Startup reality TV show set to launch early next year

ARY Digital Network, in collaboration with PakLaunch, a platform for Pakistani startups and investors, has announced the launch of a reality television series called Bazaar aimed at supporting entrepreneurs.

The show is set to air in early 2026 and will feature emerging entrepreneurs pitching their businesses to a panel of four investors (or ‘gurus’) and nine mentors.

While it appears there will be one female and three male gurus, their identities have yet to be revealed.

As for mentors, these include Naureen Hyatt – CEO, Zood; Dr Sara Khurram – Co-founder & CEO, Sehat Kahani, Omar Askari – Chief Business Officer, NayaPay and Zohaib Malik – Co-founder, Dastgyr.

Additional mentors come from companies such as Daraz, Bookme, Moveit, and EZBike.

Described by the organisers as a “next-generation reality series,” Bazaar combines televised entertainment with a structured investment platform. The series is designed to provide early-stage and growth-stage startups with direct access to capital, mentorship, and national exposure.

The show will include a live equity exchange model, where investors can make immediate funding offers.

Startups will also have the opportunity to secure funding from a joint ARY–PakLaunch fund, as well as from regulated public crowdfunding options.

After a deal is finalised, mentors will be offered a small equity stake (1%) in the startups they advise, creating an incentive-based support model.

“Bazaar is a great opportunity for startups in Pakistan to connect with investors and mentors on a national platform,” said Syed Azfar Hussain, Project Director at National Incubation Center Karachi, where the launch event took place.

“It brings visibility, funding, and expert support to entrepreneurs who are ready to scale,” he told Business Recorder, adding “Pakistan needs more platforms like Bazaar that support innovation and entrepreneurship. This show will help promising startups grow by giving them the exposure and investment they truly deserve.”

Deadlines for applications is July 20, 2025. Finalists will be selected mid-August, followed by a mentorship bootcamp.

Startups from various sectors have been invited to apply.

Details about the show’s host and the full panel of investors are expected to be released closer to the premiere date.

How will the show compare to Shark Tank?

This news comes in the wake of criticism against a similar show called Shark Tank, an international franchise that took on a Pakistani spin last year.

Many who participated said the offers made by judges did not materialise, while others said their company’s purpose and primary product were misrepresented.

According to a report in The Friday Times, “the global average for offers made on the show materialising into actual investment is 35-40%, and in Shark Tank Pakistan’s case this may be in the region of 8-12%.”

The report noted that “the degree of documentation of companies and startups was very low, so much so that this proved (according to the sharks we spoke with) to be a major hindrance in many of the offers made verbally not being followed up.”

The judges, or sharks, told the publication “due diligence had to be done and that they found that a very high percentage of the companies selected did not have complete documentation which is a prerequisite before an investment can be made into any company”.

The question on the minds of many will be: will Bazaar be different?

According to the presentation given at the launch, “unlike other shows, Bazaar ensures funding for selected startups.”

While not wanting to mention Shark Tank, or any other competitor shows, Hussain told Business Recorder: “the producers have clearly taken market feedback seriously, and it’s evident that a great deal of thought has gone into addressing the common pitfalls seen in similar formats”.

“The addition of a mentorship layer is a particularly strong step, helping founders refine their business models and ensuring alignment of expectations before they step into the spotlight,” he said, adding “Bazaar has the potential to build trust and deliver genuine value to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It’s refreshing to see a format that respects the founder’s journey”.