KARACHI:
Gobi Partners, a leading pan-Asian venture capital firm, has officially announced the $50 million Techxila Fund II alongside the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with The Bank of Punjab (BoP). This strategic partnership aims to foster entrepreneurship and strengthen economic cooperation in Pakistan.
The announcement was made during the Pakistan Investment Conference in Shanghai, part of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s historic visit to China from December 8 to 15.
Her delegation is visiting key cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, focusing on collaboration in information technology, healthcare, environmental management, and climate change. The visit aims to foster deeper trade and investment ties while drawing insights from China’s development model.
The Techxila Fund II is designed to empower startups in Pakistan, with a focus on high-potential sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, logistics and supply chain, health tech, and SaaS. This initiative supports underserved entrepreneurs, encourages innovation, and drives sustainable growth in emerging markets.
The plan to launch $50 million Techxila Fund II builds on the success of Gobi’s first Pakistan-focused venture capital fund (Techxila Fund I), which has invested in 22 startups to date. These portfolio companies have collectively impacted 3.2 million low-income households, generated total revenue of $245 million in 2023, and issued loans worth $54 million during the same year.
Notable investments include PriceOye, Pakistan’s second-largest e-commerce platform; DealCart, a social commerce platform delivering affordable groceries; and Abhi, a financial platform providing innovative credit solutions for businesses and individuals, among others.
The fund has also attracted backing from institutional investors such as BII and other Gobi investors, showcasing its ability to support high-impact ventures that drive growth and create value in underserved markets.
The MoU with BoP establishes a robust framework to advance Pakistan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Key areas of collaboration include providing debt financing at preferential rates, equity investments in high-growth companies, and access to banking credit lines for scaling operations.
The partnership will create tailored financial products for startups, promote collaborative marketing efforts, and offer mentorship programmes. Additionally, BoP will gain early access to selected deal flow from Gobi, enabling it to identify promising investment opportunities aligned with its strategic goals.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif commented “I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the team at Gobi Partners for their unwavering support and commitment to Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. The launch of this $50 million fund demonstrates your strong belief in the resilience and potential of Pakistan’s entrepreneurial community and will help catalyse innovative startups, create jobs, and strengthen our digital and technological landscape.”
She also proposed the development of a strategic framework for permanent collaboration and partnership between Gobi Partners and the government of Punjab.
Gobi Partners Co-Founder and Chairman Thomas G Tsao said, “The launch of Techxila Fund II and our partnership with The Bank of Punjab reflect our commitment to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Together, we aim to create sustainable economic opportunities and drive long-term growth.”
BoP President and CEO Zafar Masud added, “This collaboration represents an important step towards strengthening Pakistan’s startup ecosystem and unlocking new opportunities for growth and innovation
