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Ahmed Rauf Essa

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Ahmed Rauf Essa
Born (1991-10-11) October 11, 1991 (age 33)
Karachi
NationalityPakistani
CitizenshipPakistan
EducationMBA Marketing
OccupationEntrepreneur
Years active2013-Present
Notable workFounder of Telemart, Founder of ARE Ventures
Websitehttps://areventures.pk/

Ahmed Rauf Essa (born 11 October 1991) is a Pakistani entrepreneur, business strategist, and the founder of Telemart and ARE Ventures.[1] He is known for his contributions to Pakistan’s e-commerce and startup ecosystem and has been recognized globally for his achievements in retail and entrepreneurship. In 2019, he was featured in the Forbes “30 Under 30” Asia list in the category of Retail & E-commerce.[2][3][4]

Career

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Telemart

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Ahmed is the founder and CEO of Telemart, which has grown into one of Pakistan’s largest e-commerce platforms and the country’s leading tech retail company.[5] The company operates both online and through a physical retail network, with over 40 stores across 27 cities in Pakistan. Telemart is known for its innovative retail strategies and has earned recognition for bridging digital and physical commerce in the region.[6][7]

ARE Ventures

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In addition to Telemart, Ahmed founded ARE Ventures, Pakistan’s largest business accelerator. The initiative supports startups and established businesses in areas such as growth strategy, technology, marketing, partnerships, and distribution. Through ARE Ventures, Ahmed has played a role in scaling numerous local and international ventures.[8][9]

Awards and Recognition

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Ahmed Rauf Essa became the only Pakistani to chair the International Business Awards in 2023. He also serves as a Global Mentor for the Startup World Cup 2025. Ahmed has also received widespread international acclaim, having won 14 global awards by the age of 33. Some of his most notable awards include:[10]

  • Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2019) – Retail & E-commerce[11]
  • CEO World Award – Retail Entrepreneur of the Year (2016)
  • Golden Bridge Award – International Business Executive of the Year (2017)[12]
  • Global Entrepreneur Award – Global Entrepreneur Grid (2020)[13]
  • Business Excellence Award – Bizz Awards (2019, 2023)
  • AsiaOne Young Asian Entrepreneur (2019–2020)
  • The Silicon Review – 30 Most Inspiring Global Leaders to Watch (2021)
  • Global Recognition Award – Excellence in Business (2024)[14]
  • Noble Awards – Outstanding Global Award (2025)
  • Titan Global Awards – Global Startup Mentor of the Year (2025)

Jury and Mentorship Roles

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Ahmed has served as a jury member for over 35 international award programs, judging global corporations such as:[15]

Amazon, Saudi Aramco, IBM, CISCO, Bugatti, Tata, Coca-Cola, Upwork, DHL, Carrefour, Samsung, Turkish Airlines, and Philip Morris.[16]

Some of the major awards he has judged include:

  • International Business Awards[17]
  • CEO World Awards[18]
  • Golden Bridge Awards[19]
  • Women in Business Awards
  • Stevie Awards for Great Employers[20]
  • American Business Awards[21]
  • Middle East & North Africa Awards
  • Fortress Cyber Security Awards[22]
  • Stratus Awards
  • Big Innovation Awards

In 2023, he became the first Pakistani to Chair the International Business Awards. He is also a Global Mentor for the Startup World Cup 2025.[23]

Personal Life

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Ahmed resides in Karachi, Pakistan, and actively participates in mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs. He has become a prominent figure in Pakistan’s business community and continues to expand his influence through both local and international platforms.

References

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  1. ^ "Telemart aims at becoming Pakistan's best online retail store: Ahmed Rauf Essa". Biz Today. 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  2. ^ Desk, Monitoring (2019-04-05). "Five Pakistanis and a startup make it to Forbes '30 Under 30' Asia list". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-07-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "Ahmed Rauf Essa". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  4. ^ "Ahmed Rauf Essa". Karachi School of Business & Leadership. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  5. ^ Team, Cutacut Editorial (2019-04-04). "9 Pakistanis included in Forbes 30 under 30 list". cutacut. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  6. ^ Haider, Sarah B. (2019-04-04). "Five Pakistanis who made it to Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  7. ^ Ahmed, Zubair (2019-04-08). "List Of Pakistanis Featured In Forbes 30 Under 30 in Asia 2019". PakWired. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  8. ^ "Five Pakistanis, one startup make it on Forbes's 30 Under 30 list". Arab News PK. 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  9. ^ "Aziz Ahmed Kath takes oath as President of Okhai Memon Jamat". Biz Today. 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  10. ^ "Ahmed Rauf Esa". AMZSummits.com. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  11. ^ "Ahmed Rauf Essa". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  12. ^ Awards, Noble Business. "Noble Business Awards | Outstanding Global Entrepreneur". nobleawards.com. Retrieved 2025-07-09. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ Awards, Globee (2023-07-02). "2020 Winners | Leadership Awards". Globee® Business Awards. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  14. ^ "Ahmed Rauf Essa | CEO Rankings". www.ceorankings.com. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  15. ^ "Ahmed Rauf Essa | CEO Rankings". www.ceorankings.com. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  16. ^ "Ahmed Rauf Esa". AMZSummits.com. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  17. ^ Desk, Web (2019-04-05). "Pakistan receives six mentions in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list". ARY NEWS. Retrieved 2025-07-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ "Ahmed Rauf Essa | CEO Rankings". www.ceorankings.com. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  19. ^ Awards, Globee (2023-07-02). "2017 Winners | Golden Bridge Awards". Globee® Business Awards. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  20. ^ "Telemart - Most Innovative Startup of the Year". Stevie Awards. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  21. ^ "Telemart". Stevie Awards. 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  22. ^ "Judging Panel | Business Intelligence Group". www.bintelligence.com. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  23. ^ "Ahmad Rauf Essa". Tax Nerd - Simplifying Your Finance Needs!. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
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