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Zubair Naeem Paracha
@xParacha
Building a few little things: @premargin. Failed: @tryflare. Sold: @MENAbytes. I also write Termsheet, a newsletter on startups and VC in emerging markets.
Lahore, Pakistan
termsheet.substack.com
Joined February 2018
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  • Pinned
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Mar 12
    Public company data in the Middle East is surprisingly hard to work with. For a lot of my writing on Termsheet, I do it regularly, and the process is painful. Data scattered across exchange websites (and some other portals), PDFs that won’t open, financials in different
    17K
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Jul 9, 2023
    Careem's (group) accounting director was picked up in front of his wife and children for being brother of a former PTI MNA. Why would anyone want to live here with everything that has been going on. May Allah help us all.
    user avatar
    Shamyl Rizwan Awan
    @thatsadshamyl
    Jul 9, 2023
    Replying to @thatsadshamyl
    Omar Nawaz Awan is a non political individual. He works as Group Director Accounting at @CareemUAE / @CareemPAK & heads several countries. He was supposed to fly out for a meeting in KSA. Now neither the family knows where he is nor the company. (2/n) #ReleaseOmarNawazAwan
    168K
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Dec 26, 2022
    1/ Swvl’s market cap as of December 23rd is less than $15 million. This is what a lot of pre-seed stage startups in the region raised money at, last year - and some even in the first half of this year as well.
    112K
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Nov 9, 2021
    Airlift Express has quietly started selling mobile phones, with three hour delivery in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. Big move. Let's see how they fare against Priceoye, Daraz, Olx Mall and the likes.
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Sep 28, 2022
    Careem is losing its grip on its core business as it faces stiff competition from InDriver, Bolt, others. More on Termsheet termsheet.substack.com/p/careem-losin…
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Aug 23, 2022
    DigitalOcean acquires Pakistan-born fully bootstrapped ten-year-old startup for $350 million cash. The team behind Cloudways also runs different other international and local ventures including PureVPN, Zignaly, and Savyour.
    DigitalOcean to Buy Web-Hosting Firm Cloudways for $350 Million
    From bloomberg.com
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Apr 8, 2021
    Wow. It is perhaps the best time to build a fintech in Pakistan. There's just so much to solve and it looks like that the regulator is doing everything in their power to grow digital payments in the country.
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    Julia Chatterley
    @chattwithjulia
    Apr 8, 2021
    #CBDC, Central Bank Digital Currency in Pakistan? "We are studying it," says Reza Baqir, Governor @StateBank_Pak citing financial inclusion, tackling money laundering and counterterrorism as possible benefits. / PART 2
    00:00
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Mar 31, 2021
    1/ It boggles my mind that even today, most of the banks in Pakistan require you to visit a branch to do things as simple as requesting an ATM card - and in many cases not just any branch -you are supposed to visit THE branch where you had opened your account.
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Oct 28, 2021
    Some personal news: I am leaving MENAbytes to start something new
    medium.com
    Leaving MENAbytes to start something new
    TLDR: I have left the editorial of MENAbytes to build something new, but will continue to serve as a board member of the outlet.
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Apr 24, 2022
    Even with a somewhat complicated peer-to-peer crypto exchange like Binance, investing in crypto is still easier than investing in PSX. Why would anyone even consider investing in PSX when there's nothing out there that offers a decent digital experience.
    user avatar
    Mutaher Khan
    @MutaherKhan
    Apr 24, 2022
    Pakistani retail investors in a nutshell
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Apr 19, 2022
    To the best of my knowledge, Abhi is now the highest valued salary advance startup in MENAP. Interestingly, most of the other players who primarily operate in Egypt, UAE, and Saudi had at least two years before it. Amazing speed by this 🇵🇰 fintech.
    Pakistan Startup Abhi Raises Funds at $90 Million Valuation
    From bloomberg.com
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Dec 25, 2023
    Receiving payments from international clients has always been a headache for Pakistani freelancers and remote workers. With no Paypal or Stripe, a large number of them rely on Wise and Payoneer. Wise, unfortunately, discontinued opening of new accounts from Pakistan earlier this
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    Feb 8, 2024
    A digital-only channel, @raftardotcom, is offering much better coverage than mainstream media.
    5.5K
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    Zubair Naeem Paracha
    @xParacha
    May 6, 2021
    1/ Nothing can come close to the kind of impact Careem has had on the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the region. Wherever you see, you'll find former Careem operators building the next group of breakout startups of the region.