In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Maha Shahzad, the founder & CEO of Buscaro — Pakistan’s first tech-enabled bus-sharing startup that’s making everyday commuting safer, smarter, and more affordable for thousands of Pakistanis.

From doing odd jobs to fund her education, to building a profitable transport startup without a degree, Maha’s story is pure resilience. She shares how her experiences at Careem, Foodpanda, and SWVL shaped her understanding of Pakistan’s mobility problems — and how a confusing global model inspired her to build something truly local.

We Explore:

• How SWVL’s confusing model failed to connect with Pakistani commuters
• The story behind Buscaro and how it was born during the downturn
• How she raised her first investor cheque and built a profitable startup
• Buscaro’s 6.5 million-dollars annual revenue and 70-member team
• How the platform ensures safety for women & school children

Maha also opens up about investor trust after 2022, navigating bias as a young female founder, and her long-term vision for Pakistan’s urban mobility.

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Maha's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maha-shahzad-88878b220/⁠

Special thanks to Daftarkhwan for providing us with the studio space.

You can find out more about them at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.daftarkhwan.com/⁠⁠⁠

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid