Securing businesses against evolving cyber threats has become one of the more pressing challenges facing organisations of every size, and NIC Karachi is inviting founders working in this space to build next-generation cybersecurity solutions through its Cohort 16 programme. Whether developing technologies for threat detection, cloud security, digital identity, AI security, or cyber resilience, applicants stand to gain access to expert mentors, industry leaders, investor networks, and the strategic support needed to transform their innovation into a scalable startup.
The call spans a fairly broad range of cybersecurity subdomains, reflecting how the sector itself has diversified considerably beyond traditional network security into more specialised areas. Threat detection remains a core pillar of cybersecurity work, focused on identifying malicious activity before it can cause damage, while cloud security addresses the growing need to protect data and infrastructure as more organisations shift their operations to cloud-based environments. Digital identity solutions tackle the increasingly complex challenge of verifying who is accessing a system or service, an area of growing importance as digital fraud and identity theft become more sophisticated.
AI security represents a newer but rapidly growing subdomain, addressing the specific vulnerabilities and risks introduced by AI systems themselves, an area that has gained urgency as more businesses integrate AI into their core operations without always considering the new attack surfaces this creates. Cyber resilience, meanwhile, focuses on an organisation’s ability to continue operating and recover quickly even after a security incident occurs, reflecting a broader industry shift toward accepting that breaches will happen and preparing accordingly rather than focusing purely on prevention.
Founders accepted into Cohort 16 through this cybersecurity-focused call will gain access to the same core support NIC Karachi extends across its cohorts, including mentorship, investor connections, and industry linkages, though tailored specifically toward the unique technical and regulatory considerations cybersecurity startups face. Protecting businesses, strengthening digital trust, and shaping the future of cybersecurity form the underlying ambition behind this call, with interested founders able to apply through https://lnkd.in/dHnUgMrd. The call is supported by Tech Destination Pakistan, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ignite National Technology Fund, LMKT, LuckyOne Mall, and Orbit Ventures, continuing the pattern of institutional backing behind NIC Karachi’s sector-specific cohort recruitment efforts.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
