# Byte

> Byte is a Lahore-based food company that owns the whole plate - it cooks its own branded meals inside delivery-only dark kitchens and gets them to customers cheaply and fast. Founded in 2020 by former Uber Pakistan GM Safee Shah, it became the first Pakistani consumer internet startup backed by Y Combinator (S20). Instead of being a marketplace listing other restaurants, Byte runs its own in-house brands - fried chicken, biryani, pizza and wings - which lets it undercut incumbents like Foodpanda while controlling quality end to end.

- **Founded:** 2020
- **Headquarters:** Lahore, Pakistan
- **Founders:** Safee Shah (Founder & CEO)
- **Team size:** ~35-50 employees (grew from ~30 to ~50 during 2024)
- **Products:** Byte app, Smackin Fried Chicken, Biryani Bowls, Filppin' Hot Pizza, Just Wing It
- **Notable:** First Pakistani consumer internet startup accepted into Y Combinator (Summer 2020 batch)., One of the first two Pakistani startups ever backed by Y Combinator, alongside Safepay., Reported growth from roughly $4.5M to $7.4M revenue run rate within 2024.

## Products & services

- **Byte app** — On-demand ordering app (iOS and Android) for delivery and takeaway from Byte's own dark kitchens.
- **Smackin Fried Chicken** — In-house fried chicken brand cooked and delivered from Byte's dark kitchens.
- **Biryani Bowls** — In-house biryani brand offered through the Byte app.
- **Filppin' Hot Pizza** — In-house pizza brand priced to undercut established local and international chains.
- **Just Wing It** — In-house wings brand delivered from Byte's kitchens.

## Achievements

- First Pakistani consumer internet startup accepted into Y Combinator (Summer 2020 batch).
- One of the first two Pakistani startups ever backed by Y Combinator, alongside Safepay.
- Reported growth from roughly $4.5M to $7.4M revenue run rate within 2024.
- Built a portfolio of four in-house food brands operating from delivery-only kitchens.

## Latest updates

- **2020-08** — Byte announced as YC S20 company and raised $150,000; first Pakistani consumer internet startup backed by Y Combinator.
- **2024-06** — Reported ~$4.5M revenue run rate with about 30 employees.
- **2024-12** — Reported ~$7.4M revenue run rate with headcount grown to about 50.
- **2025-01** — Reported valuation around $22.1M referenced in later M&A/offer data.

## Links

- Website: https://thebyte.app
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/byte-app
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/SafeeShah

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/byte-yc-s20
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-31