I read this with interest, it is also indicative of the fact that the ecosystem is slowly getting there. But what every one seems to be missing that the free report from the article is a MAC(Mutual Admiration Club) because it shies away from asking the million $ Question
The question being, how many of these VCs, or Angels actually operate being domiciled out of Pakistan? Whilst I whole heartedly agree that regulations make it tough to near impossible to setup efficient structures quickly, all these cheerleaders of Pakistani talent + Startups
from the Valley to DC to Holland to Ireland to Singapore and beyond are and continue to encourage most if not all startups to incorporate outside of Pakistan. So Much for misguided front end Optics of Promoting Pakistan and Pakistani companies. Why is this important now?
In short they are raising overseas in to offshore entities & when liquidity events happen this money will be far far away from our shores. When the time comes most startups will pull of The double Irish with a Dutch sandwich for tax efficiency .investopedia.com/terms/d/double…
What our simple champions & retweeters and the Pakistan VC promotion brigade is missing out on, is the fact that since time immemorial, starting from Daraz, none,if any money exchanged hands in PK.Yet every one wants to give in bound investment in to PK tax breaks and BOI support
It would only be fair if their operating structures were Pakistani based vs foreign. Even the PM + Team of SPAMMers continue to miss the point, beyond the hype & media articles of VCgroups raising 10/20/30m$ to focus on deals in PK almost all comprise of foreign raises+ entities.
In simple terms, the money they raise, is held in NL/Singapore, they ask Pakistani Startups to be eligible for funding to also incorporate there. They then advance the money into that startups Singapore account, the startups then takes what it needs for ops and sends it home
Whilst money is coming to PK, i.e use of proceeds will happen locally mostly. When the startup scales or is ready to raise Series A etc, the money comes in to its foreign account, similarly if the startup sells equity, the money lands in its foreign account. Do you see the issue?
From the Daraz Deals and Telenor banks deals whose FX impacts I highlighted in '17 here bit.ly/3kfoMcS to the VCs & the real cost of these funds coming to PK which I wrote about here bit.ly/3c4UYfT r a good starting point for founders to evaluate their options
The sad reality is that very little has been raised by Pakistan incorporated startups, not talking about PK Origin startups that we love to own and claim like Careem, Airlift, Bykea for example, from what I know are all foreign domiciled.Just using them as an example because of
The hoopla around their rounds and their Pakistani origins. Don't get me wrong, money coming to recognize talent and a good idea is great. I am just identifying the VC cheerleading thats happening and why its mis-guided as an image of Pakistani startups getting funded.
Thats not true & these Pakistani Origin VCs & Cheerleaders are actually doing a dis service as their 1st ASK is for the startup to do a foreign incorporation.Whilst its not a gaali to do so,it shows you a great deal about ecosystem maturity & the wild west attitude of those with$
So dont believe the hype thats the moral of the story, question all these posers who want to sell you snake oil and verify their self interest before your evaluate their interest in your company. Every ones not bad and some truly have no other way to bring money in, but most
are seeding this culture of quick exits on follow on capital by telling the founders nothing will happen if they don't incorporate offshore. So when I read the Cheerleading clubs glowing accolades for each other, I think its only fair to call out what they aren't highlighting
All that glitters isn't gold. We are still far away from mature VC/Accelerant money from really coming to our shores, the total blame cant rely on those raising offshore, but also in equal parts on govt policy and the lack their off. Its a tough situation but the VCs must
call a spade a spade. The las thing we need are visions of grandeur & mis placed expectations + a tweet from the SAPM claiming credit for bringing in tech funding. Whats really coming in,is part of the funds raised offshore to fund the labor arbitrage in PK for a long term VC Win
The more you know the better off you are and you can ask more intelligent questions and evaluate for your self whats really happening vs what you are being told. Given that the thought police regulates so many other parts of our existence, a public service msg like this is key
Every one Talks About Elite Capture in 🇵🇰 but most don't do any research to find out what it really means or where it started or how it impacts us daily
We are quick to blame
Lazy to action
Indifferent to learn from history
Heres a 🧵 an attempt with some facts & data points
The concentration of business ownership has been an interesting economic case study in 🇵🇰 ever since 1968 when Dr. Mahbub( then the Chief Economist of the Planning Commission) Named Pakistan’s 22 Families that dis proportionately controlled its economy.
A report by KASB in 2018 stated the following with some in-accuracies. The top 11 family-controlled groups have 53 listed companies which have a collective market cap of $27bn, which means they account for around 35% of the market capitalization of Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The Economic crisis & its impact explained in simple terms.A guide for Millennials & Gen Z.🧵
Boomers will tell you, they have been hearing since time immemorial that "the country is at the brink of disaster"
What they don't tell you:
1)Their lack of contribution to fix things
2)Their inability to call a spade a spade
3)Their lack of involvement in street level community building let alone national
4)Their lack of ownership from any thing that "didn't impact them" economically
They are right in one thing for sure. We didn't get here over night, their entire life was spent "hearing things are bad", but it was also spent ignoring that same message.
How many took any "action"?
Every one buried their head in sand and said "sanu ki" this too shall pass.
Despite years of poor governance, economic difficulties, security challenges, and internal issues, the average Pakistani remains optimistic that better days are coming. This response highlights the deep bond between man and his creator and the belief that things will improve.
Another possible explanation is the lack of education and access to understanding economic fallout. Because we have always "heard things are bad". But clearly things have continued to go on..
I was today years old when I found out what a 'designer' "lawn" suit costs🧵
15-20k Price points for an outfit + cost of tailoring
Made me question my professional choices & of many other entrepreneurs
Perhaps the best thing to do is to build tech around lawn ..
For niche designers this is how the process works:
1)Call ahead
2)If you are an old customer(no deposit)
3)If you aren't well heeled then you may need to do a bank transfer to hold(with more niche designers albeit)
4)On the designated day show up
5)Avg cart size is 5 outfits
The name “lawn cloth” comes from the French city of Laon, which was where this textile was first woven. (says the internet)
At first, lawn cloth was primarily made with linen, which was more abundant in Europe at the time. material.
YouTube Black Outs & Curious Case of Destroying Startup Value(ations) 🧵
Without the who/what/why of blocking,understand this,there is an other side to this saga that is slowly going to kill startups
What? Really?Let me take you & the powers be on a Journey of value destruction
Be it popular media, social media, political parties, influencers, opinion makers or the government it self. One thing is clear. Youtube outages happened (happening in🇵🇰).