Thought Behind Things

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.orgIn this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Arif Iqbal, the Co-Founder & CEO of LAAM, a fashion-tech startup transforming how South Asian brands scale globally through technology and logistics.With a stellar background as an engineering leader at Facebook, Microsoft, Pinterest, and eBay, Arif shares how LAAM is building Pakistan’s Shopify-alternative helping thousands of local brands reach global audiences while solving the #1 reason most Pakistani ecommerce ventures fail: logistics.We uncover:Why LAAM is not a fashion company, but a tech & logistics companyHow LAAM enables 48-hour local delivery & 5-day global shippingWhy most Pakistani ecommerce startups fail — and how LAAM solves thatThe $5M+ raised and LAAM’s journey with Endeavor GlobalHow Octane, LAAM’s backend engine, is bypassing Shopify limitationsWith the ambition to become Pakistan’s next tech unicorn, Arif shares his long-term vision of turning LAAM into the Amazon of South Asia — and a homegrown global success story.Socials:TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT’s TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arif's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arifiqbal/Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.orgIn this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Abbas Raza Bukhari, a rising stand-up comedian, storyteller, and content creator of Pakistan’s digital comedy scene.From hating Instagram and never planning to create content to building a loyal audience through relatable, family-friendly humor, Abbas walks us through his journey of creative self-discovery, content burnout, and what comedy truly means.We uncover:Why Abbas believes abusive comedy doesn’t work in PakistanThe ego trap of social media content creationWhy comedians in Pakistan aren’t connectedHow his wife pushed him into content creationSocials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsTBT Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclipsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Abbas's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbassbukharii/Endeavor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistanSpecial thanks to Daftarkhwan for providing us with the studio space.You can find out more about them at:Daftarkhwan: https://www.daftarkhwan.com/Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.orgIn this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Omar Shah, the Co-Founder & CEO of COLABS, Pakistan’s leading coworking space platform with over $5M in funding.From his early days at Abraaj Capital to building a workspace empire in Pakistan, Omar breaks down the real challenges of scaling startups, building brand credibility, and attracting global investment in Pakistan’s high-risk economy.We uncover:Why most Pakistani startups fail to scaleThe truth behind WeWork’s collapseColabs’ expansion into the Middle EastThe business mindset gap between India & PakistanAnd the harsh truth: "Pakistan was overselling coworking"Socials:TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT’s TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠Omar's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/osshah/Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠⁠⁠⁠Special thanks to COLABS for providing us with the studio space.You can find out more about them at:COLABS: https://www.colabs.pkCredits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.orgIn this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Muneeb Zafar, founder of Fitted, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing men’s fashion brands. From starting without retail stores to building a strong D2C presence through quality fabrics and bold aesthetics, Muneeb shares how he built a sustainable business in a cash-burning fashion industry.We dive into:The origin story behind FittedHow to build a brand without big capitalSourcing quality fabric locally in PakistanChallenges of retail vs onlineCAC, marketing strategy, and automationIf you’ve ever dreamed of starting your own brand, or are curious about the reality of building a fashion startup in Pakistan — this episode is for you.Socials:TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠TBT’s TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠Muneeb's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muneebzafar1Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠⁠⁠Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.orgIn this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Jawwad Hasan, CEO & co-founder of Agrilift, and Salar Malik, Chief Innovation & Sustainability Officer at FFC. Together, they unpack how corporate partnerships are attempting to transform Pakistan’s outdated agriculture sector through farmer-friendly technology, data, and modern infrastructure.We dive into:Why Pakistan’s agriculture is so inefficientHow timely data insights are reshaping farming practicesThe Agrilift x FFC partnership modelWhat's next for this partnershipWhy agri startups often leave Pakistan to scale globallySocials:TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠TBT’s TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠Jawwad's LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/jawwad-hasan⁠Salar's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/salar-malik/⁠Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠⁠Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we're joined by Saad Farrukh, founder of EVEE, Pakistan’s fastest-growing electric scooter company. Coming from a conventional motorcycle spare parts business on McLeod Road, Saad transitioned into the EV space after years of importing parts from China and setting up local assembly.We dive into:The origin story of EVEEWhy Saad chose scooters over bikesComparing innovation in China vs PakistanGovernment policies, localization challenges, and B2B market potentialSocials:TBT’s Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠TBT’s TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠TBT’s Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠TBT Clips: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠Guest's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/saad-farrukh-038b3a198/Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠DaftarKhwan: ⁠https://www.daftarkhwan.com/⁠Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.orgIn this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Muhammad Omer Khan, Founder & CEO of PostEx, Pakistan’s largest e-commerce logistics & cashflow solutions provider — operating across Tier 1 to Tier 3 cities with over 11,000 employees and handling 3x more COD cash than any competitor.This episode answers:Why PostEx skipped the traditional franchise modelWhat goes into delivering to Pakistan’s most remote townsHow tech, data, and credit scoring drive modern logisticsWe also talk about team scale, investor interest, data monetization, and what it really takes to operate in low-trust, high-cash economies like Pakistan.Socials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsTBT Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclipsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Guest's LinkedIn: pk.linkedin.com/in/muhammadomer56Endeavor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistanDaftarKhwan: https://www.daftarkhwan.com/Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.orgIn this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Adnan Shaffi, Co-Founder of PriceOye — Pakistan’s leading online tech marketplace that's processing over 5% of the country's total mobile phone purchases.This episode answers:What makes Pakistan a high-risk, high-reward market for startupsHow to attract global VC interest in a volatile economyThe early hustle, exit, and reinvention of Adnan's personal journeyWe also discuss venture funding, consumer behavior, the stigma of buying online in Pakistan, and the massive opportunity still left to unlock.Socials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsTBT Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclipsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adnanshaffiEndeavor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistanCredits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Dr. Saira Siddique, Founder & +CEO of medIQ Smart Healthcare, a digital health platform revolutionizing healthcare access in Pakistan. Before founding medIQ, Dr. Saira led several major health initiatives with the Government of Pakistan until a tragic road accident left her paralyzed from the neck down. But that wasn’t the end, it was the start of a bigger mission.This episode answers: How a life-threatening accident changed her mission Why she left government to build something bigger What medIQ actually does, and how it’s scaling globallyWe also explore the tension between staying small vs fundraising, the reality of equity dilution, and what it takes to build Pakistan’s first digital health startup Socials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsTBT Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclipsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-saira-siddique-62130b1ab/Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org/DaftarKhwan: https://www.daftarkhwan.com/

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Miral Sharif, the Country Head of Yango Pakistan, who previously held leadership roles at Swvl, Daraz, and Zong. Miral shares her personal journey, the challenges of working in male-dominated industries, and the future of ride-sharing in Pakistan.This episode answers:What is Yango doing differently in Pakistan?Can we actually build a one-app-for-everything solution here?How does ride-sharing help everyday Pakistanis?Will we see delivery, logistics, and rides merge into one ecosystem?Make sure to watch till the end for a deep dive into the startup ecosystem and tech adoption in Pakistan.Socials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Miral's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miral-sharif-3b5976a2/