At the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC) 2025, all seven Pakistani tech startups participating in the event made it to the semi-finals of the pitch competition. Despite not making the final cut, the startups achieved significant successes, including forging new business partnerships and gaining global exposure.
The startups were sponsored by Ignite – National Technology Fund, an initiative of Pakistan’s Ministry of IT & Telecom. Waqar Ahmed, CEO of Securitanium, one of the participating startups, shared that they signed a deal with an IT distributor with a presence in the Gulf, including Bahrain, the UAE, Ireland, and New Zealand. “We’ll be onboarding with them as a vendor for email security, and we hope to collaborate in the future,” said Ahmed, highlighting the importance of their AI-powered solution in detecting phishing emails.
The use of AI in cybersecurity was a common theme at the expo. Muhammad Ali Inayat, founder of ComplianceMachine.ai, emphasized the importance of AI in strengthening online security, especially in the Gulf region where new regulations like the Personal Data Protection Act have recently been enacted. Inayat’s company, which already has a presence in the Gulf, aims to reduce the cost of compliance for companies by offering pre-built controls mapped to various regulatory frameworks.
Other startups like Thingzeye showcased security solutions for smart homes and devices, with CEO Ghalib Asadullah Shah highlighting their Smart Home Firewall that provides protection for smart gadgets, including health monitoring devices like smartwatches. Shah expressed confidence in his product and the experience at GISEC, appreciating the platform’s ability to provide international exposure.
Ignite, focused on nurturing startups and developing a knowledge economy in Pakistan, played a pivotal role in bringing these startups to the event. Adeel Aijaz Shaikh, Ignite’s CEO, expressed excitement about the partnership with GISEC and their plans to bring more Pakistani startups to future events.
Inayat and Shah both encouraged Pakistani youth to explore the cybersecurity industry, pointing out Pakistan’s deep roots in the field, noting that the world’s first virus was created in Lahore. They urged young innovators to pitch their ideas at events like GISEC, where they could find support and interest from global players.
The event, held from May 6 to 8, attracted 750 cybersecurity companies and over 25,000 visitors from more than 160 countries. It also included hackathons and panel discussions. The UAE Cybersecurity Council, host of GISEC, set 11 Guinness World Records, including records for the “most nationalities in a simulated Dark Web intelligence training session” and “largest ransomware awareness session.”
This year’s GISEC highlighted the growing role of Pakistani tech startups in the cybersecurity space, with companies showcasing innovative solutions and gaining valuable exposure on the global stage.
