Meenah Tariq: A Tale of “Undying ambition”

Longtrepreneur continues to bring the best-in-class tech and business leaders to get their take on long-term thinking in the world of Commerce, Technology and Entrepreneurship.

This week’s “Take the L” series guest is an individual who needs no introduction: Meenah Tariq. 

Here is the conversation in an interview format between Yawar Abbas(Longtrepreneur) and Meenah Tariq(Metric – fintech startup)

Yawar: What is Meenah Tariq’s 60 seconds elevator pitch?

Meenah Tariq: My life’s cause is “Entrepreneurship.” As I connect the dots of my life looking backwards, as you can only do so looking backwards and not forward, my journey has been in the service of entrepreneurship.

I believe that entrepreneurship is an economic and social force. I have a strong association with it because, during my early life and realized that the only way for women to have agency to have financial independence is to be entrepreneurial and self-reliant.

Growing up in Islamabad, I used to get my 6 cousins and put them to work cleaning and detailing cars of our “Mahalla, aka street.” I became entrepreneurial not by choice but out of necessity.

Yawar: What is your morning routine upon waking up?

Meenah Tariq: I generally check my messages first thing in the morning. I have a 3-year-old daughter – she’s part of the morning routine. By the time I wake up, it’s also her time to wake up for the day. I then look around for where Omar(my husband and Metric co-founder) is and what he’s doing.

Omar is an early riser, aka the sun-rise gazer. Once I know everyone’s whereabouts at home, I eat my breakfast and head out to work.

Yawar: How has being a mother transformed you into the founder you are today?

Meenah Tariq: Mirana is my 3-year-old daughter, and she is a significant part of mine, my husband, and Metric – our startup. She goes to play school for half a day, then rejoins us at the office.

The year 2022 made a lot of things difficult in our lives. Thankfully, I did not break down drastically, apart from some sporadic crying sessions. My daughter Mirana was born on Dec 22, 2019.

I suffered a major postpartum depression; that time hit me hard and caught me off-guard. Lots of anxious moments, but at the same time, though – My 26-year-old brother was diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of cancer.

That changed the trajectory of our lives, as we had to take him to chemo and radiation therapy. Hospital visits kept him busy, and our whole family put all of our attention on my brother-in-law.

Yawar: Your husband – Omar, and you are co-founders at Metric. Does that spill into your family life? If not, how do you balance home and work?

Meenah Tariq: I think it does at times. Our married life, Mirana and Metric, is our life as we stand. We were talking about work-life balance a couple of days ago. Omar(my husband) has this theory where he talks about “when you’re doing something for which you feel strongly, that is life. That isn’t work anymore; that’s a mission.

As much as it goes against the conventional grain, our married and work lives have meshed together. We don’t follow the traditional work-life balance but enjoy what we do.

Yawar: What happens when there are arguments at work, is there quietness on the drive back home?

Meenah Tariq: Not really! However, Omar and I have worked on another startup in the past called “Baraa-Bajay means 12 o’clock, which was gift home delivery. It was a lifestyle business that we had to make a side income.

If you wanted to surprise anyone at midnight? Omar and I would personally do that for you. We did all the slog by ourselves. We sourced the products, made the baskets, drove to the places, and delivered them to customers. We did that for about 2 years. So, this isn’t the first time we have done something together as a business.

Omar and I have been together in a relationship since 2010. We pretty much grew up together. We have learnt to give each other our time, space, and respect for each other’s opinions.

So, No. There are no “silences in the car.”

Yawar: What are your 3 favourite dishes in Pakistani cuisine?

1. Haleem

2. Biryani

3. Nihari

Yawar: How was your fundraising process for “Metric?”

Meenah Tariq: We started our fundraising journey before the global financial meltdown. We closed our pre-seed round in 10 days. The process of completing a round was smooth for us.

Yawar: What’s the traction been for Metric?

Meenah Tariq: Metric app has customers in over 70 countries, and the app has garnered better outcomes than we had anticipated at the beginning. The metric app helps MSMEs (Micro, Small Medium Enterprises) streamline their accounting and other business metrics.

Many MSMEs find it tedious to perform accounting tasks and lose out on the growth their business could have. We stand together for the little guy and empower them to do big things.

Yawar: What is Metric’s elevator pitch?

Meenah Tariq: Metric is the world’s most founder-friendly accounting tool.

Yawar: Does Metric foresee offering revenue-share or other business credit to merchants using its platform?

Meenah Tariq: Yes! We are already having conversations with banks to make business credit available to merchants on our platform. Basic integration with merchant’s websites. Banks could also offer Metric to the former’s clients as KYC/AML becomes easier as banks can see all the transactional data on their end.

Yawar: As a partner at Karavan, what top 2 founder traits do you look for when investing?

Meenah Tariq:

1. Connection to the problem/idea: The idea/startup must resonate with the “higher inner calling” of a founder or the founding team. Startups are a hard slog; unless your startup ambition is not tied to a personal connection, you cannot make it work.

2. Openness to feedback: A founder or the founding team must be open to feedback and must listen without showing arrogance.

Yawar: What is your advice to budding women entrepreneurs?

Meenah Tariq: I found my “cheerleaders” and my community that backed me and my ambition to outdo myself and the problems I encountered along the way. I would tell any budding women entrepreneurs to “find your cheerleaders.”

Only settle once you find your true calling, which makes you truly happy and satisfied.

A woman with a supportive husband/spouse can propel women to new heights of success. Choose your husband wisely!

Yawar: How do you define “adversity?”

Meenah Tariq: Anything that gives you a “reality check.” Adversity allows us to change course and do what’s right, a step in the right direction. It all depends on you.

Yawar: Who is your favourite music artist?

Meenah Tariq: Abida Parveen

One of my favourite from her songs – Dhoondo gy Agar Mulkon Mulkon

Yawar: What is your 50-year vision for Metric?

Meenah Tariq: I want to build Metric into the “Facebook” of the accounting space. I want to see Metric be ingrained in every business’s daily life, inshallah!

Yawar: Which 3 people do you want to nominate for the “Take the L” interview series?

1. Jehan Ara – Founder Katalyst Labs

2. Shehryar Hydri – Managing Partner Deosai Ventures

3. Jawad Mian – Partner Karavan