Endeavor Pakistan has appointed Mubariz Siddiqui as its new managing director, effective November 1, 2026, as the global entrepreneurship organisation seeks to expand its support for high-growth businesses and strengthen Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. Siddiqui will lead the organisation’s local team and report to both the Endeavor Pakistan Board and Endeavor Global. His responsibilities will include identifying entrepreneurs with the potential to build scalable businesses and supporting their development across different sectors of the country’s economy. The appointment comes as the organisation looks to broaden its engagement beyond software companies and work with founders operating in industries where entrepreneurship, investment and business expansion can contribute to wider economic activity. Through its global network, Endeavor aims to connect selected Pakistani entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, investors, business leaders and other resources that can help them expand their operations.
Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and chief executive officer of Careem and founding board chair of Endeavor Pakistan, said the country had the potential to produce companies with international significance. He expressed confidence that Pakistani founders would build businesses capable of competing and creating an impact beyond national borders. Sheikha said the organisation’s responsibility was to identify promising entrepreneurs at an early stage, regardless of the sector in which they operate, and connect them with an international network that could support their growth. He also expressed support for Siddiqui’s appointment, describing the new managing director as someone who shared the organisation’s ambition to identify and develop entrepreneurs capable of building influential companies. His remarks reflect Endeavor Pakistan’s intention to strengthen the connection between local founders and the international business community.
The organisation plans to work with entrepreneurs across a broad range of industries, including retail, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, services exports and consumer brands, alongside its existing focus on software businesses. This wider sectoral approach is intended to recognise opportunities for high-growth companies beyond the conventional technology startup market. Businesses operating in agriculture, healthcare and logistics, for example, can develop scalable models by addressing operational challenges, improving access to services and introducing more efficient business processes. Similarly, consumer brands and services exporters can pursue expansion by reaching new customer markets and developing stronger commercial networks. Endeavor Pakistan’s focus on these industries indicates that its programme is designed to support entrepreneurship across different parts of the economy rather than concentrate exclusively on technology-led ventures.
Entrepreneurs selected by Endeavor become part of its international network, which operates in more than 45 markets and provides access to mentors, business peers, talent and investors. The network is designed to help founders address challenges associated with scaling companies, including access to capital, leadership development, strategic planning and entry into new markets. By connecting entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders and other successful founders, the organisation seeks to create opportunities for knowledge-sharing and commercial collaboration. Its model also encourages selected entrepreneurs to support the next generation of business founders after developing their own companies. This approach is based on the idea that successful entrepreneurs can contribute to the wider startup environment by sharing experience, introducing new founders to relevant networks and supporting other businesses as they grow.
Endeavor Pakistan was launched in 2022 as the organisation’s 40th office and has since developed relationships with several companies operating in the country’s startup and financial technology sectors. Its entrepreneurs include Bazaar, Abhi, SadaPay, LAAM, PostEx, PriceOye, QistBazaar and KamelPay. These companies represent different segments of Pakistan’s emerging business landscape, including digital commerce, financial services, payments, consumer products and logistics. Their inclusion in Endeavor’s network reflects the organisation’s engagement with businesses seeking to expand beyond their initial markets and develop sustainable growth models. The presence of companies from multiple industries also supports the organisation’s broader objective of developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem in which businesses can benefit from connections with investors, mentors and experienced professionals.
Aaqib Gadit, founding board member of Endeavor Pakistan, said the organisation aimed to create more opportunities for founders to connect with the right people at important stages of their business development. He explained that access to relevant networks and experienced individuals could influence whether an entrepreneur successfully navigates the challenges of building a company. Gadit described Endeavor’s role as helping founders establish those connections and encouraging them to provide similar support to future entrepreneurs. He also expressed confidence in Siddiqui’s ability to lead this work, noting his familiarity with the organisation’s activities and the broader startup environment. According to Gadit, building a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem requires a cycle in which established founders contribute their knowledge and networks to support emerging businesses.
Siddiqui said entrepreneurship could provide a credible pathway to social mobility in Pakistan and stressed the importance of making it a viable career option for a larger share of the population. He said Endeavor’s experience in developing entrepreneurial ecosystems across international markets could provide useful lessons for Pakistan. His priorities include engaging with founders, mentors and institutions interested in contributing to the development of the country’s business environment. Siddiqui also emphasised the importance of building connections between entrepreneurs and the organisations capable of supporting their growth. His appointment is expected to place him at the centre of Endeavor Pakistan’s efforts to identify promising founders, expand its sectoral reach and strengthen relationships with stakeholders across the startup ecosystem.
Siddiqui brings a legal and corporate background, having practised law since 2008 and worked closely with Pakistan’s startup ecosystem since 2015. He founded Carbon Law, where he advised entrepreneurs, investors and technology companies on venture financing, corporate structuring and regulatory matters. His work involved helping businesses navigate legal requirements associated with raising investment, establishing corporate structures and operating within Pakistan’s regulatory environment. He also previously served as general counsel at Sarmayacar, a venture capital fund focused on Pakistan, where he gained experience in investment-related legal matters and the requirements of growing businesses. In addition, he held senior legal positions on corporate and infrastructure projects and worked with regulators on reforms concerning early-stage companies. Siddiqui has paused his legal practice to take up the managing director position at Endeavor Pakistan.
His appointment brings together experience in law, venture capital and startup development at a time when Endeavor Pakistan is seeking to expand its role in the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. By focusing on founders across traditional industries as well as technology businesses, the organisation aims to identify companies with the potential to scale and create economic opportunities. With Siddiqui leading its local operations and the support of Endeavor’s international network, the organisation intends to strengthen access to business expertise, investment connections and mentorship for Pakistani entrepreneurs.
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