The Accelerate Punjab team recently held outreach sessions at the National University of Modern Languages Multan and Emerson University Multan, connecting with students, aspiring founders and young innovators who are thinking about what they can build next. Accelerate Punjab is an initiative of the Punjab Information Technology Board, and the sessions were designed as a day of conversations, ideas and new possibilities in Multan. The team’s message to the students was direct, that the next big idea could be sitting in one of these classrooms, and that the initiative is out there looking for it.
During the sessions, the team walked students through the journey from concept to venture, starting with how to explore and test an idea and moving on to what it takes to turn it into a business. They also explained how Accelerate Punjab can support young entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, ecosystem connections and opportunities to take their ideas forward. For many students, these sessions are the first time they hear how a startup programme works, what is expected of applicants and what kind of support they can receive, and an in-person conversation with the team gives them a chance to ask questions that an online announcement cannot answer.
Reaching universities in Multan is also a way of widening the pool of founders beyond Lahore, where most of the province’s startup activity is concentrated. Multan and the surrounding districts of South Punjab have a large student population and a growing number of young people who are interested in technology and entrepreneurship, but they often have less exposure to incubators, mentors and investors than their peers in the major cities. By visiting campuses in the city, Accelerate Punjab can introduce itself to students at an early stage, before they graduate and make career decisions, and encourage them to see entrepreneurship as a realistic path.
Students and young founders who want to take part can apply through the application link shared by Accelerate Punjab. The initiative has not announced a closing date in its post, so applicants are advised to follow its official channels for updates on deadlines and eligibility. For the students who attended the sessions in Multan, the next step is to bring their ideas forward and apply.
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