Green Entertainment, celebrated for its innovative and captivating storytelling, has marked another industry milestone with the introduction of Shark Tank Pakistan. By delving into reality TV, Green Entertainment upholds its tradition of pioneering narratives, aiming to spark entrepreneurial spirit nationwide. This new platform seeks to motivate and support emerging entrepreneurs, offering a space to present ground-breaking ideas and business strategies.
Episode 2 of Shark Tank Pakistan promises even more excitement and innovation. Following the electrifying premiere, where entrepreneurs wowed the sharks with their groundbreaking business ideas, the second episode continues the momentum. This time, expect to see a fresh lineup of visionary entrepreneurs eager to secure investments and take their ventures to new heights. The sharks are back, ready to assess and invest in the most promising and profitable ideas. Let’s dive into the thrilling three pitches and see who captured the sharks’ attention and support in Episode 2 of Shark Tank Pakistan!
Pitch No. 1
Biomedical engineers Mohammad Laik and Asad, two passionate entrepreneurs, founded Kangaroo Care AI with a strong drive to make a meaningful impact on neonatal care in Pakistan. Their journey began after they identified the acute shortage of affordable incubators for premature babies in the country. Moved by the challenges faced by families unable to afford expensive imported incubators, they sought to address the issue, aiming to prevent the loss of precious lives due to inadequate care for premature infants.
Their story started when they discovered that neonatal care equipment, particularly incubators, were largely imported and unaffordable for most hospitals, especially in rural areas. Inspired by the idea of solving this issue, they decided to design a cost-effective, locally manufactured incubator. The duo with their two more biomedical engineering friends utilized their engineering expertise to create a prototype that would be both affordable and high-quality, meeting international standards while being accessible to Pakistani hospitals and clinics.
They built one of the core innovations of their incubators using locally sourced materials, which drastically reduced production costs. The entrepreneurs aimed to create a product within the financial reach of healthcare providers in Pakistan, bridging the gap between high costs and the need for critical healthcare infrastructure. Designed to be reliable and easy to use, their incubators are ideal for hospitals and clinics that often struggle with the high costs of medical equipment. Despite the innovation, scaling up production presented challenges. The company initially produced around 10-15 incubators per month, but they were determined to increase output to meet the growing demand in the healthcare sector.
However, with the passion and the social impact of their business, the entrepreneurs faced tough negotiations with the sharks. Initially, they proposed 3 crores for 15% equity, but the investors made counteroffers. One shark suggested 3 crores for 30% equity, and another countered with 3 crores for 20% equity. After careful deliberation, all five investors came to a consensus and agreed to invest 3 crores in exchange for 25% equity. This deal will not only help Kangaroo Care AI expand its production but also enable the entrepreneurs to secure the licenses and certifications needed to scale their business and meet the growing demand for affordable incubators.
Pitch No. 4
In a compelling pitch, the founder of Ashi Herbs Hira Lashari shared her inspiring journey from personal adversity to business success. Starting with a single viral social media live session, she garnered over 1000 inquiries and sold 3000 units of her hair oil within six months, showcasing strong demand for her products. Expelled from her home for giving birth to a daughter, she transformed this hardship into motivation, naming her business after her daughter and creating employment opportunities for other women.
Ashi Herbs quickly expanded its product line to nine items, maintaining transparent financials: 35% of expenses go to production and another 35% to logistics, with ingredients sourced locally. Her sales figures peaked at 25 lakhs in six months and maintained an average monthly sale of 1 lakh in 2024, primarily through social media channels, demonstrating the potential for scaling her business.
Her pitch attracted interest from several investors. Faisal, recognizing the synergy with his e-commerce platform Bagallery, offered 20 lakhs in exchange for 10% equity, aligning perfectly with her terms and promising further growth for Ashi Herbs. Other investors, while inspired by her story, either opted out due to unfamiliarity with the category or believed she already had a suitable offer.
Despite the admiration for her resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, only Faisal’s offer met her exact demand, emphasizing the strong alignment between Ashi Herbs and his platform. This journey of Ashi Herbs highlights not just business success but also the founder’s ability to overcome personal adversity and empower others, making it a truly inspiring story for all.
Pitch No. 5
Arshad Khan, also known as the “Chaiwala,” became a social media sensation in 2016 after a viral photo of him went viral, showcasing his striking looks while serving tea. Initially overwhelmed by the fame, he pivoted into modeling and acting before venturing into the business world. In 2020, Arshad launched his own café, Chaiwala Café, on a rooftop in Islamabad, in partnership with Kazim Hasan. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing some initial disruptions, the café gained momentum upon reopening in late 2020, eventually leading to its rapid expansion. Arshad now owns several locations in Pakistan, including in Balakot and Sadu Sharif, as well as in the UK.
The café’s business model has proven to be highly profitable, with franchises in Pakistan costing 5 lakhs for a 5% royalty, while those in the UK are priced between £150,000 and £200,000. The UK locations alone generate impressive revenues of around £38,000 per month, with each outlet contributing around £1,000 to £1,200 in monthly earnings. In total, Arshad’s café chain has made a revenue of 21 million over the past four years. With such success, he and his business partner share equal ownership, but Arshad remains cautious about expanding too quickly to preserve the brand’s integrity and reputation.
In a recent pitch to investors, Arshad presented a demand for 1 crore in exchange for 5% equity in his business. While the investors did not accept his initial demand, Usman Bashir made a counteroffer, proposing 1 crore for 30% equity. However, the deal was ultimately sealed at 1 crore in exchange for 24% equity, with the investors Rabeel and Romana agreeing to the terms. Despite his negotiations, Arshad opted for the deal with Rabeel and Romana, rejecting Usman’s counterproposal.
Special Recognition For Pitch No. 2
Dr. Sara Qureshi, the CEO and co-founder of Aeroengine Craft Private Limited, delivered an impressive pitch on Shark Tank Pakistan, seeking an investment of PKR 250 million in exchange for 5% equity in her company. Her presentation focused on a groundbreaking solution to a significant environmental issue: aviation emissions. Dr. Sara explained that contrails, the condensation trails left by aircraft, contribute to 50% of global warming emissions from aviation. Aeroengine Craft is developing the first generation of eco-friendly, contrail-free Aero engines, aimed at mitigating this environmental impact and making flying greener.
Dr. Sara’s pitch was rich with technical details and statistics. She outlined how the technology works, mentioning that it involves a plug-in designed for different engine sizes, benchmarked initially to the A380 but now focused on the commercially popular A320. She shared that her company’s innovation has garnered positive feedback from major aviation players like Boeing, GE Aviation, and Rolls-Royce. Despite their interest, these companies have not yet committed to the technology due to their own strategic and regulatory considerations.
Dr. Sara also highlighted the broader scope of her company, which includes providing services for drones and other related technologies, thus contributing to their revenue stream. However, the sharks were not convinced to meet Dr. Sara’s demand for PKR 250 million in exchange for 5% equity. All the sharks appreciated her vision and acknowledged her technical prowess but ultimately decided not to invest. Reasons for their rejection varied: some cited the high risk and long development timeline of deep tech projects, while others felt that the aviation industry’s regulatory environment and existing competition posed significant challenges.
Despite walking away without an investment, Dr. Sara was acknowledged as the Shark of the Day for her groundbreaking work and inspiring vision. The investors expressed their admiration and encouraged her to continue her efforts, offering to assist her in other ways. Dr. Sara’s pitch, although not securing the desired funding, left a lasting impression on the panel and viewers alike.
About Sharks Aka The Investors
- 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.
The show’s format emphasizes innovation, business expertise, and entrepreneurial drive, giving participants the chance to secure significant investments and mentorship from the country’s leading business figures. With Shark Tank’s debut in Pakistan, Green Entertainment isn’t just presenting a reality show; it’s also fostering the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This initiative highlights emerging talent and helps bring novel ideas to the market. Shark Tank Pakistan is set to captivate a broad audience, especially those interested in business and economic development. This marks a pivotal moment in the local television industry, as it introduces a globally recognized franchise that aligns perfectly with Pakistan’s growing focus on entrepreneurship.
