Organization · Community
Pakathon
Pakathon is a non-profit organization that supports Pakistani expatriates in launching social ventures in Pakistan. It operates through a global network of volunteer chapters, focusing on mentorship and funding to foster entrepreneurship.
Overview
What Pakathon does
What Pakathon is
Pakathon is a non-profit organization that supports Pakistani expatriates in launching social ventures in Pakistan. It operates through a global network of volunteer chapters, focusing on mentorship and funding to foster entrepreneurship.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Community
- Founded
- Founded in 2013
- Approximate age
- About 13 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community
- Last reviewed
- April 3, 2026
Official channels
Find Pakathon elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Pakathon as a funder
Investment thesis
Pakathon focuses on mentoring and investing in Pakistani expatriates who wish to return to Pakistan to launch for-profit social ventures, aiming to reverse the brain drain and support social entrepreneurship.
Focus narrative
Pakathon invests in social ventures initiated by Pakistani returnees. The organization provides mentorship, funding, and resources to support these entrepreneurs. Its primary focus is on social entrepreneurship, particularly in sectors that address pressing issues in Pakistan. The organization aims to reverse the brain drain by facilitating the return of skilled Pakistani expatriates.
Value beyond capital
Pakathon provides mentorship, funding, and resources to support social entrepreneurs, facilitating their return to Pakistan and helping them launch impactful ventures.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $10,000–$50,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Seed · Seed+ · Series A
- Sectors
- HealthcareConsumer
- Regions
- Asia · Global · North America
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 5
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies include: CReSP: A network of clinical research sites in Pakistan aimed at reducing the costs of clinical trials. ProCheck: A mobile platform for authenticating medicines, founded by Saim Siddiqui, which allows access to genuine medicines for over 50,000 patients. She'Kab: A subscription carpooling service for professional women in Islamabad, founded by Hira Rizvi. Ammi Service: A service providing critical maternal care information to pregnant women, founded by Kamil Shafiq and Israa Nasir. EcoEnergy: A company providing sustainable energy solutions in off-grid areas of Pakistan, where Fatima Fasih works.
Capability profile
Pakathon as a community
Community overview
Pakathon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2013, based in San Francisco, California. The organization focuses on mentoring and investing in Pakistani expatriates who wish to return to Pakistan to launch for-profit social ventures. Pakathon operates through a network of volunteer chapters around the world, engaging with the Pakistani diaspora through social entrepreneurship workshops and events.
Community focus
Pakathon invests in social ventures initiated by Pakistani returnees. The organization provides mentorship, funding, and resources to support these entrepreneurs. Its primary focus is on social entrepreneurship, particularly in sectors that address pressing issues in Pakistan. The organization aims to reverse the brain drain by facilitating the return of skilled Pakistani expatriates.
Member value
Members of Pakathon benefit from access to mentorship, funding opportunities, and a supportive community of like-minded individuals focused on social entrepreneurship. The organization connects participants to resources that help them launch and grow their ventures in Pakistan.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- hybrid
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Regions
- Global
Community activity
Events and activity
Pakathon hosts social entrepreneurship workshops and events through its network of volunteer chapters around the world, engaging the Pakistani diaspora and fostering collaboration among entrepreneurs.
Notable members
Notable portfolio companies include CReSP, ProCheck, She'Kab, Ammi Service, and EcoEnergy, which address various social issues in Pakistan. Key team members include Asad Badruddin (President) and Azhar Rizvi (Chairman).
Common questions
What to know about Pakathon
Upseed classifies Pakathon under the Community organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 3, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.