Despite competition from local marketplaces like SanaullaStore and Bagallery, Laam distinguishes itself by offering a diverse range of products from various brands. The recent funding will help Laam expand its seller base beyond Pakistan to other South Asian regions. This investment comes at a time when the Pakistani startup ecosystem is experiencing a slowdown, with a significant drop in funding and the number of funding rounds compared to the previous year.
Key takeaways:
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- Laam, a Lahore-based online marketplace, raised $5.5 million in a seed round to expand its global presence and support South Asian fashion sellers.
- The platform offers a curated catalog of over 100,000 items from 1,200 Pakistani sellers, using data and machine learning for personalization and logistics.
- Laam's top markets by revenue include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the Middle East, with plans to establish offices in the UAE and the U.S.
- The startup's funding comes during a slowdown in the Pakistani startup ecosystem, with a significant drop in funding and the number of rounds in 2024.