OLX for software buyers. With 350+ employees across 4 countries and more than 250,000 targeted monthly visitors, Software Finder has quietly become one of Pakistan’s most successful B2B platforms without hype, foreign celebrity foun...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Ahmed Abubakar, Founder of Imagine Art - a Pakistan-built GenAI creative suite used by millions worldwide and competing for #1–#2 positions in global design app charts, right next to Canva. Today, Imagine does $30M+ ARR, with a major portion of revenue coming from the US and international markets - proving that world-class AI products can...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Umer Munawar, Co-Founder of SmartLane, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing logistics aggregation platforms. Umer shares how he exited Finja and jumped straight into solving Pakistan’s most chaotic industry - e-commerce logistics. From integrating 31 courier companies, to processing thousands of parcels, to raising $2.3 million, this episode...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Nayab Babar, Chief Investment Officer at the Pakistan Startup Fund, the man shaping how capital flows into Pakistan’s next generation of startups. Nayab shares how Warcraft strategy games trained his problem-solving mindset, how his perspective on racism changed, and why he believes exposure not arguments fixes prejudice. Nayab also explai...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Rayyan, the entrepreneur behind one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing food brands - OD. From a disciplined childhood in madrassah to running his father’s company at a young age, Rayyan’s journey is a mix of family pressure, resilience, and a deep desire to build something of his own. He shares how he transformed a family business, shifted from...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Yasir Suleman Memon, Founder & CEO of Salesflo, one of Pakistan’s biggest enterprise SaaS companies, now used globally across multiple markets. We explore: Why second-tier Pakistani cities never developed How AI is reversing Pakistan’s freelancing boom Why Pakistani founders lack “IPO hunger” Why startups MUST list publicly to retain t...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by the founder of Game Sports Management, one of Pakistan’s few companies trying to turn athletes into real commercial brands. From managing Wasim Akram to building a full sports business, he shares the why Pakistan’s athletes never grow, why our sports ecosystem is broken, and how countries like India turned every sport into a billion-dollar...

CHECK OUT MY AI AVATAR: https://muzamil.alethia.ai/ In this episode, we sit down with Arif Khan, Founder & CEO of ALETHIA AI, the global startup building real-time interactive AI agents, with a major part of the technology being developed in Pakistan. We Explore: Creating AI versions of real people How Muzamil’s own AI avatar was trained Using AI for education, government services, counselling...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Ziyad Parekh, Co-Founder & CEO of Safepay, one of Pakistan’s most exciting fintech startups and a Y-Combinator backed startup. Ziyad shares how he went from Karachi to New York and why he left everything to return home and build Pakistan’s version of Stripe. We uncover how Safepay survived being taken to zero overnight, how they rebuil...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Usman Saleem, Co-Founder & CEO of Khazanay, Pakistan’s biggest used sneaker and thrift brand. Usman shares his journey from losing his father at an early age, working graphic design jobs for just ₨8,000 a month, to building one of Pakistan’s most disruptive retail startups. We talk about: How Khazanay sold its first pair of shoes Meeti...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Salman Parekh, Founder of Manto, Pakistan’s most distinct fashion brand redefining local identity through design, storytelling, and craftsmanship. From launching limited hand-drawn collections to sustaining a premium yet local brand in a low-growth economy. We explore: How Manto built its own supply chain & scaled sustainably Why Pakist...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Maha Shahzad, the founder & CEO of Buscaro — Pakistan’s first tech-enabled bus-sharing startup that’s making everyday commuting safer, smarter, and more affordable for thousands of Pakistanis. From doing odd jobs to fund her education, to building a profitable transport startup without a degree, Maha’s story is pure resilience. She shar...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Jerjees Seja, CEO of ARY Digital Network, one of Pakistan’s most iconic media leaders. From shaping the country’s TV and drama landscape to building ARY into a powerhouse of entertainment, Jerjees shares his journey of transforming Pakistan’s media industry. We discuss: How Pakistan’s private TV revolution began The economics behind news, d...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Arif Lakhani, Co-Founder of QistBazaar, Pakistan’s fastest-growing fintech platform making anything, from bikes to fridges, available on easy installments. We explore: How QistBazaar gives access to credit without traditional banking Why 90% of startup funding never enters Pakistan’s economy Are easy installments driving consumerism and deb...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Umair Masoom Usmani, the Founder of Myco, a rapidly growing OTT and creator-monetization platform redefining how people consume, fund, and earn from content across emerging markets. After leaving Dubai’s corporate comfort, Umair built one of Pakistan’s fastest-scaling digital...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠⁠⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Saad Afridi, the Founder & CEO of Scents N Stories, Pakistan’s leading fragrance brand with over 40 outlets, 300+ employees, and one of the top 5 players in the country’s perfume market. From starting with men’s grooming products to building a nationwide perfume empire, Sa...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Saad Riaz, Co-Founder of Kickstart Pakistan, the country’s one of the largest coworking network powering thousands of professionals and businesses every day. Saad opens up about how Kickstart survived Pakistan’s toughest economic years, scaled sustainably, and redefined what “wo...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Syed Zeeshan Haider, the Founder and Director of Dipitt, Pakistan’s No.1 sauce brand exporting to over 33 countries worldwide. A LUMS graduate and engineer by training, Zeeshan began his career managing top tobacco brands before making a life-changing decision, leaving the indust...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Zayaan Bawanay, the Co-Founder & CEO of TicketWala, Pakistan’s largest entertainment marketplace redefining how events, concerts, and live experiences are built. From selling his own birthday tickets to running a company with 95% market share, Zayaan shares the wild journey of...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things , we’re joined by Dayyan , a young, super-talented and rising stand-up comedian and content creator known for his sharp wit and humor. From small open mics to sold-out shows, Dayyan shares his unfiltered journey through Pakistan’s evolving stand-up scene, the struggles, the experiments, and the state of comedy in a sensitive country like Pakistan. We uncove...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Ali Farid Khawaja, Chairman of KTrade Securities, Pakistan’s leading investment platform enabling thousands of Pakistanis to invest smartly and become part of the country’s growing capital markets. With a global background in finance and technology, having worked at UBS, Berenber...