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About Us
​The Growth Circle is dedicated to empowering students, fresh graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals seeking business growth and success. We provide practical, hands-on training in entrepreneurship, e-commerce, digital marketing, and startup building, while fostering a supportive community of like-minded individuals. Our comprehensive approach includes personalized mentorship programs, curated investment opportunities vetted by experienced professionals, in-depth e-commerce knowledge, and a strong foundation in financial education and wealth creation; all designed to guide you from idea to execution and beyond.
Our Mission
​We believe that everyone deserves access to practical, real-world business education that goes beyond theory. Our mission is to bridge the gap between traditional education and the skills needed to thrive in today's dynamic digital economy. We're committed to providing hands-on training that delivers tangible results and creates lasting impact in the lives of our members.
Our Vision
​To create a world where every individual has the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build thriving businesses and achieve financial freedom. We envision a future where entrepreneurship is accessible to all, where practical education empowers action, and where a global community of innovators supports one another in turning dreams into reality.
How Are We Different?
Language Accessibility: Urdu and English content; financial education for every Pakistani, not just English speakers.​
Value First: We earn your membership by delivering results, not by asking for fees upfront.
Outcome Focus: We measure income generated, not course completions.
Transparent Vetting: Every opportunity analyzed with clear risk profiles; no more blind trust.​
Meet Our Team
Our team brings together passionate professionals united by a shared commitment to excellence and innovation. With diverse backgrounds spanning design, development, strategy, and client relations, we combine our unique strengths to deliver exceptional results for every project.
Umar Farooq
Founder TGC
Umar Rana is a technology leader and entrepreneur with 24+ years building the infrastructure behind Pakistan's digital economy from telecommunications to e-commerce, payments and organizational transformation. Starting his career in 1998, Umar developed technical expertise across information and communication technologies. His formative years at Telenor (2004-2013) saw him leading technology teams and managing complex infrastructure projects, developing the operational discipline that would define his entrepreneurial approach. As Founder & CEO of Alchemative (2014-2024), Umar built critical e-commerce enablers that helped businesses scale online. Following Devsinc's acquisition of Alchemative, he now serves as Senior Vice President at Devsinc, where he continues to build high-performance products that transform the global e-commerce landscape while empowering growth through strategic networks and resources. Umar is also Managing Director at Insightive, which acts as an enabler for people needing a platform to explore global markets for their products and services bridging local capability with international opportunity. His entrepreneurial ventures include ManageWise (2014-2017), the first SaaS-based education management system for Pakistan's market and Adex 360 (2018-2024), a performance marketing agency that delivered measurable ROI for premium brands. He architected Gingko (2019-2024), building an omnichannel retail engine that bridged physical and digital commerce. As Co-Founder of UnumPay (2022-Current), Umar created a Shopify payments plugin that made e-commerce payments accessible for Pakistani merchants solving a critical infrastructure gap that was blocking online retail growth. Beyond technology ventures, Umar founded The Growth Circle (TGC), a Pakistani value creation ecosystem focused on practical wealth generation education through four integrated platforms: TGC Academy (skills training), TGC Studios (content production), TGC Events (community building) and TGC Ventures (vetted opportunities). Operating as a hybrid non-profit/for-profit, TGC translates knowledge into capital for ambitious Pakistani professionals. Umar also works as an HR and organizational design consultant, specializing in helping technical organizations and startups build scalable structures—bridging the gap between services DNA and product DNA through frameworks that prioritize function over politics. His career exemplifies a consistent commitment to innovation, scalable solutions and creating lasting impact across multiple industries. His approach is simple: build what's missing, solve real problems and create systems that scale beyond their founders.
Irfan Bhutta
Co-Founder TGC Media
Irfan Bhutta is a seasoned media and partnerships expert with over 10 years of professional experience across broadcast media, public relations, fintech, and eCommerce. His career began in the media industry, where he spent more than six years working with leading Pakistani news channels including SAMAA News, 24 News, and other prominent local media platforms. This foundation shaped his expertise in media relations, strategic communication, and stakeholder management. Building on his strong media and PR background, Irfan transitioned into the technology sector, where he has spent the past five years driving partnerships and growth initiatives within fintech and eCommerce ecosystems. With hands-on experience in Shopify, digital commerce, and fintech payment systems, he specializes in forming high-impact alliances that expand market reach, strengthen brand positioning, and deliver scalable business growth. Irfan’s professional journey includes key roles at Alchemative, where he entered the tech landscape through media and partnerships, and Devsinc, where he currently serves as Partnerships and Growth Lead. Across these roles, he has consistently bridged media, technology, and business, leveraging PR intelligence, liaison expertise, and strategic collaboration to unlock new opportunities. As a founder, Irfan now leads TGC Media, bringing together his diverse experience in media, public relations, and partnership-led growth. His leadership is driven by a relationship-first mindset and a deep understanding of how media narratives, PR positioning, and strategic partnerships come together to build credibility, influence, and long-term brand value.
Neelam
Idrees
Co-Founder TGC Academy
Neelam Idrees is an experienced Product Manager and entrepreneur with over a decade of professional expertise in building user-centric, scalable products and leading cross-functional teams. With hands-on industry exposure across diverse domains, she brings a strategic mindset that bridges business goals, technology, and customer needs. She holds a Product Management Certification from Google and has completed advanced leadership and entrepreneurship programs from LUMS, IBA, and McKinsey & Company. Her professional journey reflects a deep commitment to innovation, problem-solving, and developing impactful digital products. With proven E-commerce experience, Neelam understands the practical realities of building, launching, and scaling digital businesses. This experience positions her as the driving force behind TCG Academy, where she combines product thinking, market insight, and execution-focused leadership to empower learners with real-world, monetizable skills. Her work is guided by clarity, growth, and sustainable impact—both in products and in people.