Teenage business owner and CEO Abdul Rehman Tasleem lightens up the disappointment faced on Shark Tank Pakistan
In a tale that previously was meant to inspire millions, a young businessman successful second on Shark Tank Pakistan has turned disappointing. Teenage business owner and CEO Abdul Rehman Tasleem publicly shared the fall down of his widely acclaimed deal with merchants on the show revealing an aspect of the entrepreneurial journey rarely seen on TV.
From Lahore, Abdul Rehman was still in twelfth grade when he established Stuffeez.pk in April 2023. His startup committed to cultivating environmentally friendly teddy bears filled with recycled plastic soon witnessed its place in Pakistan’s emerging sustainable products market. In mere 18 months, the startup had raked in Rs 4.9 million in revenues, with phenomenal gross margins of 31% and an average order value of Rs 7,400.
When Abdul appeared on Episode 7 of Shark Tank Pakistan in 2024, he boldly asked for Rs 2.5 million in exchange for 10% stakes. His passion and environmentally friendly mission resonated with the judges to the extent that three investors offered him Rs five million for 22% equity a proposition he happily general on nationwide TV.
Behind the Scenes: A Dream Begins to Crumble
But what was considered a dream come true in short order unraveled off-camera. Breaking his ride in a sincerity-filled Instagram post, Abdul positive how verbal communication from the customers came to a standstill quickly following the incident was recorded.
“In mid-September, I showed my startup and raised a commitment of PKR five million. It was like the launch of some thing massive,” he penned. A WhatsApp group was once set up, and an initial approach meeting used to be organized in October. However, even though there had been talks of scaling the business, the pledged investment used to be never mentioned anymore.
In spite of presenting more than forty confirmed documents for due diligence, Abdul reported his follow-up messages were not acknowledged. Meetings were canceled or attended reluctantly. “It was once complete silence,” he remembered. In December, a single one of the traders contacted in private to announce the various two have been “scammers without cash,” advising to proceed on my own solely to disappear apart from clarification weeks later.
Ghosted and Gutted, but Not Defeated
The journey left Abdul now not only disappointed but also disrespected. “What started as a dream grew to become into a painful lesson,” he mentioned. “But this has solely bolstered my get to the bottom of to develop Stuffeez.pk with integrity and resilience.”
His revelations have ignited a fiery debate online. Some have come out in his defense, praising his courage as admirable, but others have called for more openness. Posts below his submit range from encouragement “More electricity to you!” to doubts “Do you have any proof?” and jail suggestions such as “Sue them.”
No Response from the Sharks… Yet
To date, Shark Tank Pakistan and the concerned traders have now not made any public statement of denial regarding the allegations. The silence has only added fuel to the controversy and raised questions about the genuineness of deals made on the show and the responsibilities of well-known investors.
Abdul Rehman tale is not just about a long-past-deal gone wrong anymore. It’s a bracing reminder of how tough it is for young entrepreneurs even after national exposure. It’s also a call to action for greater responsibility within Pakistan’s startup scene.
For now, Abdul is determined to move on, working on building his business “on his own terms.” And while the sharks might also have ghosted him, the nation is really listening.
For better recollections of Pakistan’s entrepreneurial history, look at Pakistan Updates.
