The National Incubation Center at LUMS, Lahore (NICL) has launched applications for its eighth Cohort with the aim to inspire, engage, enable and facilitate innovative entrepreneurs ready to solve critical problems for Pakistan.

NICL’s goal is to partner with visionaries, intuitive problem solvers and business enthusiasts to incubate a greater percentage of businesses that address a large commercial opportunity and attract investment capital for growth. Through their focused approach towards providing training and networking support to tech-based changemakers in Pakistan, NICL serves as a launching pad for start-ups, bolstering the nascent entrepreneurial ecosystem of the country.

“With a keen focus on high-impact sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, finance, and the environment, NICL aims to channel the power of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud, blockchain, 3D printing, and the Internet of Things NICL to enable real-world impact and scalable business success,” commented Saleem Ahmad, Chairman, NICL.

“Our renewed vision envisages greater participation from corporate leaders and experienced professionals who are seeking value creation and problem solving by pivoting their expertise to entrepreneurship.  We can facilitate them with requisite resources to fill any gaps in their effort to create a business around their idea such as training, mentor connectivity or partnerships with co-founders and teammates”, he added.

Induction to the NICL program is a competitive process. Applications are reviewed by members of NICL’s Foundation Council, which includes successful entrepreneurs with a diverse range of experiences who have themselves raised significant capital for growth, as well as angel and venture investors active in Pakistan. Once the start-ups with the most potential for impact and success are selected, they are exposed to a meticulous curriculum offered by NICL’s top tier LUMS faculty and international experts.

The course content comprises essential knowledge for budding start-ups with modules on design thinking, strategy and business modelling, marketing and market research as well as the legal and financial aspects of entrepreneurship. They are also given access to state-of-art labs to facilitate prototyping of their solutions. This applied focus, complemented by bespoke workshops and mentorship by LUMS alumni, is instrumental in sculpting abstract ideas into tangible reality.

The program paves the way for the capstone Investor Summit, where start-ups are given the opportunity to pitch their ideas and interact with early-stage venture investors.

This is an exclusive opportunity for passionate problem solvers and courageous entrepreneurs looking for the right guidance to catapult their ideas to success.

The application deadline for Cohort 8 is 25^th July. Interested applicants can access the application form at niclahore.com/apply.

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Social Innovation Lab is now open for all the applications from willing participants for the 8th cycle of The Hatchery.

This early-stage incubator is a platform for the entrepreneurs who have creative ideas.

The Hatchery is divided into four phases. It aims to provide help to budding entrepreneurs from idea to the final implementation stage. The cycle helps them by providing them with facilities like mentoring, training and in-house support services.

Social Innovation Lab is a LUMS based incubator serving the entrepreneurs to achieve their goals. It also has links with international organizations which work together with SIL on research and consultancy projects.

Social Innovation Lab was found by Maryam Mohiuddin. She herself is famous for social enterprises and her services towards different organizations all around Pakistan.

SIL and the local partners from areas are also working together to offer community engagement and immersion programs in Hunza and Thar for the startups.

The best part about the whole thing is that it provides evening sessions to help the students and young professionals.

Today’s successful startups Rizq, Ravvish, AMDEN and Turr Lahore have been the part of the incubation program in the past.

For your convenience on 23rd January an Open House at LUMS. The Open House is announced so that any interested participant can get information about the cycle easily.

Remember that the last date for application submission is January 28, 2017.

If you are interested than don’t wait. Apply here.

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Hashim Yasin, who is facilitator of Startup Weekend Karachi said at the end of the event,

“I’ve never seen a Startup Weekend with such fine-tuned pitches and great ideas. The pitches were raw but the quality was something that was on the whole different level.”

Google for Entrepreneurs powered The STARTUP WEEKEND KARACHI, 2016. The hosting of the event was sponsored by Entrepreneur Organization (EO) locally, Aplós Innovations and SEED Ventures.

United State Consul General was called as chief guest on last day of fourth session. The event ended on 27 November, 2016.

There were talks and news everywhere in the City of Lights about this great event. Event became centre of attraction for many people not only in Karachi but the whole Pakistan.

The total event was covered in 54 hours. It aimed to groom ones skill. Give him/her confidence, experience and guidance.

It was brought to you by Media Group, Lipton, FM 91, Pizza Hut; Star links PR, ProPakistani, Bookitnow.pk and many others.

This year, Startup Weekend Karachi 2016 attracted more than 120 participants, with over 50+ pitches and 14+ startups formed during the weekend. The event took place in KASBIT University, Karachi.

The winning teams’ details are as follows:

1st Prize and Winner of Startup Weekend Karachi 2016: Comfort Cart

Customized shopping carts along with an app to avoid the hassle of waiting in lines

1st Runner-up: YesYes

It delivers chemicals and medicines at the door step of your house.nnn

2nd Runner-up:  Parhao Sabaq

A web and app platform that connects tutors and students

Hashim Yasin was the facilitator and the event was starred with some really high profile judges, guests and mentors which included:

• Jamal Baquar (Vice President of NBP)
• Imtisaal Abbasi (COO of IAL Satchi&Satchi)
• Danish Amjad (Telenor Velocity)
• Azfar Ahsan (Founder of Nutshell Forum)
• Shahzad Sabir (group director of Usman Anjarwala Group of Companies (UAGC)
• Nauman Vohra (President of EO)
• Faraz Khan (CEO of Seed Ventures)
• Zakiuddin (President OPEN Karachi)
• Essa (CEO of Essa Laboratories) and many more.

The post Startup Weekend Karachi 4th Edition Ends Successfully appeared first on Techlist.

Plan9, ICCBS Signed MoU to Explore New Platforms for Entrepreneurs. Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Punjab Information Technology Board’s (PITB) Plan9 project and International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.

The MoU has aimed to explore new platforms for entrepreneurs for partnership of both sides.

One of the representatives of ICCBS said, “Both the institutions would collaborate in the areas of mutual interests, including Internet of Things (IOT) and Information Technology.”

According to him the MoU was signed at LEJ, National Science Information Centre (ICCBS), and University of Karachi.

PITB chose Usama Tauqeer to represent them ad sign the agreement with ICCBS. Director of ICCBS’s Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary signed the MoU on behalf of ICCBS. The other present witnesses were Dr. Hina Siddiqui and Syed Azfar Hussain of ICCBS.

Prof. Iqbal Choudhary could even not resist sharing his views about the signed MoU. He said, “This is a good initiative taken by Punjab Information Technology Board to promote business and entrepreneurship among youth and newcomers in business sector.”  He further added, “This agreement is linked with the ICCBS Technology Incubator and Industrial Park (TIIP), which is going to be launched soon at the ICCBS, University of Karachi.”

Usama Tauqeer said, “That the Plan-9 network partners’ envision is promoting entrepreneurship in Pakistan by collaborating with institutions and organizations that share the same vision. Plan-9 aims to replicate its model of business incubation that is considered credible globally. It will guide network partners in implementing the model; the Plan-9 will provide partner access to its network of trainers, mentors and investors.”

Hope this partnership goes well between the two.

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Jehan Ara (President – Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA))

Jehan  Ara

Jehan Ara (@jehan_ara) is the President of Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITES (P@SHA).  She has 29 years’ familiarity in Marketing, interactive and Communications New media. Worked in Hong Kong, the Far East, the UAE and Pakistan. She is a motivator, an entrepreneur, a social activist

She has developed the P@SHA brand and also generated linkages between P@SHA and native and international partners. She is collaborating on an enterprise called Take Back the Tech  in order to inculcate awareness on how technology can be connected to end Violence against Women. Her program Women’s Virtual Network is bringing more women into the financial fold. Also running The Nest i/o Tech incubation center.

She is in the Advisory Boards of the Punjab IT Board, Plan 9 Incubator, LUMS Center for Entrepreneurship. Also  incubator “The Foundation” and many universities. She is helping other female tech entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

Kalsoom Lakhani

Kalsoom Lakhani – Founder Invest2Innovate

Kalsoom Lakhani (@kalsoom82) is the Founder of Invest2Innovate, which funds startups and the wider private inventiveness ecological unit in mounting markets, beginning in Pakistan. Kalsoom is also the co-founder of The Hero Project, a storytelling stage that rejoices and highlights everyday secreted heroes. She is an associate of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers.

Diplomatic Courier’s Top 99 Foreign Policy Leaders under 33 included Kalsoom  in 2012, and was named an Ashoka Changemakers/ American Express Emerging Innovator for 2013.

She also created the popular blog, CHUP, or Changing Up Pakistan in January 2008.  She has been writing for the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, Foreign Policy, NextBillion and Pakistan’s Dawn Newspaper.

Roshaneh Zafar

Roshaneh Zafar – Founder and Managing Director of Kashf Foundation

Roshaneh Zafar (@RoshanehZafar) is the establishing follower of the Pakistan Microfinance Network. She sits on the board of numerous NGOs comprising Women’s World Banking, Pakistan Microfinance Network and Kaarvan Crafts. She owns the associate ship of the Vital Voices La Pietra Council . Also the World Economic Forum, UN Advisory Group on Inclusive Financial Services, Gender Gap Council and Financial Empowerment Council.

In 1996 Roshaneh have started Kashf Foundation in Pakistan. She is the Chairperson of Kashf Holdings and Founder of Kashf Microfinance Bank Limited. She is an organizer and Managing Director of the Kashf Foundation situated in Pakistan. Kashf was the first NGO-MFI to widen the opportunity of microfinance by leading insurance services.

She was awarded the Tamghai Imtiaz, and a Vital Voices Economic Empowerment Award in 2010.

Ghulam Sughra

Ghulam Sughra – Founder Marvi Rural Development Organization

She formed the NGO that was solely emerged for the generation of community investments funds. Her NGO name is  Marvi Rural Development Organization (MRDO). It is hovering mindfulness of education, health, human rights, and social development issues. She became her town’s first female high school graduate and the first teacher at the first school established for girls. She was granted   International Women of Courage Award in 2011.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai – Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate.

She is the young Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban and gained attention by this incident and has won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. As the global speaker for girls’ education, she had even traveled to the United States to meet President Obama in 2013.

Her efforts regarding education includes  the formation of Malala Fund. This fund invests in early stage girls’ education enterprises or small administrations in republics like Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya and Jordan. She has been working in the online digital platform WDL for more than 5 years. An online platform that provides digital training and work to Pakistani women.

Sidra Qasim

Sidra Qasim – Founder of Markhor

Sidra Qasim is founder and co-maker of Markhor that makes high quality handcrafted shoes and sells directly to the end customer. The startup is backed by Y Combinator and raised $107,286 on Kickstarter.

Sidra primarily focuses on product, operations and hiring. She studied Economics from University of the Punjab, Lahore and is also an Acumen Fellow 15.

Follow her on Twitter at @sidraqasim

Maria Umar

Maria Umar – Founder of Women’s Digital League (WDL)

Maria Umar (@MariaUmar) founder of Women’s Digital League (WDL) was designated a Thought Leader by Ashoka Changemakers. Also took part in the Change makers’ competition nominated “Women Powering Work”   and    “the Early Stage Award” was conquered by Maria. .

She is the Discoverer and Paramount of The Digital League concentrates on all sorts of computer-based facilities for instance reasonable content inscription. Also cybernetic support, systems of CRM , CMS systems, development of website , and art of making video films to clients all over the world.

She has taught entrepreneurship in universities of Africa. Young Global Shaper at World Economist Forum also included Maria and a 2012 Qualifier of Echoing Green Fellowship. She worked as a software engineer with Oracle, Inc. and Thompson Reuter in Minneapolis. Moreover, the  MIT International Sciences and Technology Initiatives curriculum in China was also designed by her.

Saba Gul

Saba Gul – Founder of Popinjay

Saba Gul (@sabagl) is the founder of popinjay which is re-branded from BLISS. Popinjay is serving underprivileged girls in Pakistan. BLISS was originally a non-profit organization where she was providing work to the unskilled women. It has now propelled itself as an income producing organization. So that the products produced participate in a highly competitive customer market of fashion industry. Where demand fulfillment can take flight and bring more revenue .

She is a human rights activist and a loving soul who ran her personal NGO with the designation of Originator and Director of TSF.

Rabia Garib

Rabia Garib – CEO of Rasala Publications/ToffeeTV

Rabia Garib (@rabiagarib) is the CEO of Rasala Publications where she is performing business policies, content improvement, training and design. Her desire for information technology, education and technology trade broadcasting are insightful. Based on her experience in technology trade media and junction of different media platforms since 1998, she was nominated as an Eisenhower Fellow. To exemplify Pakistan in the 2-month Multi Nation Program among 24 other countries, and specialized in the field of technology, New Media. And Trade Journalism.

She is   now concentrating on being the Chief Wrapper at ToffeeTV, which she founded with Talea Zafar.

ToffeeTV emphasizes on providing children with knowledge and entertainment in Urdu. She has promoted the local IT industry and the manner it helps to form Pakistan’s global image and often explains that the forthcoming and future of any nation lies in the hands of its children and the preservation of its language, culture and heritage. If you aren’t by this time concentrating on restricted content development for education, your well being will be caste by other individuals.

She was an eminent designer for Yahoo Mail, the corporation’s flagship service with over 260 million users. She is also the creator of Tech for Change, which is a non-profit organization, emphasizing on carrying entrepreneurs, designers and developers  together in order to assistance and eradicate most of Pakistan’s civic problems.

Sheba Najmi

Sheba Najmi – Founder of Code for Pakistan

Sheba Najmi (@snajmi) is the founder of Code for Pakistan, a technology determined non-profit structure civic innovation ecosystem to develop quality of life across Pakistan. She has widespread familiarity in design organization, product policy, product management, evolving entrepreneurship, and civic appointment.

Starting her career as a TV anchor and reporter, she previously functioned as a Fellow at Code for America and at Yahoo. Sheba is also employed at various companies including a Consultant at the World Bank Growth Hacker at Tradecraft, User Experience Design Consultant at Cloudwords, Incorporate and is significantly present on the Board of Advisors of Go-Fig Solutions.

Sophia Hasnain

Being a Market Engagement Manager for Asia, Sophia Hasnain is accountable for constructing relationships with the machinists and sponsors across the region, leading projects with the workers in the region to develop understandings on themes such as OTC immigration, fraud and risk management, efficient third-party incorporation, customer experience and rural distribution.

Sophia has 15 + years of experience of functioning on new ideas and growing them to deliver innovative products with IT and Telecom companies.

Fariha Akhtar

Fariha Akhtar – Software Engineer, blogger/live blogger

Fariha Akhtar (@farihaak) is a Software Engineer, blogger/live blogger (1st technology live blogger of Pakistan) as well as an activist. She finds issues relating to human rights particularly women rights near to her concern.

Basically she is a tech expert. She also became the associate of the TakeBack. TheTech campaign which wishes to boost the use of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) to fight VAW(Violence Against Women) and also to permit women to use ICTs safely.

Technology, Online Activism, Women Issues, Online Privacy and Security, ICTs for Development Not just surviving but thriving in a male dominated society of Pakistan. Also Reaching out to and empowering not just urban but also rural women folk Software Development, Online Privacy, VAW in Pakistan.

Above all female tech entrepreneurs are proud of Pakistan.

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