The grand finale of Tijarathon 2.0 was held in Karachi on January 10th, 2025. A flagship initiative by Tijarat Rabihah, This Toloba ul Kulliyaat ul Mumeenoon collabrated with Tijarat Rabihah for Tijarathon 2.0. Tijarathon aims to empower aspiring entrepreneurs by providing them with the skills, resources, and mentorship necessary to turn innovative ideas into sustainable business ventures.
This is the second iteration of the event with its predecessor, Tijarathon 1.0, held in 2022. That event saw the participation of 21 teams out of which 11 were shortlisted to work with industry-experts over two weeks to craft viable business proposals.
This year, Tijarathon took the initiative further by supporting existing startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) aiming to scale. This iteration emphasised enhanced planning and partnerships with service providers who offer expertise in consulting, social media management, web development, rebranding, and legal advisory.
“It was a wonderful experience,” remarked Zainab Runija, founder of Loveknotts, a lifestyle brand that makes keychains, laptop covers, etc using tufting and punch needle techniques.
“It gave us great exposure, boosted our confidence, and opened up new opportunities. We hope more such events happen in the future, as they are so helpful for entrepreneurs.”
The event was preceded by a registration period that attracted 22 teams across Karachi. After rigorous evaluation, 16 were shortlisted, each refining their business models during an intensive development phase with mentoring and expert guidance. This phase ended with a judges’ round at Burhani Mahal in Karachi, where the top 8 finalists were selected to pitch in the final round.
An outstanding feature was the inclusion of Dawoodi Bohra investors in the grand finale, offering investment in exchange for equity rather than fixed seed money. This opened up significant opportunities for participants, setting a foundation for long-term partnerships and growth.
On the day of the finale, the participants showcased their products followed by a business pitch to a panel of investors.
A custom-built app developed by Toloba Karachi allowed the audience to rate the pitches in real-time, adding an exciting interactive element to the event. The investors, including the Entrepreneurial and Incubation Program (EIP) board members, chose to invest in three teams: Rotary Mart, which builds vibration sensors along with Namak Mirch, manufacturer of spices and seasonings, and Loveknotts, both of which had received the highest audience votes.
“There were excellent business pitches,” said Aliasghar Motiwala, an organiser of the event.
“It is evident that there are a great number of entrepreneurs in our community—and we can see how mentorship, community support, and investment can help transform entrepreneurial ideas into successful ventures. We wish to see many more participants in the next iteration of Tijarathon.”
The founder of Rotary Mart, Abdulqadir Oonwala said, “Congratulations to the organising team for the resounding success of Tijarathon.We thank them for their tremendous efforts.”
The evening concluded with a high tea and networking session, where participants, mentors, and other community members gathered to share insights, offer feedback, and celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship.
