Many have discovered you through restaurants and food reviews. Give us a brief background on who Saad Venture is?
I would describe myself as an explorer and a dreamer. I love challenges, and I’m always looking for ways to push myself out of my comfort zone and face my fears. I love travelling, discovering new places, meeting new people and experiencing new things.
But beyond the travel and food content people see online, I’m someone who believes in the power of dreams. I believe that if you have the ability to dream about something, you also have the power to work towards achieving it. It may not happen overnight, and there will definitely be setbacks along the way.
Where and what did you study in university/college?
I have a degree in Media Sciences from Iqra University in Karachi, Pakistan, where I majored in Animation and minored in Film & TV and Advertising. My studies gave me a strong foundation in visual storytelling and creative media, which has played a big role in shaping the content I create.
Favourite/ worst unit while on campus?
My favourite unit was Animation. I’ve always enjoyed the creative and practical side of media, and animation gave me the opportunity to bring ideas to life and experiment with different forms of storytelling. My least favourite were the more theoretical subjects.
Best and least favourite lecture?
My favourite lectures were definitely the ones around visual effects, storytelling, storyboarding, scriptwriting, sound design and character design. I loved anything that allowed me to take an idea from my imagination and turn it into something people could actually see, hear and connect with. My least favourite was probably Psychology. I understood its importance, but compared to the more hands-on subjects, I found it harder to connect with.
How was campus life generally?
My campus life had two very phases. When I first started, it was super fun and exciting. I made a lot of friends, and because most of our courses were practical, we were constantly working together, exploring different places and experimenting with new ideas outside the classroom. However, around the middle of my university life, I went through a difficult period with my mental health. I gradually stopped socialising, lost touch with many of my friends and became much more focused on myself and completing my degree. It was a challenging phase, but it also taught me a lot about myself and made me realise how important it is to take care of your mental well-being alongside your ambitions.
How did you make money while on campus?
I was working throughout my campus life. At one point, I was actually juggling two jobs alongside my studies — one was a full-time physical job, while the other was an online job. Thankfully, both employers were flexible and allowed me to attend my classes whenever I had lectures. It wasn’t always easy balancing work and university, but it taught me a lot about managing my time, being responsible and staying committed to my goals. I’m glad I started working while I was still in university because it gave me real-world experience.
How was dating on campus?
Dating on campus was definitely very common. But, interestingly, I never dated while I was in university. In fact, I had never dated before either, so I was single throughout my entire campus life.
What do you think of campus relationships?
I think campus relationships can be fun, but personally, I believe you should date when you’re serious about the person and see a possibility of taking the relationship to the next step.
Where did you hang out on weekends?
I spent my weekends with friends exploring different locations, especially places where we could shoot content or work on our assignments. Since most of our courses were practical, our assignments often gave us an excuse to go out and explore.
Classmates you will never forget?
Akshay, who was my first friend ever; Karishma, Vasfeen and Ayesha, who were there for me during a difficult phase when I had lost touch with most of my other friends.
How did you get into content creation and how long has it?
I started creating content during COVID, when we were all locked at home. I needed something to keep myself busy and keep my mind occupied, so I started creating. However, I eventually stopped due to my own personal struggles and kept putting it off for almost five years. This year, I finally told myself, “It’s now or never,” and started creating again and this time, I decided not to look back.
How does your work influence perceptions of Kenyan food and lifestyle globally?
I’m working hard to show the world the media versus the reality of Kenya. There are many misconceptions about Africa, and I want my content to show a different side — the food, lifestyle, people, culture and experiences that Kenya has to offer. I feel like I’m slowly changing those perceptions, one piece of content at a time.
What challenges have you faced adapting your content to Kenyan culture and audience being a Pakistani?
One of the biggest challenges has been the language barrier. I’m still learning Kiswahili and trying my best to improve, although I sometimes get teased for my accent or mistakes. Another challenge is that people often assume I’m Indian when they meet me, so I sometimes have to explain that I’m actually Pakistani. But I’ve embraced both challenges and see them as part of my journey of connecting with the Kenyan audience.
How has your experience been living and creating content in Kenya compared to other places?
It’s been really good so far. I’ve received so much love and support from people in Kenya in such a short time, which I never expected. It has made my experience of living and creating content here even more special.
A word, tip of encouragement or caution to young upcoming content creators?
Be patient and consistent. Content creation is not overnight fame; it takes a lot of hard work, time and consistency to build your name and find your audience. There will be days when you feel demotivated and want to give up, but those are the moments when you have to keep pushing. If you genuinely believe in your content and keep improving, you’ll eventually find the people who connect with it.
One last thing you would tell your campus self?
I would tell my campus self: thank you for not giving up. I’m genuinely proud of myself for getting through all the challenges I faced during those years. Looking back, I’m just thankful that I kept going, even when things were difficult.