KARACHI: Last week marked a momentous occasion as Google celebrated the graduation of 94 Pakistani game and app development studios from the second edition of Google’s App Growth Lab programme.
This year’s initiative showcased a remarkable expansion beyond mobile game developers, incorporating app developer studios and companies eager to accelerate their growth with Google. The total number of participating studios surged to 254, up significantly from the 54 studios in the previous year, underscoring the program’s amplified impact on Pakistan’s dynamic app and gaming ecosystem.
The programme, spanning from June to September 2023, unfolded in two crucial phases: an educational phase followed by an extensive support phase. Building on the success of the previous year, the latest edition featured substantial enhancements to provide a more tailored learning experience. Customized training sessions addressed the unique needs of gaming and app developer clients at different stages of their business journeys.
Throughout the program, participating studios had an exclusive opportunity to glean insights from Google experts across various domains, including Google Ads, AdMob, and Play. Immersive educational workshops and mentoring sessions provided invaluable knowledge, while industry leaders and global peers shared their expertise on navigating the journey from app development to launching apps and scaling their businesses to reach a global audience.
Farhan Qureshi, Google Regional Director for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, addressed the attendees, highlighting the inspiring story of Pakistan’s app economy. In 2022 alone, apps developed in Pakistan were downloaded an astounding 4 billion times globally. Additionally, 65 apps from Pakistani developers secured positions in the top 10 charts in Gaming and Apps verticals on Play Store and App Store in the same year.
Pakistani developers, who ranked 27th globally in terms of downloads in 2018, have ascended to become the 16th largest developer market by downloads, establishing Pakistan as the fastest-growing developer market globally.
Ehtisham Malik, Head of Marketing at MicZon, a participant from the Growth Lab program in 2022, commended the initiative, stating, “The Growth Lab program is an important initiative that will take Pakistan’s gaming industry to the next level.” He expressed gratitude for the valuable information learned during the program, emphasizing its relevance to their business.
Shoaib Ali, CEO of Al Basirr Technologies Private Limited, a participant in the 2023 Apps Growth Lab, lauded the impact of the training and support received. He highlighted the record growth achieved in the last couple of months, surpassing their accomplishments from the past six years. Ali extended gratitude to the entire Google Apps Growth Lab team for their unwavering commitment to their success.
Graduates of the Apps Growth Lab can further their collaboration with Google by applying for the Google App Acceleration Program (GAAP), where they can continue to receive support from Google specialists. Notably, various former GAAP participants have evolved into priority Google partners.
