Top Pakistani Startups To Watch in 2026

2026 is expected to be a breakthrough year for the Pakistani startup ecosystem. In 2025, local startups raised over $74M according to a report by i2i, with fintech, health-tech, AI and B2B SaaS attracting the most attention. The equity funding also surged to $36.6M, up from $22.5M in 2024. 

Investors are now increasingly backing ventures with scalable models and clear revenue paths, while a new generation of startups is emerging to tackle local challenges and expand globally. 

Here’s a closer look at the startups that should be on your radar this year.

Haball

Founded by Omer Bin Ahsan in 2017, Haball is a Pakistani fintech startup transforming B2B financial operations by digitizing payments, invoicing and supply chain operations, and offering Shariah‑compliant financing for SMEs and corporates. 

With a major $52M Pre-Series A funding round led by Zayn VC and backed by Meezan Bank, Haball has quickly scaled its platform to handle over $3B in payments and disbursed more than $110M in financing, supporting thousands of SMEs and multinational clients. Last year, these achievements also earned Haball a place on the Forbes Asia ‘100 to Watch’ list, cementing its status as a rising fintech player.

Eyeing expansion into the GCC, the startup is set to make a significant impact in 2026.

Myco

Myco is a Web3‑powered video streaming and sports entertainment platform that lets users watch content, engage and earn digital rewards through its innovative Watch & Earn model.

In 2025, Myco achieved major breakthroughs. The startup won Silicon Valley's "Meet the Drapers" startup competition, beating over 2,000 global contenders to secure a combined $1.5M investment and SaaS business deal from venture capitalist Tim Draper. This was the largest outcome in the show's history and a first for a Pakistani startup.

Myco also expanded its exclusive sports streaming rights in 2025, including Pakistan Super League 10 in the MENA region. Additionally, the platform demonstrated real-world impact when its engagement model turned a viewer in Egypt into a millionaire, proving its commercial viability and community growth as it scales regionally and globally.

Paymo

Co-founded by LUMS graduates Abdur Rehman Shamsi and Khuzaima Saeed, Paymo launched in 2023 with a mission to empower Gen Z through financial literacy and accessible services. What started as a campus wallet has now evolved into a full-scale digital financial platform. Gaining traction across digital media, Paymo has become one of the most promising startups to watch in 2026. This fintech platform offers a mobile wallet with social banking features, specifically serving Pakistan's younger generation.

The company's vision centers on transforming how young people interact with their finances, with a streamlined, contemporary approach that feels natural to those who've grown up with smartphones in their hands. By prioritizing mobile-first design and user engagement, Paymo is positioning itself to meet the expectations of the digital-natives who demand their financial tools to be as intuitive and accessible as their favorite apps. 

Operating from NICL within Daftarkhwan | Vogue, Lahore, Paymo is actively building within Pakistan's fintech ecosystem and has already gained recognition, including winning the Social Innovation Academy competition hosted by the National Incubation Center Lahore.

MedIQ

Founded in 2020 by Dr. Saira Siddiquie, MedIQ is a Pakistani health-tech startup offering an integrated digital healthcare solution. This platform incorporates electronic health records, telemedicine, AI-powered tools, online pharmacy services and administrative automation to assist insurers, healthcare facilities, employers and government entities in improving care coordination and patient engagement.

Talking about her startup, Dr Saira remarked, “People don’t just suffer from illnesses, they suffer from the system, MedIQ isn’t just another health app. We’re building the backbone of digital healthcare, a scalable infrastructure that improves outcomes and reduces costs.”

The company completed a $6M Series A round in 2025, with Rasmal Ventures (Qatar) and Joa Capital (Saudi Arabia) serving as lead investors, raising its cumulative funding to $9.8M. These investments are expected to enable the startup to scale across the GCC. Through its integration of AI in both clinical and operational processes and ongoing Middle East expansion (including its 2023 entry into Saudi Arabia), MedIQ has established itself as a significant player in Pakistan's health-tech landscape that is one to keep an eye on this year.

BusCaro

The female led startup, BusCaro, founded by Maha Shahzad, is a rapidly growing Pakistani mobility startup that is redefining daily commuting for women, children and corporate employees. By combining tech-enabled scheduling, real-time tracking, and dedicated routes, Buscaro offers a reliable alternative to traditional public transport.

According to Maha, safety has been at the heart of BusCaro's mission from day one.

"Having started out with a laser focus on the safety of women, we very quickly realized there was a huge safety issue for children too," she explained. "Parents are desperate to make sure their children can get to and from school safely."

This focus has allowed BusCaro to carve out a unique position in Pakistan's mobility landscape, serving demographics that have long been under-served by existing transport solutions. In 2025, the startup also made headlines for its inclusivity initiative, appointing Pakistan’s first transgender driver in its team. The initiative marks a significant step toward social equity, as over 80% of transgender individuals in Pakistan lack stable employment. Last year, they also surpassed more than 20M bookings, marking a major milestone for the platform. Additionally, with their $2M funding round in 2025, Buscaro is poised to scale into tier-2 cities and potentially other markets, making it a standout player in the urban mobility space.

Prominent Ventures

Another notable startup with strong prospects for 2026 is our supercommunity member,  Shadiyana, a wedding‑tech startup modernizing Pakistan’s traditional wedding industry. The startup raised $800K in 2025 with an aim to tap into the billion dollar Pakistani wedding industry and expand their reach across other major cities like Lahore and Karachi.

Additionally Trukkr, a freight‑tech platform raised close to $10M in 2025 with backing from Yango Ventures, aiming to streamline Pakistan’s trucking logistics and embedded finance solutions for scalable growth.  

AI is set to be one of the biggest trends to watch in 2026, and Metric, launched by Pakistani founders Meenah Tariq, Omar Parvez Khan and Dr. Habiba, raised funding last year and is expected to make an impact with their flagship “Chief Financial AI” called Max to help SMEs understand their financial data, spot trends and make smarter decisions. Moreover, Metal, founded by Usman Gul, former CEO of Airlift, and backed by a16z and Y Combinator, uses AI to bring deep intelligence to all the core workflows involved in raising venture rounds. It is also one of the most innovative startups to watch this year.

With rising investor confidence, 2026 is anticipated to be a pivotal year, opening doors to innovation within the ecosystem and empowering startups to take the lead.