KARACHI: Ride-hailing and mobility platform inDrive has launched Aurora Ventures, an early-stage investment programme targeting women-led tech startups in emerging markets, including Pakistan, with ticket sizes ranging from $180,000 to $250,000 at pre-seed and seed stages.
The initiative, announced on Friday, is designed to address the persistent gap in venture capital access for women founders.
“The challenge is not talent; it is access,” said Country Manager of inDrive Pakistan Awais Saeed, adding that many exceptional women-led businesses were reaching institutional capital far later than they should.
Aurora Ventures will draw on five years of data from inDrive’s Aurora Tech Award programme and its global founder network to identify high-potential startups early, often before valuations fully reflect their growth trajectory. Pakistan alone recorded over 200 submissions to the award in 2025, with Faiza Yousuf having been named a finalist in its 2023 edition.
The announcement comes amid accelerating momentum in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. According to a Dealroom report titled The Rapid Rise of Pakistan Tech, the country’s startup ecosystem value has grown more than 3.6 times since 2020 to exceed $4 billion, outpacing hubs including New York, Paris and Dubai. Despite this, the sector continues to face a shortage of accessible growth capital.
The 2026 pilot will focus on building an initial portfolio while establishing Aurora Ventures’ longer-term investment presence across emerging markets.
