Green Entertainment has set a new standard with the debut of Shark Tank Pakistan, cementing its place in the realm of reality television. Known for its innovative programming, the network is using this platform to inspire Pakistan’s budding entrepreneurs, providing them with a unique opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking ideas and visionary business ventures.
Catch all the creative pitches from Episode 10 of Shark Tank Pakistan, ranging from innovative tech to unique products, as visionary entrepreneurs take the stage to reshape Pakistan’s business landscape with their groundbreaking ideas.
Pitch No. 1
In Episode 10 of Shark Tank Pakistan, Anjum Javed, Founder and CEO of AgriBotx, introduced Pakistan’s first autonomous farming robot. He sought an investment of PKR 50 million in exchange for a 10% equity stake to commercialize the innovative technology. AgriBotx aims to revolutionize the agricultural sector by introducing robotics to farming practices, promising better productivity and efficiency. The pitch highlighted the potential of the technology to address challenges faced by farmers, including labor shortages and the need for precision farming.
AgriBotx’s flagship product, Rahbar™ UGV, is a multi-functional farming robot designed to perform tasks such as weeding, soil analysis, disease monitoring, and harvesting. By leveraging artificial intelligence and automation, the robot enhances agricultural productivity while reducing dependency on manual labor. Pakistan’s agriculture sector, which contributes significantly to the economy, stands to benefit from such advancements. However, the successful adoption of this technology would require substantial effort in market education, scalability, and cost-effectiveness to cater to the needs of local farmers.
Despite the innovation, all the sharks opted out of the deal. They raised concerns over the product’s readiness for commercialization and its ability to achieve large-scale market success. One by one, other investors followed suit, leaving the pitch without an investment. The outcome emphasizes the challenges that startups face in balancing technological innovation with practical business strategies to attract funding.
Pitch No. 2
Maira Siddiqui, Founder and CEO of Chiragh Education Technologies, alongside financial expert Khushhal, pitched their edtech startup. They sought an investment of PKR 10 million in exchange for a 10% equity stake. Reporting PKR 1.5 million in revenue and projecting PKR 15 million, the founders also highlighted their annual cost of PKR 6 million and sponsorship funding of PKR 10 million. While most sharks stepped out due to concerns about valuation and limited knowledge of the sector, Romanna Dada showed interest and made an offer.
Chiragh Education Technologies focuses on creating gamified, language-inclusive educational content for children from nursery to grade 5. The platform uniquely caters to Pakistani children by offering engaging lessons in multiple languages, including Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto, Balochi, and Saraiki. By turning traditional curricula into interactive cartoons and games, Chiragh aims to address language barriers and improve learning outcomes for children across diverse communities.
After negotiations, Romanna Dada struck a deal with Chiragh Education Technologies for PKR 10 million in exchange for 30% equity and a 10% royalty. While the founders initially countered with a lower equity offer and no royalty, Romanna stayed firm on her terms.
Pitch No. 3
Omer Hasan, Hafsa Omer, and Faraz Hussain introduced Bint e Ahan, Pakistan’s first female bike riding and self-defense club, aiming to tackle the challenges of safety and transportation for women. With women making up 52% of Pakistan’s population, the founders emphasized the need to empower them to participate fully in society. Launched in March 2022, Bint e Ahan has already trained over 2,000 women and aspires to reach 1 million. They sought an investment of PKR 20 million in exchange for 8% equity, with a reported revenue of PKR 10 million and a projected revenue of PKR 8 million for 2024.
Bint e Ahan offers programs designed to equip women with essential life skills. Their bike riding training helps women navigate urban landscapes independently, addressing mobility constraints that limit opportunities. Meanwhile, their self-defense training focuses on identifying, defending against, and retaliating to harassment, fostering confidence and security. With an average ticket price of PKR 5,000, the company generates 60% of its revenue from bike riding training and 40% from self-defense programs, addressing critical issues women face daily.
Despite the impressive social impact, the sharks opted not to invest, citing concerns over the company’s valuation of PKR 250 million. They felt the financial projections were ambitious relative to the company’s current scale. As a result, no deal was made. This outcome highlights the challenges faced by socially-driven ventures in aligning their missions with investors’ expectations.
Pitch No. 4
Aleena, the founder of Saaz, a hand-woven footwear brand, presented her business on Shark Tank Pakistan. She sought an investment of PKR 6 million in exchange for 5% equity. Operating for three years, Saaz reported revenues of PKR 3 million in 2022 and PKR 16 million in 2023, with a projected revenue of PKR 26 million for 2024. The brand specializes in hand-woven leather-thonged Huarache sandals, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design to offer sustainable and stylish footwear options.
During the pitch, multiple sharks expressed interest. Usman offered PKR 10 million for 20% equity with a 10% royalty, while Rabeel proposed PKR 7.05 million for 15% equity. Junaid’s offer stood at PKR 6 million for 10% equity with a 10% royalty. Aleena and Romanna collaborated with Usman, adjusting the offer to PKR 10 million for 10% equity with a 10% royalty. The founder countered, seeking to remove the royalty component. After negotiations, a consensus was reached with Romanna, Junaid, and Rabeel joining in to offer PKR 10 million for 10% equity and a 5% royalty, which Aleena accepted.
This investment is poised to bolster Saaz’s growth, enabling the brand to expand its product line and reach a broader market. The deal reflects investor confidence in Saaz’s unique value proposition and its potential to make a significant impact in the sustainable fashion industry.
Pitch No. 5
Javeria Shakeel, Co-founder and COO of Enent, presented her clean-tech electronics startup on Shark Tank Pakistan, seeking an investment of PKR 20 million for 10% equity. Enent focuses on designing innovative products aimed at reducing energy waste, addressing Pakistan’s energy crisis, and lowering electricity bills for consumers. Their flagship product, “Intellica,” is a three-phase energy management system that optimizes power consumption in industrial and commercial settings. The device has a production cost of PKR 2.8 million and a maximum selling price of PKR 4.5 million, indicating a substantial profit margin.
Enent’s mission is to provide sustainable solutions that enhance energy efficiency across various sectors. By leveraging advanced technology, their products monitor and manage energy usage, leading to significant cost savings and a reduced environmental footprint. The startup has garnered attention for its potential to contribute positively to Pakistan’s energy landscape, promoting cleaner and more efficient energy consumption practices.
During the pitch, Junaid Iqbal expressed concerns about the company’s stability and valuation, leading him to opt out. Rabeel offered PKR 20 million for 30% equity with a 10% royalty, later adjusting to 28% equity with the same royalty rate, joined by Romanna. Aleena Nadeem also chose to step out. Usman proposed PKR 20 million for 25% equity and a 30% royalty. After considering the offers, Javeria accepted Usman’s proposal, securing a deal of PKR 20 million for 25% equity and a 30% royalty.
About Sharks AKA The Investors In Shark Tank
- Rabeel Warraich, a former Morgan Stanley analyst, founded Sarmayacar, Pakistan’s leading venture capital firm, and has invested in notable startups like Abhi, Bykea, and SimPaisa; he holds degrees from Oxford and MIT, and teaches Venture Capital & Finance at IBA in Karachi.
- Aleena Nadeem, an accomplished MIT graduate, began her career at McKinsey and Goldman Sachs before transitioning to Ventura Capital and playing a crucial role in exiting investments in Lyft; now as CEO of EduFi, she drives innovation in educational technology, leveraging her extensive experience in finance and global fintech.
- Junaid Iqbal, CEO of Salt Ventures, is a key investor in the MENAP region with a strong background in financial journalism and notable contributions to Careem’s expansion and Careem Pay development.
- Karim Teli, a distinguished 30-year-old entrepreneur and speaker, is the Managing Director of IGLOO, founder of World Radio FM Network, CEO of Big Shot Technologies & Teli Technologies, and Director of Orient Textile Mills, with degrees from Greenwich University and Boston University, and over 50 ventures to his name.
- Faisal Aftab, a distinguished Pakistani American entrepreneur, has significantly impacted Pakistan’s tech industry as the co-founder and Managing Partner of Zayn VC, with notable roles at Lakson Capital Venture, Oxon Partners LLC, Cloudstream Media, National Financial Media, MTV, and Deloitte, leading investments in startups like Haball and NayaPay.
- Romanna Dada is a distinguished entrepreneur and UK-trained barrister, featured multiple times by Forbes, with a career spanning investment banking at Morgan Stanley, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, QIB (UK), and Qatar Venture Capital. She transitioned to the fashion industry, founding the largest modest fashion marketplace, successfully exited in 2018. Currently, she leads a new entity within the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, focusing on innovative ventures and strategic investments.
- Usman Bashir, CEO of Brake Time and Breaktime Corner Market (BTCM) LLC, is a visionary leader with over 15 years of experience, managing over 300 U.S. retail outlets, including gas stations, fast food chains, and vape shops, while also investing in hotels like Marriott, the electric vehicle industry, and retail food and beverage franchises.
