This series is about startups inPakistan. Why startup? Last decade China's BAT companies have dramaticallychanged our daily life, as well as made China’s digital economy a leadingglobal force. Today's most promising startups might be tomorrow's most successfulbusinesses. Indigenous startups create new jobs, spur innovation and injectcompetition, which definitely act as a major booster for the development andprogress of the country’s economy. Startups and corporates under one roof willshape the country’s future.
Agent为您带来巴基斯坦初创企业系列介绍。为什么选择这一主题?在过去的十几年间，以百度，阿里巴巴和腾讯为代表的新兴企业为我们的生活带来了巨大的变化，同时这些中国的互联网巨头也成为了全球数字化经济的主导力量，而它们也是从曾经的初创企业一路劈荆斩棘发展而来的。所以今天巴基斯坦初露锋芒的小企业，也可能成就明天世界舞台的辉煌。本土的初创企业为社会提供就业机会，驱动技术和产业的创新，为市场经济注入新竞争力，是推动经济发展社会进步的主力军，新兴的初创企业与传统的大型企业一起构铸着一个国家的未来。
Pakistan has the world's 6th largestpopulation and 70% of its 180 million population is under 30 years of age.Internet penetration among the masses has reached 17.8% in 2016, with 125million mobile phone subscribers and 13.5 million mobile broadband subscribers.The Internet is transforming the way we work, socialize, create and shareinformation, and organize the flow of people, ideas, and things around theglobe. A largely younger demographic with internet connectivity means maximizedInternet’s empowering influence on the country’s economic growth andprosperity. Early in 2016 Bloomberg declared the Pakistan Stock Exchange(KSE100) as the best of the Asian Market and 5th best performing index in theworld, which led to American stock index MSCI to reclassify Pakistan fromFrontier Markets Index to the Emerging Markets Index. Pakistan local startupsector has witnessed a boost primarily due to the strengthening of globalentrepreneurial ecosystems (which refers to the social and economic environmentaffecting the local/regional entrepreneurship).
巴基斯坦是世界第六大人口大国，三十岁以下的青年占人口比重70%为一亿八千万。2016年其互联网的渗透率达到17.8%，移动设备注册用户达一亿两千五百万，移动宽带注册用户为一千三百五十万。众所周知，互联网正在方方面面改变着世界: 我们的工作生活，信息的创建分享，物流人流信息流的全球化管理运作，无一不受其影响推动。人口年轻化加之较高的互联网渗透率更加强了互联网对经济增长和市场繁荣的影响力。2016年初Bloomberg将巴基斯坦股票指数KSE100评级为亚洲市场最优，全球最佳股指第五。进而摩根士丹利资本国际指数（Morgan Stanley Capital InternationalIndex，MSCI指数）将巴股指数由前沿市场重新定级为新兴市场指数。随着国际创业生态系统(影响创业的社会经济环境)的不断加强，巴基斯坦的本土初创企业也得到了大力推动。
While the recent ecosystem activities inPakistan are encouraging, the support environment for entrepreneurship is stillvery nascent. Pakistan ranks 115th out of 137 countries (lowest in the SouthAsian region) in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index2017-2018, which analyzes the performance of world economies based on 12pillars including Institutions, Infrastructure, Macroeconomic Environment,Health and Primary Education, Higher Education and Training, Goods MarketEfficiency, Labor Market Efficiency, Financial Market Development,Technological Readiness, Market Size, Business Sophistication and Innovation.Pakistan is 129th on the Health and Primary Education, 120th on HigherEducation and Training, 111th on Technological Readiness, 107th on Goods MarketEfficiency, and 128th on Labor Market Efficiency, which highlight that Pakistanis even far behind from its South Asian counterparts in terms of education,institutional and infrastructure development and stability. Then what are themost problematic factors that make it difficult for businesses to functionefficiently in Pakistan? The WEF conducted an online survey and asked people toselect the top 5 factors and rank them from 1 to 5.
尽管巴基斯坦创业生态系统的最新动态还是鼓舞人心的，但其整体支持环境仍处于初步水平。巴基斯坦在世界经济论坛2017-2018年度全球竞争力排名中名列第115为南亚最低(共137个国家与地区参与评估)。(竞争力排名主要是基于世界经济论坛在2004年推出的全球竞争力指数（GCI）。该指数将竞争力定义为制度、政策以及决定一国生产力水平的各种要素的综合：制度建设、基础设施、宏观经济环境、卫生与初等教育、高等教育和培训、商品市场效率、劳动力市场效率、金融市场发展水平、技术就绪度、市场规模、商业成熟度以及创新水平，这十二项指标是决定一国竞争力的主要依据)巴基斯坦在”卫生与初等教育”类排名第129、”高等教育和培训”类排名第120、技术就绪度”排名111、”商品市场效率”排名第107、”劳动力市场效率”排名第128。这一排名揭示了相比于其它南亚邻国，巴基斯坦在教育，体制和基建方面的发展和稳定性远远落后。那么影响企业在巴基斯坦有效运作的主要问题因素有哪些?世界经济论坛对此做了相应的线上调查，请受访者列举五项最主要因素并按照影响程度由高到低依次排名，调查结果给出了主要问题因素列表，排名由高到低为:贪腐，税率，政府不稳定性/政变，犯罪与盗窃，政府职能部门的官僚作风及低效运作，劳动力缺乏职业操守，融资困难，政策不稳定性，公共健康水平低，税务管制，基建设施供应短缺，创新力缺乏，外汇管制，高等教育水平的劳动力不足，通胀，劳动力监管受限。
The overall risk environment forinvestors in Pakistan is compounded by the regulations on the flow of money inand out of the country. All foreign investors and shareholders have to attainapproval from the Ministry of Interior prior to investing and must also applyfor a Proceeds Realization Certificate (PRC) in order to remit funds fromPakistan.
其中，外汇管制更加剧了巴基斯坦投资环境的风险。所有境外投资人和股东需要获得巴内政部对投资的许可，对于汇出资金需要申请”收益变现证明(PRC)”。
An overall lack of exits (Mergers &Acquisitions or Initial Public Offerings) is also a reason behind correspondinglylow investment activities.
此外，市场清退机制的缺乏(并购或首次公开募股)，也是巴基斯坦投资市场不景气的原因之一。
Another one of the deepest issues facingtechnology-based companies in Pakistan is the payment hurdle. Though theInternet-based startups are exciting investment opportunities, PayPal and otherpayment platforms that can be leveraged by such companies do not currentlyexist in Pakistan, meaning that companies need to set up such systems offshore.The State Bank of Pakistan poses obstacle for financial technologyentrepreneurs who try to solve the payments problem, it has stated that anyinitiative that touches money in any way – be it a payment service provider,payment processor, or an ATM switch – are required to attain costly licenseswhich make it almost impossible to run a business.
巴基斯坦网络技术型企业还面临着另一严重发展瓶颈 -电子支付。由于Paypal和其它第三方支付平台未能准入巴基斯坦，那些投资者钟爱的互联网类初创企业只能退而寻求离岸系统的解决方案。巴基斯坦国家银行对涉及金融技术领域(第三方支付，刷卡服务，ATM数据交换)的服务提供商设置了非常严格的准入制度，昂贵的准入执照让众多金融技术创新领域的企业家望而却步。
However, Pakistan government has beentaking steps to promote entrepreneurial activities in the country, In Februarythis year it launched the National Incubation Centre, under the public-privatepartnership of Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom and JAZZthrough National ICT R&D Fund and Teamup.The NIC will provide startups witha free of cost workspace, incubation, acceleration – Jazz xlr8 program – seedfunds, and access to 50 million plus mobile customers. The NIC in the firstyear will house 40 startups with access to a state-of-the-art global facility.Services include free broadband internet, silent rooms, gaming zone, curriculumfor startup education, best business leaders as mentors, and an innovation labdesigned on international standards. (DREAM. BUILD. RISE.http://nicpakistan.pk/ )
仅管如此总总，巴基斯坦政府还是致力于推动国内的创新企业发展。今年二月，国家企业孵化中心正式成立，巴国家信息与电信技术部，通过其旗下的国家信息和通讯技术研发基金，与JAZZ和Teamup两家企业携手打造的这一企业孵化中心，将为初创企业提供免费的工作空间，产业孵化和加速对接计划，可获得Jazzxlr8计划的种子基金，以及其超过五千万的移动手机用户。该中心第一年将纳入40个初创项目，为它们提供全球领先的服务设施:免费的宽带、静音房、游戏厅、初创企业教程、业界最佳商业领袖为导师、以及一个国际标准的创新实验室。(国家企业孵化中心的宗旨:拥有梦想. 构筑梦想.放飞梦想. 网址:http://nicpakistan.pk/ )
Corporations play an important role insupporting startups whether it be via funding or via facilitating their valuechain and the delivery of their products or services. Earlier in 2016, TelenorPakistan introduced Velocity, a go-to market startup accelerator, Mobilink iscooperating with the launch of the new National Incubation Centre, whileUnilever and Coca Cola are also involved in various projects to supportPakistani startups.
大型企业机构在初创领域的作用也是举足轻重的，它们在初创企业融资，促进产业价值链，产品和服务的交付等方面鼎力相助。早在2016年Telenor巴基斯坦成立了面向市场的初创企业加速器，Mobilink(Jazz)与巴国信息部合作创建了国家企业孵化中心, 而知名国际集团联合利华和可口可乐均参与支持了众多的巴基斯坦初创项目。
There have been related developments atuniversity level as well. Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC) has beenpromoting incubation at state-funded universities via the setup of BusinessIncubation Centers and Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization(ORICs). Tier 1 universities such as Lahore University of Management Science(LUMS )houses Technology for People Initiative (TPI), a joint venture withGoogle, is dedicated to using technology to create solutions relevant to thesocio-economic context of Pakistan. National University of Science andTechnology (NUST)’s Technology Incubation Centre, TIC for Innovation &Entrepreneurship, provides programming and space for NUST students who want totest and build their ideas into businesses. Institute of BusinessAdministration’s Centre or Entrepreneurial Development (CED) providesentrepreneurship courses and space for students.
高等院校也为大学生创业提供了发展平台。巴基斯坦高等教育委员会HEC在各大国资院校推动建立商业孵化中心，和研发创新及商业化办公室。巴国一流大学如拉合尔管理科学院LUMS设有与谷歌合资的”以人为本技术创新”项目，致力于推动解决巴基斯坦社会经济问题的技术创新。国立科技大学NUST(伊斯兰堡)的创新创业技术孵化中心为在校生测试他们的创业理念实现产业转化提供了创业空间和发展计划。工商管理学院(卡拉奇)IBA的企业发展中心为学生们提供创业发展课程和创业空间。
Another great news coming in recently,1839 Ventures ─ Austin-based venture capital firm ─hasannounced to invest $20M in technology-based startups in Pakistan, the launchof venture capital fund with the association of Plan 9 –Punjab Information Technology Board(PITB)’s Tech Incubator and 1839 entureswill play its role in reshaping ecosystem of technology startups of Pakistan.Accessing venture capital fund and lack of human resources for team buildingare the major barriers to startup success in Pakistan. The entry ofinternational venture capital firm is a good sign for ever-evolvingentrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan.
最近巴基斯坦的技术投资领域又传来一大利好，设立于奥斯汀的风投机构1839 Venture将为巴基斯坦的技术性初创企业投入两千万美金，该机构与旁遮普信息技术委员会PITB的技术孵化器Plan9合作，将为巴基斯坦技术创新领域的企业生态环境注入新的活力。难以获得风投资金和缺乏团队构建人才是阻碍巴国初创企业获得成功的重要原因，国际风投资本的进入，标识着巴基斯坦创业生态环境的进一步优化。
In the coming blogs Agent is going tointroduce interesting and exciting startups by young talented Pakistanis, theyare changing people’s life, thoughts and even traditions in Pakistan. Here Ibegin with one as a starter, it may not be the most notable startup in thecountry, but it has touched my heart:
Agent将在接下来的一系列博客中，为您讲述那些或有趣或精彩的创业故事和优秀的巴基斯坦年轻创业者。他们和他们的创业理念正在逐步改变着这个国家人民的生活，观念乃至传统。
抛砖引玉，今天我先介绍一位巴基斯坦创业者，她的业绩也许并不辉煌，但温柔的感动着我:
Let's meet Nida Riaz, a youngentrepreneur in her early 20s is running a one-woman-show “The Brownie Box” inPeshawar. Yes you are not hearing me wrong, a young girl in the cowboy cityPeshawar is managing the whole business on her own. From her Pavlovas toCinnamon buns, and the scrumptious brownies with flavors ranging from Nutellainfused chocolate to red velvet, she is the new baker queen of Peshawar. Whatmakes The Brownie Box so special? It is coming to you with love notes from yournear and dear, or strong boosts of positive vibes from Nida herself. You getbrownies together with loves and inspirations.
让我们一起来认识Nida Riaz，一位才二十出头的年轻姑娘，自己单枪匹马的在白沙瓦创办了她的”布朗尼盒子”.是的, 您没有听错, 就是在那个满街枪和牛仔的接壤阿富汗的巴边境城市白沙瓦,一位铮锵玫瑰经营着自己的糕点烘培事业, 帕芙洛娃蛋糕,肉桂面包, 巧克力花生浆布朗尼, 红丝绒布朗尼, 她是当之无愧的白沙瓦烘培皇后. 但是, 除了美味, ”布朗尼盒子”又有何特别之处呢?每一个盒子都为客人带来他们亲朋好友的爱心祝福,或是来自Nida的心灵鸡汤. 收获美味的同时, 您也签收了爱和鼓励.
And we will come up with more storiesabout young Pakistani entrepreneurs, about dreams and passions, about loves andperseverance, about now and tomorrow…
And maybe one day, it will be your storyin this land of hopes and opportunities...
接下来我们将一起分享更多的创业故事, 关于巴基斯坦的青年才俊, 关于梦想和激情, 关于爱和坚持, 关于当下与未来......
也许有一天, 会是关于你,为什么不呢? 机遇和希望属于勇敢和智慧的每一位逐梦人......
