WISE Lab is holding the orientation for its first cohort of women founders today, October 21, 2026, marking the formal start of a program built to support women who want to turn their ideas into businesses. The lab described the moment as a new chapter in which the room belongs to women, and it said the journey of Cohort 1 is about to take flight. For the founders involved, the orientation is the first step from ideas and ambitions into a community of peers and mentors who are ready to build alongside them.
The program promises a journey of learning, mentorship, innovation, and meaningful connections for the women in the cohort. WISE Lab is bringing together founders who are determined to turn their ideas into impactful ventures, and the orientation is where they will meet each other, understand what the program offers, and begin shaping their plans for the months ahead. For early stage founders, the first days in a program often set the tone, since they introduce the people, expectations, and resources that will shape the rest of the experience. A shared start also helps founders form the relationships with fellow cohort members that often last long after a program ends.
The launch of Cohort 1 follows the plan the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication outlined earlier this month for WISE Lab, which aims to support at least 20 women-led startups every year and to train 200 female micro-entrepreneurs annually. Women founders in Pakistan often face limited access to relevant skills, business networks, and institutional support, and a dedicated cohort is one way to address those gaps in a focused manner. The lab is funded by Ignite National Technology Fund under the Ministry, and the beginning of its first cohort shows the initiative moving from announcement to action, with real founders now taking their places in the program.
In its message, the lab said that the founders are ready, the ecosystem is ready, and this is just the beginning, a line that points to the wider community of mentors, supporters, and organizations expected to take part. The announcement did not share the number of founders in the cohort, the sectors they represent, or the full schedule of activities. What it made clear is that the orientation opens a longer process in which the women will learn, receive guidance, and connect with others who can help them grow. With the welcome to WISE Lab Cohort 1 now extended, the focus turns to what these founders build over the coming months and how far their ventures can reach.
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