NUST alumnus leads Pakistani startup to global victory

Pakistani technology startup has earned international recognition after winning the prestigious GOAL Startup Award at the Silicon Valley November Summit in California.

RLabs, led by National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) graduate Harris Ahmed, secured the top honour at the event held from November 2 to 5. The startup was among 18 international ventures selected to present their innovations under the Global Overseas Acceleration & Learning (GOAL) programme.

Organised by innovation platform and venture capital firm Plug and Play, the summit brought together more than 3,000 participants, including technology entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, innovation specialists and government representatives.

Harris Ahmed presented RLabs’ work in extended reality (XR) simulators, synthetic data and machine training. The event also featured demonstrations and presentations from more than 300 startups across over 20 industry programmes, with artificial intelligence (AI) and deep technology among its major themes.

Ahmed, who graduated from NUST in 2018, said he had spent the past decade developing ways to train people to operate complex machinery through extended reality technology.

He explained that RLabs was now applying the same human expertise to develop machine training capabilities. The startup is also preparing to launch its technology in the United States.

According to the National Incubation Centre for Aerospace Technologies (NICAT), where RLabs was incubated, the company is developing a proprietary large language model to power a modular, cross-platform simulation engine. The technology is designed to reduce development time by up to 75 per cent.

The achievement has drawn appreciation from the federal government, with Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja describing the award as a proud moment for Pakistan.

She said the international recognition reflected the potential of Pakistani entrepreneurs and the growing strength of the country’s startup ecosystem.

The minister also acknowledged the role of her ministry and its technology innovation arm, Ignite, in supporting local startups and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to compete internationally.

She said the government’s ambition was not limited to helping Pakistani technology companies enter global markets but also to enabling them to contribute to shaping the future of technology.

The award comes amid broader efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s technology and entrepreneurship sectors.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently inaugurated the Daanish IT Park, formerly known as the National Technology Park, bringing incubation centres, startups, innovation hubs, small and medium enterprises and industry representatives together under one facility.

Meanwhile, the World Bank is expected to support the establishment and capitalisation of a $50 million Fund of Funds under the Pakistan Entrepreneurship and Private Investment Catalyst Project. The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s emerging venture capital and innovation ecosystem, with approval expected in early 2027.

RLabs’ international success adds to the growing list of Pakistani-founded technology ventures gaining global recognition and highlights the potential of homegrown innovation to compete on the international stage.