And to raise money, it seems, those who control the purse strings of investor cash – the venture capitalists – seem to have a very strong preference for old-fashioned credentials. And when it comes to venture capital in Pakistan, one credential seems to matter more than any other: a degree, whether undergraduate or graduate, from the United States of America. Here is what might shock the egalitarian sensibility even more: founders with just a Pakistani degree – as is the case with about 97% of Pakistanis with a college degree or higher – account for just 16.4% of total venture capital during that period. Article continues after this advertisementThis is not a simple story about a lack of egalitarian outcomes in a new industry in Pakistan, however. It is an exploration of the story behind the numbers: what it means for the numbers to be skewed this way, how Pakistan compares globally, and what the implications are for startup founders who do not fit the profile we laid out as the most coveted by venture capitalists.

Source: Pakistan Today March 29, 2021 04:30 UTC