Bilal Zuberi’s Post

Some thoughts on how to uplift the entrepreneurial ecosystem to attract investments and cash-in on plathora of opportunities available in #Pakiatan while addressing chronic problems as well through initiatives taken by our young entreprenuers. Best, KS Cobus van Rooijen Karima Khan Murtaza Yusuf Hussain Almas Hyder Furqan Qureshi Faisal Sherjan Syed Azfar Hussain Faraz Javed Khan Humayun Bashir Fawaz Valiaani Muhammad Lukman Hamza Wasi Azhar Abbas Shahab Zuberi National Incubation Center Karachi Shahjahan Chaudhary Sulaiman S. Mehdi, FCIS Ashfaq Tola Zaffar A Khan Maryam Baqir Baqar Jafri Samir Dossal Zeshan Afzal Faseeh Mangi Junaid Iqbal Ali Naqvi Nadeem Hussain Khalilullah Shaikh Nutshell Group Muhammad Azfar Ahsan Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi Malik Ahmad Jalal Musadaq Zulqarnain Naeem Zamindar Zeshan Afzal Faisal Aftab Darakhshan Sheikh Vohra

My journey to becoming the CEO of Feegor began with an entrepreneurial spark that ignited at a very young age. As a 7-year-old, I was already mapping out business goals and brainstorming innovative ideas, setting the stage for a future in commerce. While pursuing my Engineering degree at the University of Ibadan, I launched several unsuccessful businesses, learning valuable lessons along the way. In 2015, I created Vasiti, a platform designed to empower student entrepreneurs by connecting them with customers around campus and facilitating seamless transactions. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected challenges, and Vasiti's limitations became apparent. This challenging moment led to a pivot, which eventually showed a gap in the market and proved there was a market in the gap. With newfound clarity, I co-founded Feegor in 2023, a B2B e-commerce company dedicated to revolutionizing product sourcing for SMEs. Our mission is to bridge the geographical gaps and connect retail businesses for efficient transactions. Alongside a team of experienced co-founders, we're driven by a shared vision of empowering SMEs to thrive and optimizing product sourcing end-to-end. Our expertise spans B2B/B2C e-commerce, venture capital, private equity, manufacturing, and wholesale trade, giving us a unique edge in understanding the retail value chain. Feegor's goal extends beyond Nigeria, aiming to unite manufacturers, suppliers, and SMEs across the African continent. We envision a future where SMEs can effortlessly source products, enjoy flexible payments, and focus on reaching new heights. 

"The most creative, sexy, interesting and visible things you do in your career will be less than 5% of your real work. But that 5% is what you will become recognized for—even celebrated for." "So you have to get that exactly right. But 95% of your work will be focused on consistently applying yourself to the mundane, the dull and the painfully boring. The kind of work that no one outside your company will ever see, understand or even care about. But if you don’t focus the same energy on all of that, too, the 5% will never appear." Brian Collins Wise words for young creatives. And, for young businesses too, especially the really little ones. Today's unicorns were yesterday's #newts. They've worked mighty hard, slogging away from the limelight they were never sure they'd one day hog. Startups in underdeveloped and developing markets know this better than their counterparts in the developed world contending as they do with limits on access to pretty much everything the latter takes for granted (but especially electricity, internet access, funds) and an extravagance of unpredictability. Pakistan is a textbook example of a slew of challenges, yet it's entrepreneurs, young and old, persevere: https://lnkd.in/em9QemW6 #shoutout to the determination and creativity of #smalbusinesses, #startups and #scaleups persevering under mindbogglingly difficult circumstances. The Express Tribune #startuppakistan #pakistan

A tribute to Shoaib Zaidi for pushing me towards this. Currently, we have a big gap in Pakistan in terms of entrepreneurship goals of receiving VC investments from abroad vs. State Bank's policies. Here's how I am helping his students and anybody else - businesses, startups, and individuals - get the results they want. Please repost ♻ so it reaches the right people.

Meet 30 Under 30 Fintech Entrepreneurs In Forbes Asia's June 2024 issue, the spotlight shines on Aleena Nadeem the trailblazing founder of EduFi and other dynamic young leaders who are redefining access to capital through innovative financial technologies. Nadeem's Lahore-based startup EduFi stands out with its "Study Now Pay Later" model, designed to enable Pakistani families to manage university tuition through affordable monthly payments. This initiative is particularly crucial in a country where only 13% pursue tertiary education, according to World Bank data. Since its pilot launch in 2021, EduFi has swiftly expanded, partnering with 27 colleges and securing a record $6.1 million in pre-seed funding. The 30 Under 30 Asia list in Finance & Venture Capital highlights these entrepreneurs who are not only addressing significant market needs but are also paving the way for inclusive financial solutions across Asia. https://lnkd.in/ezAUqfEf #forbes #30under30 #entrepreneurs #business #corporate #fintech #finance #accesstocapital

Such a simple yet effective concept 🙏🏾

According to research, less than 1% of the available capital is currently being deployed by Pakistan Family Offices toward supporting the country's startup ecosystem. The role of family offices in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape is significant yet often overlooked. Recognizing this need, #NSTP recently collaborated with Chris Carr from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) to explore this domain. Our research paper titled "The Role of Family Offices in Pakistan's Startup Ecosystem," through examination and analysis, provides suggestions on how to strengthen and enhance the growth of Pakistan's entrepreneurial journey through the involvement of family offices in Pakistan. For more insights, visit: https://lnkd.in/eemN2WYm Dr Rizwan Riaz | Emmad Ahsan | Yaruq Nadeem #NSTP #NUST #DefiningInnovation

South Africa's Current policies need to Support Startups. 👩⚖️ In South Africa, the current rigid and restrictive policies for high-growth startups make it difficult for entrepreneurs to become entrepreneurs and for business owners to become job creators and competitive in the market. As the SA Startup Act Movement, we are continuously advocating for socio-economic transformation through a Startup Act. We aim to eliminate these hinderances policies as well as encourage more entrepreneurship for the growth of our country. To advocate against hindrance policies and suggest new policies for intervention and reform, we have commissioned a position paper. If you’re interested in supporting the proposal, read the SA Startup Act Movement Position Paper here: https://bit.ly/3kwdQKl

Let's build a robust ecosystem of entrepreneurs and startups. Join Hon'ble Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan for a fire side Chat on 10 February 2024. 🎙 More information to follow. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AICTE

Hello members, *Definition of Entrepreneurship* Entrepreneurship involves individuals finding opportunities, taking risks, and creating value through new ideas or services that meet market needs or change how things are done. It's about adapting and growing ideas to succeed in the long term. *Types of Entrepreneurship* Entrepreneurship isn't just startups. It includes social entrepreneurship, where people address social issues while making enough money to continue, and corporate entrepreneurship, where innovation happens within big companies to help them grow and compete. *My Ventures* I've started several ventures: - I began with a group tutor academy. - I transformed a small venture into a construction company. - Amidst COVID-19, I launched Ursh Collections, a fashion brand specializing in shipments from Bangkok. - I also manage Hijabela, another brand I'm developing. *My Initiatives and Communities* - I started The E-World SQUAD, where you can send LinkedIn links to get engagement. - I'm a collaborative admin of the group Rizq e Halal, helping people find jobs. - I administer Karachi Social Work, posting about those in need of social support, such as blood donations. - I host a virtual meetup group called "Let's Connect with Muhammad Ali Virtually," allowing people to connect with like-minded individuals worldwide. - I'm also the admin of the community "Pakistan is Fantastic," promoting kindness and connecting people from cities like Karachi and Quetta through subgroups like "Karachi is Fantastic" and "Quetta is Fantastic." These ventures and initiatives reflect my commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and community building, each contributing uniquely to their respective industries and markets. Regards, Muhammad Ali Candidate for Secretary of Entrepreneurship Youth Parliament Pakistan Rizwan Jaffar #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #CommunityBuilding #SocialEntrepreneurship #CorporateEntrepreneurship #EWorldSQUAD #RizqeHalal #KarachiSocialWork #LetsConnect #PakistanIsFantastic