Tech Desk 
Oct 11, 2025
In a market dominated by AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, Pakistani entrepreneur Ovais Tariq has snagged the spotlight with his startup, Tigris.
Aiming to create distributed data storage that “moves with compute,” Tigris has emerged as a next-gen cloud storage solution that disrupts the traditional model of centralised cloud storage and high egress fees.
The notable point is that Tigris is a globally distributed, multi-cloud object storage service designed for modern AI workloads. It uses innovative technologies like Dynamic Data Placement and Access-Based Rebalancing to ensure low-latency access worldwide.
Tariq’s journey began in Karachi, and while he grew up in modest circumstances, his passion for technology led him to study computer science at the University of Karachi.
Starting his career in data and cloud storage, he later worked remotely for a database company in Singapore, gaining exposure to large-scale data architecture.
Founded by engineers who contributed to Uber’s internal storage platform, Tigris is built on the premise that data should replicate at the very place where computation occurs. Tariq emphasises, “Storage had not really evolved with the compute revolution.”
Recently, Tigris raised $25 million in a Series A funding round and is now aiming to tackle overpriced data movement and vendor lock-in.
The startup is currently operating data centres in Virginia, Chicago, and San Jose, with plans to expand into Europe and Asia.
Tariq’s journey from Karachi to leading a global startup shows the potential and role of diaspora engineers in shaping technological infrastructure.
