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§ Accelerator · Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Flexible coworking spaces and tech platform accelerating the startup ecosystem in Pakistan with workspaces, back-office, and networking.
Based in Lahore, Pakistan, Colabs operates flexible coworking spaces and a tech-enabled platform providing back-office support and networking services for freelancers, startups, and multinational enterprises. The company manages a growing network of facilities with a current capacity of 1,000 seats serving over 100 companies, with technology firms occupying approximately 60 percent of its available commercial space. Its physical workspace and business soft-landing services cater to a diverse client base that includes recognizable corporate and startup entities such as Rocket Internet, SadaPay, and Coca-Cola. To finance its domestic expansion across Islamabad and Karachi, as well as future international growth into the Middle East and Africa, the enterprise secured $3 million in seed funding backed by institutional investors including Zayn Capital and Fatima Gobi Ventures. Colabs was founded in 2019 by brothers Omar Shah and Ali Shah.
Colabs has raised $9.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Colabs has raised $9.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Colabs has raised $9.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Colabs's investors include Ali Mukhtar, Aatif Awan, Faisal Aftab, Teddy Himler, Turner Novak, William Hockey, Kinnow Capital, Muir Capital, Sai Ventures, Shorooq Partners, Waad Investment.
CoLab Software is a technology company building an AI-powered platform for engineering teams to conduct virtual design reviews, capture feedback, and accelerate product development. It serves hardware and manufacturing engineering teams at enterprises like Ford, GE Appliances, Johnson Controls, Schaeffler, Komatsu, and Schneider Electric, solving the problem of slow, fragmented design collaboration that delays bringing physical products to market.[2][3] The platform integrates with PLM systems (e.g., Windchill, Teamcenter) and supports 30+ CAD file types, enabling real-time reviews, AI agents trained on company knowledge for insights, and outcomes like 30% shorter lead times, 4x faster supplier reviews, and millions in cost savings.[3] Founded with mechanical engineering expertise, CoLab has grown to over 150 employees globally, backed by Insight Partners, and evolved from design review tools to AI-assisted engineering workflows.[2]
(Note: Search results distinguish CoLab Software [2][3], a design collaboration platform, from CoLabs [1], a 2018 AI SaaS startup focused on contract management via IntelAgree, and unrelated entities like coworking [4] or location services [5]. This overview focuses on CoLab Software as the prominent active tech company matching the query.)
CoLab was founded in St. John’s, Newfoundland, by Jeremy Andrews, a mechanical engineer who experienced painful design review processes firsthand at Tesla and General Dynamics, where decisions on single parts took up to eight weeks.[2] Frustrated by tools not built for engineering collaboration, Andrews co-founded CoLab to streamline reviews and discussions on CAD designs, starting with browser-based accessibility for non-experts.[2][3] The team, including alumni from Rivian, Tesla, Northrop Grumman, and Komatsu, brought deep manufacturing experience, fostering early traction with enterprise clients.[2] Under Andrews' leadership, it scaled into a global company of 150+ employees, partnering with industry leaders and expanding into AI agents for real-time decision-making.[2][3]
CoLab rides the AI-for-engineering wave, addressing hardware design bottlenecks amid rising demand for faster physical product iteration in EVs, appliances, and industrial equipment—trends amplified by supply chain pressures and digital transformation in manufacturing.[2][3] Timing aligns with PLM/CAD maturation and generative AI adoption, where traditional tools lag in collaboration; CoLab's platform bridges this by making CAD "conversational" via AI, influencing ecosystems through integrations and knowledge codification that scales across suppliers.[3] It empowers SMEs to flag risks earlier, reducing waste in trillion-dollar industries, and sets a model for AI-human symbiosis in non-software engineering, potentially accelerating "life-changing products" like sustainable mobility solutions.[2]
CoLab is positioned to dominate AI-driven hardware design reviews as enterprises prioritize speed in competitive markets. Next steps likely include expanding AI agents for full program phases (e.g., predictive risk analysis) and deeper PLM/AI ecosystem integrations, fueled by growth with blue-chip clients.[2][3] Trends like multimodal AI, edge computing in manufacturing, and sustainability mandates will shape its path, evolving influence from review accelerator to end-to-end engineering co-pilot—potentially cutting development timelines from years to months for partners like Ford and GE. This builds on its mission to deliver products "years sooner," transforming how the world builds physical innovation.[2]
Colabs has raised $9.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in March 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 2022 | $3M Seed | ALI Mukhtar, Aatif Awan, Faisal Aftab | Teddy Himler, Turner Novak, William Hockey, Kinnow Capital, Muir Capital, SAI Ventures, Shorooq Partners | Announced |
| Dec 20, 2021 | $2M Seed Plus | Shorooq Partners | Waad Investment | Announced |
| Jun 28, 2018 | $4M Seed | — | — | Announced |