COLABS Pre-Series A

Announcing our $2 million pre-series A funding round led by Shorooq Partners and Waad Investment to fuel expansion into Saudi Arabia

In less than five years, COLABS has emerged as Pakistan’s number one flexible workspace and community enablement platform, setting the standard for innovation and growth in the country’s tech and VC sectors. More than just a workspace provider, COLABS has become a cornerstone for tech innovation and venture capital activity in Pakistan. By offering not only physical spaces but also fostering a community where ideas are exchanged and nurtured, COLABS has paved the way for numerous success stories.

Pre-Series A round:

Despite challenges in the global coworking industry, COLABS stands out as the only coworking space in Pakistan to raise venture capital funding post-WeWork crash. COLABS has now raised $2 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Shorooq Partners, with participation from Saudi-based Waad Investment.

This latest investment brings our total funding to over $5 million, with funding from top investors, including Indus Valley Capital, Zayn VC, Shorooq Partners, Fatima Gobi Ventures and Waad Investments.

The new funding positions us to expand into Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region. Omer Zabit, Principal at Shorooq Partners, commented on the investment: "COLABS has demonstrated impressive growth, emerging as a key player in Pakistan's startup landscape despite local macroeconomic challenges. We are proud to support their next phase of growth as they expand into Saudi Arabia, one of the most exciting markets in the region."

COLABS operates across 10+ locations, supporting a thriving ecosystem of 5,000+ members from 300 companies and 250+ partners, including major players like Spotify, Google Cloud, and AWS. Our revenue has grown fivefold in just five years, while achieving net profitability even in challenging times, showcasing our resilience and contributing to Pakistan's growing startup and coworking ecosystem."

We have become an essential platform connecting international players with Pakistan's dynamic ecosystem. Notably, our members, including EY, Digital Ocean, Gelato, Bbox, Overjet, Vartana, Edufi, and K Trade, represent a mix of both local and global venture-backed businesses, and have been successful in expanding and growing through their involvement with COLABS.

COLABS has provided startups with a launchpad to network, learn, and connect with international investors. Many startups have successfully raised capital, entered the Pakistan market, and hired talent through COLABS including Jiye Kisan, Glow and Burq.

Today, Pakistan is the world’s 4th largest freelancing economy, with a booming IT sector that attracts global interest. Through our Freelancer Fellowship Program, we offer free workspace to over 100 freelancers every quarter, empowering talent and fostering innovation in Pakistan’s freelancing community. Even during times of political and economic uncertainty, COLABS remained committed to its community by offering free workspace and internet access, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. In partnership with the Pakistan Air Force, COLABS is working to support the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park with a 1,000+ seating facility, reinforcing our commitment to supporting the growth of Pakistan’s emerging tech sectors.

COLABS does more than offer flexible workspaces, but offers diverse opportunities for artists, musicians and freelancers. The COLABS Creative Collective provides artists a platform to showcase their talent. We ran a 4 month long Artists-in-Residence program and have curated an art collection of over 300 artworks. The COLABS Live initiative amplifies emerging talent in collaboration with industry giants like Spotify and Coke Studio. Our recent collaboration with local musician Maanu for the COLABS anthem reflects our deep connection to Pakistan’s creative industries.

With operations in Saudi Arabia and our company registration complete, we are ready to replicate our success in the MENA region. As we expand into Saudi Arabia, we aim to provide essential infrastructure and support for startups, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, creating a thriving ecosystem similar to the one we’ve built in Pakistan.

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Become a Member

Join us for partnerships and affiliations by contacting: partners@colabs.pk