CITADEL Pakistan has issued a final call for scale-up startups to bring their innovation to Davos 2027 in Switzerland, with applications closing on 15 October 2026. The call is open to founders who are building a product, solving a real world problem or scaling an innovative business, and it offers them a chance to exhibit their innovation, pitch their solution and compete for awards on an international platform. Startups can register and submit their applications through the application link, and with only two days left before the deadline, founders who are interested are advised to apply without delay.
Applicants are asked to share the problem their startup is solving, the progress they have made and their vision for the future. They should also explain what makes their startup stand out and why their solution deserves global attention. The selection looks for clear thinking on both the problem and the market, since the startups that reach Davos will have only a short time to present their work to an international audience of investors, policymakers and business leaders. A well prepared application that shows traction, a working product and a plan for growth is likely to carry more weight than a broad description of a future idea.
The Davos Startup Challenge has become one of the main routes through which Pakistani founders reach the World Economic Forum. At the previous edition, a final pitching round was held in Islamabad on 25 October 2025, and seven startups were selected to pitch at the Pakistan Pavilion at Davos 2026 across areas such as artificial intelligence, financial technology, health and education. This year’s call has been extended to startups from member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which gives the challenge a wider reach, and Pathfinder CITADEL has also taken startups to other international stages, including a Jeddah challenge in April that drew 337 applications.
The message from CITADEL Pakistan to founders is that the country’s startup ecosystem is full of ambition and ingenuity, and that now is the time to take innovation further and put it on the global stage. Startups that have been waiting to apply have until 15 October to submit their applications.
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