In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Yasir Suleman Memon, Founder & CEO of Salesflo, one of Pakistan’s biggest enterprise SaaS companies, now used globally across multiple markets.

We explore:

• Why second-tier Pakistani cities never developed
• How AI is reversing Pakistan’s freelancing boom
• Why Pakistani founders lack “IPO hunger”
• Why startups MUST list publicly to retain talent
• Why government will NOT fix anything and private enterprise must

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠

Yasir's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasirsmemon/

Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠⁠⁠

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

You can find out more about them at: ⁠⁠⁠https://kickstart.pk/⁠⁠⁠

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Salaal Hasan, Founder & CEO of Ahya AI, one of the most exciting climate-tech companies emerging from the region.

From studying in Europe to leading investments at the World Bank, Dubai International Capital, and JS, Salaal’s journey spans engineering, venture capital, policy, and sustainability. Today, he’s building AI-powered climate-intelligence tools used across the Middle East & Pakistan.

We explore:

• How early life in Germany & the UK shaped his worldview
• The real reason he left Dubai’s high salary to return to Pakistan
• Lahore smog, 2023 floods & Pakistan’s climate vulnerability
• Why IMF policies push Pakistan towards fuel dependency
• Carbon credits, ROI of going green & why Pakistani companies must care
• The missing infrastructure stopping Pakistan from making billions

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠

Salaal's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salaalhasan/

Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠⁠⁠

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

You can find out more about them at: ⁠⁠⁠https://kickstart.pk/⁠⁠⁠

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by the founder of Game Sports Management, one of Pakistan’s few companies trying to turn athletes into real commercial brands.

From managing Wasim Akram to building a full sports business, he shares the why Pakistan’s athletes never grow, why our sports ecosystem is broken, and how countries like India turned every sport into a billion-dollar industry while Pakistan stayed stuck.

We explore:

• Why the 2008 crash pushed him into sports
• How working with Wasim Akram changed everything
• Why Pakistan has no real system for athlete branding
• Why Indian stars become global icons but Pakistan’s don’t
• How Pakistan’s sports industry can explode by 2050

A conversation on the future of sports, talent management, personal brand, and the business behind athletes.

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠

TBT’s TikTok:⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠

Arsalan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arsalanhydershah/

Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠⁠

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

You can find out more about them at: ⁠⁠https://kickstart.pk/⁠⁠

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Oliver Bennett, the founder of Layers, a managed marketplace reshaping how the world thinks about second-hand fashion and sustainability.

Oliver opens up about his turbulent childhood, getting kicked out of home at 15, being bullied, and how those experiences shaped his rebellious, value-driven philosophy. Oliver shares why he believes in creating value, not chasing hustle culture.

We Explore:

• Why second-hand clothing is a massive global industry
• Karachi’s role as one of the largest second-hand clothing hubs in the world
• The dark realities of fast fashion exploitation
• Why Pakistan’s chaos is an advantage compared to the West
• Why he says he will never sell or exit Layers

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠

TBT’s TikTok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠

Oliver's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverbennettlayers⁠

Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠

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

You can find out more about them at: ⁠https://kickstart.pk/⁠

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid

CHECK OUT MY AI AVATAR: https://muzamil.alethia.ai/

In this episode, we sit down with Arif Khan, Founder & CEO of ALETHIA AI, the global startup building real-time interactive AI agents, with a major part of the technology being developed in Pakistan.

We Explore:

• Creating AI versions of real people
• How Muzamil’s own AI avatar was trained
• Using AI for education, government services, counselling, and digital access
• What the post-AI world will look like
• And why energy scarcity might become the biggest challenge of the AI boom

A deep, honest, and mind-bending conversation about AI, identity, misuse, and the future of knowledge.

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠

TBT’s TikTok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠

Arif's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arikhan/

Endeavor's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan⁠

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

You can find out more about them at: ⁠https://kickstart.pk/⁠

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Ziyad Parekh, Co-Founder & CEO of Safepay, one of Pakistan’s most exciting fintech startups and a Y-Combinator backed startup.

Ziyad shares how he went from Karachi to New York and why he left everything to return home and build Pakistan’s version of Stripe. We uncover how Safepay survived being taken to zero overnight, how they rebuilt with grit, and why they now process volumes comparable to giants like HBL.

We Explore:

• VISA/Mastercard charging Rs. 30 per transaction
• Getting Investment From Stripe
• Karachi's Poor infrastructure
• How RAAST might change everything
• And what the future of digital payments will look like

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/

TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil

TBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings

TBT Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips

Muzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/

Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/

Ziyad's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziyad-parekh/

Endeavor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistan

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

You can find out more about them at: https://kickstart.pk/

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Usman Saleem, Co-Founder & CEO of Khazanay, Pakistan’s biggest used sneaker and thrift brand.

Usman shares his journey from losing his father at an early age, working graphic design jobs for just ₨8,000 a month, to building one of Pakistan’s most disruptive retail startups.

We talk about:

• How Khazanay sold its first pair of shoes
• Meeting Sam Altman at Y Combinator
• How they refurbish branded sneakers
• Tapping into leftover clothing
• Khazanay’s scale & Growth
• Long-term growth, Islamic finance, and Pakistan’s 2050 outlook

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Usman's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhdusmansaleem/

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

You can find out more about them at: ⁠⁠https://kickstart.pk/⁠⁠

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Salman Parekh, Founder of Manto, Pakistan’s most distinct fashion brand redefining local identity through design, storytelling, and craftsmanship. From launching limited hand-drawn collections to sustaining a premium yet local brand in a low-growth economy.

We explore:

• How Manto built its own supply chain & scaled sustainably
• Why Pakistani fashion is stuck in a cash cycle
• The real cost of building exclusivity & identity
• Why Manto avoids mass production to stay premium
• What the fashion scene could look like by 2050

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Salman's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/maansals/⁠

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

You can find out more about them at: ⁠https://kickstart.pk/⁠

Credits:

Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi

Associate Producer: Saad Shehryar

Publisher: Talha Shaikh

Editor: Jawad Sajid

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.

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Jerjees Seja, CEO of ARY Digital Network, one of Pakistan’s most iconic media leaders. From shaping the country’s TV and drama landscape to building ARY into a powerhouse of entertainment, Jerjees shares his journey of transforming Pakistan’s media industry.

We discuss:

• How Pakistan’s private TV revolution began
• The economics behind news, dramas, and entertainment Production
• Why premium Pakistani content is now free on YouTube
• Why global giants like Netflix don’t invest in Pakistan
• The future of OTT and local streaming platforms
• Why filmmaking still isn’t profitable here
• The evolving audience behavior and the road to 2050

Socials:

TBT’s Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT’s Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jerjees's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerjeesseja/

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