Digital media startup MangoBaaz raises $115,000 in seed funding

Published December 15, 2016
Image courtesy MIT Tech Review Pakistan
Image courtesy MIT Tech Review Pakistan

Popular online platform MangoBaaz has secured major funding from a domestic investor. The startup has raised $115,000 from Fatima Ventures, a subsidiary of the Fatima Group.

MangoBaaz is one of Pakistan’s first media companies that focuses on creating digital content for its millennial audience, similar to companies such as ScoopWhoop in India, and BuzzFeed or Vice in the US.

After running it as an experiment early last year, co-founders Ali Ahsan and Ali Gul left high paying jobs in the US and started working full time on MangoBaaz in August 2015. With help from PlanX, one of Pakistan’s largest accelerators, MangoBaaz has reached over a million monthly active users on its website within just a year. Audience for its video content is also increasing at a fast pace.

MangoBaaz has now become Pakistan’s first media startup to receive funding from a venture capital firm.

Co-founder Ali Ahsan says, “The investment means that one of Pakistan’s largest companies analyzed MangoBaaz, on all business aspects and identified it as an attractive investment opportunity which serves as a significant validation of the company’s business model.” Ali Gul, the other co-founder of MangoBaaz, adds, “This investment will allow us to expand our existing operations, scale video operations and invest in more business initiatives that will diversify the services offered by MangoBaaz to both its audience and business partners.”

Read more: Local Startup Secures Domestic Funding Worth $280k

“We are very confident in the success of MangoBaaz considering the immense potential of Digital Advertising in Pakistan and exponential growth and monetizable social media content,” says Ali Mukhtar, CEO of Fatima Ventures.“We have already invested in startups from Interactive Broadcast and Beauty industries such as InteraCta and BeautyHooked. Our investment in MangoBaaz is a logical progression and strategic choice.”

In just a year, MangoBaaz’s list of clients includes global names such as Coca Cola, Nestle, Unilever, YouTube, Reckitt Benckiser, Samsung, Uber and Telenor among others. MangoBaaz has also worked with other business partners such as OMD and GroupM, the world’s largest media investment group.

Recently, MangoBaaz also launched a web portal called MangoBaaz Campus for university students in Pakistan.

This piece first appeared on MIT Technology Review Pakistan and has been reproduced with permission.

Follow Dawn Business on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Strategic confusion

Strategic confusion

There is a perception that, more than a backlash from the masses over unpopular decisions, the establishment is apprehensive of the historical factor.

Editorial

March to war?
Updated 22 Feb, 2026

March to war?

With his huge build-up of forces around Iran, and frequent threats targeted at the Islamic Republic, the US president has created a very difficult situation for himself.
Paper proscriptions
22 Feb, 2026

Paper proscriptions

THE Punjab government’s decision to publicly list 89 banned and unregistered groups, and to warn citizens against...
Cricket politics again
Updated 22 Feb, 2026

Cricket politics again

Pakistan refused to play India at the ongoing T20 World Cup and only changed its mind in view of the game’s greater good. It is time for India to reciprocate.
BoP meets
Updated 21 Feb, 2026

BoP meets

Trump told the meeting that “we will help Gaza”. So far no help has been visible.
Out on the streets
21 Feb, 2026

Out on the streets

IT had been in the offing for a long time but the latest controversy proved too much for Tariq Hussain Bugti to ...
Karachi tragedy
21 Feb, 2026

Karachi tragedy

APPALLNG firefighting facilities, lax regulations and an uncaring provincial government fan the flames of tragedy in...