GDG Lahore, in partnership with Google Cloud, orchestrated a remarkable evening last week, uniting a cohort of venture capitalists and startup CEOs for a splendid dinner affair commemorating the debut of Google Cloud services in Pakistan. The gathering attracted a substantial attendance of over 130 individuals, comprising 5 notable venture capitalists and an impressive assembly of 50+ startups.
The event commenced with Saad Hamid, Google’s App Growth Manager, delivering the opening address. Aatif Awan, the visionary Founder of Indus Valley Capital, presented a captivating keynote, underscoring Google’s far-reaching influence and comprehensive ecosystem, encompassing a staggering 1 billion users across 9 distinct products. This keynote served as a powerful testament to Google’s dedication in empowering startups by extending the capabilities of the Google Cloud Platform, thus catalyzing innovation and fostering growth within the local tech landscape.
In his discourse, Awan also illuminated the indomitable spirit of Pakistani startups, resiliently navigating economic and other challenges. His narrative delved not only into the prevailing fundraising climate but also spotlighted Google’s fervent commitment to championing Pakistani startups, propelling their growth trajectory.
Esna Ong, the dynamic Startup Success Manager for Google for Startups and the visionary catalyst behind Google Cloud’s entry into Pakistan, wove a compelling narrative around automation and operational refinement. Notably, she unveiled the exciting revelation of the “Google Cloud Liftoff” campaign. This pioneering in-person boot camp, the first of its kind in the APAC region, pledges to unleash the full potential of Google Cloud services, encompassing a spectrum ranging from storage and AI to Big Data. This initiative is poised to significantly upskill the masses, paving the way for transformative advancements.
Huzaifa Habib, the esteemed Community Manager of the South Asia Frontier Region for Google, commemorated the profound impact of Google Developer Groups, Women Techmakers, and Google Developer Experts in Pakistan.
Haris Nadeem, Manager at GDG Lahore, affirmed, “The triumph of the VC & Startup Ecosystem Dinner underscores our unwavering commitment to bolstering Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Google Cloud and Google for Developers for their invaluable support and collaborative spirit, instrumental in materializing this event. This gathering marks the initiation of a thrilling voyage, with our resolute focus on nurturing the tech ecosystem in this region.”
The convergence of GDG Lahore and Google Cloud signifies the dawn of the Google for Startups Cloud Program in Pakistan. This transformative initiative empowers startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and local businesses to seek access to complimentary credits, offering potential benefits that could amount to an impressive $350,000 for AI-driven startups. This provision aims to harness the prowess of the Google Cloud Platform, propelling growth and innovation among these entities.
The event bestowed recognition upon the dedicated endeavors of Haris Nadeem, Google Developer Group Lahore’s Community Manager, and an array of community collaborators including COLABS, Daftarkhwan, Katalyst Labs, Deosai Ventures, Ejad Labs, Redtone Digital Services, NSTP, and Indus Valley Capital. The esteemed presence of PITB, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Zayn Venture Capital, and Sarmayacar further enhanced the occasion. Their steadfast commitment to nurturing the developer and startup ecosystem was lauded with well-deserved acclaim.
The event’s momentum seamlessly transitioned into a vibrant networking session, facilitating an exchange of perspectives, experiences, and insights, and fostering an optimistic vision for Pakistan’s tech and startup panorama. This collective endeavor has aptly paved the way for an auspicious future characterized by sustained collaboration, empowerment, and innovation within the tech domain of the region.
