GDG Lahore, in partnership with Google Cloud, orchestrated a remarkable evening recently, uniting a cohort of venture capitalists and startup CEOs for an inspiring dinner event celebrating the introduction of Google Cloud services in Pakistan. The event drew a substantial audience of over 130 participants, including five prominent venture capitalists and a diverse assembly of more than 50 startups.
The event’s proceedings commenced with Saad Hamid, Google’s App Growth Manager, delivering the opening remarks. Aatif Awan, the visionary Founder of Indus Valley Capital, delivered an engaging keynote, emphasizing the extensive reach and comprehensive ecosystem of Google, spanning an astonishing 1 billion users across nine distinct products. Awan’s keynote underscored Google’s commitment to empowering startups by leveraging the capabilities of the Google Cloud Platform, fueling innovation and growth within Pakistan’s burgeoning tech landscape.
Within his address, Awan also shed light on the resolute determination of Pakistani startups, navigating economic and other challenges with remarkable resilience. His discourse not only delved into the prevailing fundraising landscape but also highlighted Google’s steadfast dedication to championing Pakistani startups, propelling their growth trajectory.
Esna Ong, the dynamic Startup Success Manager for Google for Startups and the driving force behind Google Cloud’s foray into Pakistan, presented a compelling narrative centered around automation and operational enhancement. Notably, she unveiled the exciting revelation of the “Google Cloud Liftoff” campaign. This groundbreaking in-person bootcamp, the first of its kind in the APAC region, is poised to unlock the potential of Google Cloud services, spanning a spectrum from storage and AI to Big Data. This transformative initiative promises to significantly elevate the skillset of participants, facilitating noteworthy advancements.
Huzaifa Habib, the esteemed Community Manager of South Asia Frontier Region for Google, took a moment to celebrate the remarkable impact of Google Developer Groups, Women Techmakers, and Google Developer Experts in Pakistan.
Haris Nadeem, the dedicated Manager at GDG Lahore, affirmed, “The success of the VC & Startup Ecosystem Dinner underscores our resolute 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 bringing this event to fruition. This event marks the inception of an exhilarating journey, with our unwavering focus on nurturing the tech ecosystem in the region.”
The collaboration between GDG Lahore and Google Cloud marks 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 gain access to complimentary credits, potentially amounting to an impressive $350,000 for AI-driven startups. This provision aims to harness the power of the Google Cloud Platform, propelling growth and innovation among these entities.
The event offered acknowledgment to the tireless efforts of Haris Nadeem, Google Developer Group Lahore’s Community Manager, and a collective of community partners, including COLABS, Daftarkhwan, Katalyst Labs, Deosai Ventures, Ejad Labs, Redtone Digital Services, NSTP, and Indus Valley Capital. Additionally, esteemed entities such as PITB, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Zayn Venture Capital, and Sarmayacar graced the occasion with their presence. Their steadfast dedication to nurturing the developer and startup ecosystem garnered well-deserved recognition.
The event’s energy gracefully transitioned into a vibrant networking session, fostering a fruitful exchange of perspectives, experiences, and insights, painting an optimistic picture for Pakistan’s tech and startup landscape. This collective effort has effectively paved the way for a promising future marked by sustained collaboration, empowerment, and innovation within the region’s tech sphere.