Respond.io Secures $62.5M Series B; Pakistani CTO Hassan Ahmed Out-Raises Domestic Tech Sector
Respond.io, a customer messaging platform co-founded by Peshawar native Hassan Ahmed, closed a $62.5 million Series B funding round on June 16, 2026. This single capital injection surpasses the $36.6 million secured by Pakistan’s entire domestic startup scene across all of 2025.
Profitability Preceding Capital
Camber Partners, a New York-based growth equity firm, led the investment, with participation from Endeavor Catalyst and existing shareholders. Respond.io secured this funding on a foundation of proven financial metrics rather than operational necessity.
Prior to the announcement, the Kuala Lumpur-headquartered company recorded $35 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) alongside 169% year-over-year growth. Operating with a 30% profit margin, the leadership team structured the deal to accelerate market capture.
"The business raised to move faster, not to survive."
Management allocated the new capital to finance expansion into North America and Europe, execute targeted acquisitions, and hire engineering and executive staff.
Conversational Commerce Infrastructure
Ahmed, who serves as Chief Technology Officer, founded the company in 2017 with CEO Gerardo Salandra and COO Iaroslav Kudritskiy. Initially launched in Hong Kong as a chatbot tool named Rocketbots, the product evolved into a comprehensive conversational management architecture.
The software routes customer interactions from more than 20 channels—including WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger—into a centralized interface. Enterprise clients use the system to execute sales and resolve support tickets without switching between localized applications.
Platform metrics at the time of the Series B include:
- Message Volume: 2 billion interactions processed quarterly.
- Client Base: 10,000+ businesses operating in 180 countries.
- Enterprise Customers: Toyota, British Airways, Radisson, and Decathlon.
Capitalizing the Domestic Sector
Ahmed’s trajectory demonstrates a structural reality for Pakistani technology professionals. While domestic startups raised $36.6 million across 10 deals last year, software companies with Pakistani technical leadership operating abroad attract significantly larger capital pools.
To scale Respond.io, the founders relocated to markets offering mature software buyer networks, established cross-border payment rails, and direct connections to international venture capital. For Pakistan's local sector to retain similar technical talent, regulators and investors must develop stronger funding networks and update financial regulations to support high-growth software companies.
The global conversational commerce market reached $14.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $63.4 billion by 2034. With WhatsApp dominating digital communication in Pakistan, localized versions of this infrastructure will become essential for the region's domestic retail and service businesses as they digitize operations.