Pakistan's Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives has signed a Letter of Intent with Plug and Play Tech Center, paving the way for the Silicon Valley platform to establish operations in Islamabad and Karachi and accelerate up to 300 Pakistani startups through its global network.
Haseebullah Soomro, founder of Foran Delivery and NIC Hyderabad incubatee, built Pakistan's first 24/7 quick commerce platform after personally delivering grocery orders on a motorcycle, achieving 19.5 times GMV growth and PKR 2.5 crore ARR in 11 months.
National Incubation Center Karachi has partnered with Karachi School of Business and Leadership as Official Outreach Partner for ELXR Hackathon 2026, connecting aspiring innovators, entrepreneurs, developers, and problem-solvers with one of Pakistan's leading hackathons.
The Wafi Tameer Awards 2026 launch ceremony at Wafi House featured a fireside chat on Enabling Pakistan's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with Faizan Laghari of Startup Syndicate, Azhar Rizvi of Salim Habib University, and Syed Azfar Hussain of NIC Karachi, with eligible founders able to apply at the official link.
NIC Karachi is hosting a curriculum session on Growth Hacking for Startups on July 10, 2026, at 4:00 PM, featuring Faisal Siddiqui, Advisor and Consultant for Tech Companies in Global Business Expansion, covering acquisition channels, growth strategies, and key metrics for scaling.
OPEN Lahore Youth is hosting Build Before You Graduate on July 11, 2026, at NIC Lahore, featuring panelists Ammar Ali Ayub and Yahya Humayun for an evening of unfiltered founder stories, raw Q&A, and networking for student entrepreneurs and aspiring founders.
Pathfinder Citadel has opened applications for PARWAAZ, its National Tech Fellowship offering hands-on training in AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Web3 and Blockchain, with expert mentorship, capstone projects, and career-focused development for aspiring tech professionals.
OPEN Islamabad has officially launched an AI Special Interest Group bringing together founders, developers, researchers, and tech leaders to drive collaborative innovation, mentorship, and ecosystem building around artificial intelligence and responsible tech policy.
NIC Faisalabad is hosting a session on Revenue Models and Pricing Strategies on July 8, 2026, led by Qurat-ul-ain Mumtaz, President of WCCIP, helping startup founders build sustainable revenue streams and value-based pricing structures.
NIC Hyderabad hosted a Pitch Deck Review Session for Cohort 9 applicants, helping founders sharpen value propositions, strengthen business models, and refine their storytelling ahead of the upcoming selection and pitching stage.
Qaflah has introduced an AI-powered Intelligence Index on its startup profile platform, providing founders with instant scoring and analysis across fundability, traction, market strength, and future potential, with actionable improvement suggestions.
National Incubation Center Karachi is inviting founders, entrepreneurs, and problem solvers working on Food Security and AgriTech innovations to apply for Cohort 16, offering mentorship, industry connections, and ecosystem support to build scalable solutions.
NIC Islamabad's Founder Institute Cohort 5 is hosting Pitch Perfect, a session on mastering startup storytelling led by Programme Manager Kamran Taufiq Khan on July 2, 2026, helping founders turn their journey into compelling narratives that resonate with investors, partners, and customers.
NIC Islamabad's Founder Institute Cohort 5 held a Revenue and Business Model session led by mentors Jivko Ivanov, Anna Leshchuk, and Zunaira Omar, covering business model frameworks, pricing strategies, revenue streams, and customer economics for sustainable startup growth.
More than 30 startups in NSTP Hatch 8 Cohort 6 are progressing through structured workshops covering business modelling, brand identity, founder dynamics, and product thinking, applying session learnings directly to refine their ventures in real time.
Haseebullah Soomro, founder of Foran Delivery and NIC Hyderabad incubatee, built Pakistan's first 24/7 quick commerce platform after personally delivering grocery orders on a motorcycle, achieving 19.5 times GMV growth and PKR 2.5 crore ARR in 11 months.
Pakistan's Sehat Kahani has rebranded as Curova, positioning itself as a global healthcare platform targeting expansion into the UAE, Kenya, the Middle East, and Africa, building on years of digital health experience and impact within Pakistan's healthcare ecosystem.
Dr Muhammad Umair Arif, Founder of The Disrupt Labs and NIC Karachi mentor, appeared on Digital 365 News morning show Rise and Shine to discuss startups, artificial intelligence, mobile security, and cybersecurity awareness for everyday users.
NSTP organised a Cube 8 Focus Group featuring Adnan Shaffi, Founder and CEO of PriceOye, bringing together 17 plus founders for practical insights on customer acquisition, sales execution, NPS-driven growth, and building scalable startup ecosystems.
Hallar Azad, founder of CEGA-incubated startup Mixeal, has been elected as a Board Member of IGDA Pakistan's Karachi Chapter, joining four other members across Lahore and Islamabad in a new board that will support Pakistan's game development ecosystem.
Tasdeeq, the infrastructure of digital trust in Pakistan, is set to become the first credit bureau to list on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, marking a significant step toward greater transparency, investor confidence, and financial innovation in Pakistan's capital markets.
TPL Corp Limited has disclosed that an international investment group has expressed interest in acquiring a majority stake in its subsidiary TPL Trakker, a leading Pakistani provider of tracking, telematics, and IoT solutions, in a notice filed with the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
NIC Faisalabad's Investor Summit 6.0 has confirmed the participation of Fatima Gobi Ventures, Amaana Capital, New Energy Nexus, Accelerate Prosperity, and Groundup, bringing investment expertise spanning technology, agriculture, healthcare, education, and sustainable ventures to engage with Faisalabad's startups.
Nectar Social, an AI-powered social engagement platform co-founded by sisters Misbah Uraizee and Farah U, has raised a USD 30 million Series A led by Menlo Ventures and Anthology Fund, with the founders based at Daftarkhwan Downtown in Lahore.
Respond.io, the AI-powered customer conversation platform co-founded by a Pakistani entrepreneur from Peshawar, has raised USD 62.5 million in a Series B round led by Camber Partners, reaching USD 35 million in annual recurring revenue with 169 percent year-on-year growth.
National Incubation Center Karachi has partnered with Karachi School of Business and Leadership as Official Outreach Partner for ELXR Hackathon 2026, connecting aspiring innovators, entrepreneurs, developers, and problem-solvers with one of Pakistan's leading hackathons.
The Wafi Tameer Awards 2026 launch ceremony at Wafi House featured a fireside chat on Enabling Pakistan's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem with Faizan Laghari of Startup Syndicate, Azhar Rizvi of Salim Habib University, and Syed Azfar Hussain of NIC Karachi, with eligible founders able to apply at the official link.
Accelerate Prosperity Syria's Scale Up 4 Demo Day brought together 22 entrepreneurs for project exhibitions and pitching sessions before a jury panel, with 9 projects selected to advance to technical and economic feasibility evaluation for soft loan financing access.
Uzair Shahid, Head of Innovation and Incubation at Beaconhouse National University, will serve as an evaluator at the Projects Open House and Recruitment Drive 2026 organized by Riphah International University Lahore, reflecting BNU's commitment to industry-academia collaboration.
OPEN Lahore hosted a tech meetup featuring Nectar Social co-founders Misbah Uraizee and Farah U, bringing together technology professionals, legal practitioners, and ecosystem builders for discussions on innovation, startups, and Pakistan's evolving digital landscape.
Canva Community Karachi is returning with a new meetup in collaboration with NIC Karachi as Growth Partner, bringing together founders, freelancers, marketers, creators, entrepreneurs, students, and designers for creative conversations and meaningful connections.
Pakistan's Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives has signed a Letter of Intent with Plug and Play Tech Center, paving the way for the Silicon Valley platform to establish operations in Islamabad and Karachi and accelerate up to 300 Pakistani startups through its global network.
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal addressed a gathering of twenty Pakistani-American entrepreneurs, technologists, and financiers, inviting them to bring capital, networks, and expertise to Pakistan under the URAAN-Pakistan agenda targeting a USD 1 trillion economy by 2035.
SECP commissioners addressed the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urging businesses to formalise through corporatisation for better governance, transparency, and access to financing, while calling for broader participation in Pakistan's capital markets.
Ignite has opened applications for the Prime Minister's Cloud Program for Startups, offering eligible Pakistani startups up to USD 13,500 in cloud spending reimbursement across two tiers, along with expert advisory support and freedom to choose their preferred cloud provider. Deadline is July 10, 2026.
The Prime Minister Youth Programme has announced its largest ever allocation of PKR 22.4 billion in Budget 2026 for the Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme, supporting young entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, and farmers across Pakistan.
Ignite, the National Technology Fund under the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, marked International MSME Day by highlighting how National Incubation Centers, Pakistan Startup Fund, and BridgeStart are helping technology-driven startups become the next generation of high-impact micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Shark Tank Producer Usman on the two-year Sony negotiation, the casting calculus, the off-camera valuation coaching, and the production mechanics that turned a skeptical market into the site of the biggest deal in the franchise's global history.
NICAT, in partnership with DEMO Pakistan (SPIN-IDG), hosted a session on data-driven decision-making, exploring how digitization, analytics, and innovation are shaping Pakistan’s economic and enterprise future.
Industry leaders discuss how fintech, agritech, and edtech are enabling women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan, while startups leverage technology, partnerships, and community engagement to scale solutions.
NIC Karachi hosted a session on Saudi Arabia’s PDPL, led by data protection expert Bilal Ghafoor, guiding startups on compliance, risks, and strategies for expanding into the Kingdom.
Paklaunch is hosting a meetup in Redwood City, California on July 15, 2026, bringing together founders, investors, operators, and aspiring entrepreneurs from the Pakistani startup ecosystem for an evening of meaningful conversations and community building in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Paklaunch is hosting a Dallas meetup on July 25, 2026, bringing together founders, investors, operators, and professionals from the Pakistani startup ecosystem for an evening of networking, idea exchange, and relationship building.
Paklaunch is hosting a Washington DC meetup on July 23, 2026, bringing together founders, investors, operators, and professionals from the Pakistani startup ecosystem for an evening of networking, idea exchange, and relationship building.
OPEN Global and APPNA are hosting the OPEN-APPNA Entrepreneurship Symposium and Inaugural APPNA Health Innovation Summit in Orlando from July 2 to 4, 2026, featuring a Vibe Coding Workshop, venture showcases, Health AI panels, and a Shark Tank-style pitch competition for over 5,000 physicians and healthcare leaders.
Former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka has launched Hang Ten Systems, an AI startup targeting the IT services sector, raising 32 million dollars in seed funding led by Mayfield with strategic investment from Aramco Ventures, and early enterprise customers including Siemens Gamesa and Fresenius.
AI Everything Abu Dhabi has opened free visitor registration for its 2026 edition, taking place October 6 to 7 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, welcoming over 350 global AI enterprises and startups from more than 100 countries alongside leading Chief AI Officers and investors.
Pakistan’s startup ecosystem in 2025 entered a new phase shaped by selective funding, hybrid financing, debt-backed growth, AI innovation and institutional maturity, as startups adapted to tighter capital markets and evolving investor priorities.
Exactly two years ago, on 24th April 2024, the United Nations Development Programme’s State of Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Pakistan presented a comprehensive assessment of the country’s youth entrepreneurship landscape.
Circa early 2024, as Pakistan’s startup story was beginning to fray at the edges of what had only recently been framed as a breakout moment, the stepped in with a short but pointed intervention. Published on January 26, 2024, “Monumental Shifts in Pakistan’s Startup Landscape: For the Better or Worse?” was written at a time when the exuberance of 2021–22 had already given way to funding slowdowns, startup shutdowns, and a growing unease around valuations that had once been celebrated.