A major stride has been taken for Sindh’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as the Institute of Business Administration’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (IBA-CED) and Sapphire Consulting Services joined forces to launch the province’s first government-supported startup accelerator. The initiative marks a groundbreaking collaboration between the public sector, private industry, and academia to cultivate innovation and accelerate the growth of high-potential startups across Sindh.
The newly announced accelerator program is designed to support entrepreneurs registered in Sindh through an intensive eight-month journey that combines practical business advisory, hands-on mentorship from industry professionals, and direct access to investors. The initiative aims to transform early-stage startups into scalable, investment-ready businesses equipped to compete in both local and global markets.
Selected startups will engage in a structured curriculum focused on refining their business models, strengthening market positioning, and developing effective fundraising strategies. The program will culminate in a Demo Day at IBA Karachi, where participants will pitch their ventures to investors, industry leaders, and policymakers, creating a vital bridge between innovation and capital.
This accelerator also represents a historic milestone in Sindh’s economic development, one of the first instances where a government fund, through the Sindh Enterprise Development Fund (SEDF), has formally supported an academic–industry accelerator model. The partnership signals a strategic shift toward fostering a more innovation-driven economy by aligning academic expertise with real-world entrepreneurial needs.
The signing ceremony took place at the SEDF headquarters in Karachi and was attended by key stakeholders and officials from the Government of Sindh. The agreement was formally signed by Khizar Pervaiz, CEO of SEDF; Dr. Lalarukh Ejaz, Director of IBA-CED; and Faizan Gul Shaikh, representative from Sapphire Consulting Services.
Senior government representatives, including Syed Qassim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Investment and PPP Projects, and Raja Khurrum Shahzad Umar, Secretary of the Investment Department, played a pivotal role in bringing the collaboration to fruition. Their participation underscored the provincial government’s growing commitment to promoting entrepreneurship as a pillar of sustainable economic development.
The accelerator is not just a program but part of a larger vision to establish Sindh as a hub for innovation and startup activity. By enabling entrepreneurs with structured guidance, access to networks, and exposure to investors, the initiative aims to stimulate job creation, attract investment, and strengthen the province’s competitiveness in the national startup ecosystem.
Through this collaboration, IBA-CED and Sapphire Consulting Services are setting a precedent for how academia, industry, and government can co-create opportunities that drive inclusive growth. The launch of Sindh’s first government-supported startup accelerator reflects a unified effort to empower entrepreneurs, foster innovation, and build the foundation for a thriving, knowledge-based economy in Pakistan.
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