Pakistan founded COLABS raises over $8 million and launches a 4,000 sqm workspace campus in Riyadh as demand for flexible offices rises among startups and SMEs.
Pakistan founded COLABS has raised more than $8 million to date and is expanding into Saudi Arabia with the launch of a new workspace campus in Riyadh, marking a shift toward physical infrastructure supporting startup ecosystems across the region.
The company, founded in 2019 by Omar Shah and Ali Shah, operates as a community led workspace platform designed for startups, small and medium sized enterprises and enterprise teams. Its model combines office infrastructure with programming, partnerships and network driven services that extend beyond traditional coworking formats.
The newly launched campus spans approximately 4,000 square meters in the Al Narjis district of northern Riyadh, representing the company’s first major international expansion. The move comes as Saudi Arabia continues to see rising startup formation and SME activity, creating increased demand for flexible and scalable office environments rather than long term commercial leases.
COLABS’ funding base includes regional investors such as Shorooq, Waseel Partners, Zayn VC, Indus Valley Capital and Fatima Gobi Ventures, reflecting cross border investor participation in workspace infrastructure tied to startup growth. The company has positioned its campuses as integrated environments where companies can operate, hire and access services within a single ecosystem, aligning with broader shifts in how early stage businesses structure operations.The expansion into Riyadh also connects two emerging startup markets, with the company indicating its intent to link entrepreneurial ecosystems between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia through shared infrastructure and networks.
Globally, flexible workspace operators have increasingly evolved from real estate providers into platform driven ecosystems. Companies such as WeWork scaled rapidly by offering shared office infrastructure across cities, while others like Incuspaze expanded to manage millions of square feet of workspace across multiple markets, reflecting sustained demand for flexible office solutions among startups and enterprises. The rise of coworking and managed office spaces has been closely tied to startup growth, where access to collaborative environments and shared resources supports faster iteration and knowledge exchange. Research into coworking dynamics highlights how shared spaces can facilitate collaboration and innovation among entrepreneurs and small teams.
In the Middle East, this demand is increasingly visible as startup ecosystems mature and companies look for operational infrastructure alongside capital. The Riyadh launch positions COLABS within a competitive but expanding segment focused on enabling startup formation, scaling and cross market collaboration.
With more than $8 million raised and a growing network of campuses, the company is now extending its model beyond its home market, aligning with broader regional trends where infrastructure for startups is becoming a core layer of ecosystem development rather than a secondary service.
