Ahmed Rauf Essa is a prominent Pakistani entrepreneur who founded Telemart at the age of 23, which has grown into one of the largest e-commerce marketplaces in Pakistan, with 40 retail stores across 27 cities. He has received 13 global awards and was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 List (2019). In 2023, Ahmed became the first Pakistani to chair the International Business Awards and has served as a jury member for 34 global awards, judging top global brands such as Amazon, Bugatti, Samsung, and Coca-Cola.

Ahmed also leads ARE Ventures, an accelerator focused on supporting over 50 top brands in Pakistan in various sectors, including apparel, skincare, jewelry, and pharmacy, with a combined revenue exceeding 40 billion PKR. ARE Ventures provides strategic business guidance across technology, marketing, distribution, and more.

Professional Experience:

• Founder, Telemart (Sep 2013 – Present)
• Founder, ARE Ventures (Jan 2024 – Present)
• Visiting Faculty, KSBL (Feb 2024 – Present)
• Global Mentor, Startup World Cup (Feb 2025 – Present)

Education:

• MBA, Marketing – Institute of Business Management (2015 – 2018)
• BBA, Marketing – Institute of Business Management (2010 – 2014)
• Inter, Commerce – Commecs College (2008 – 2010)
• Matric, Computer Science – Bahria Karsaz (2005 – 2008)