Iqra University’s Centre of Research and Entrepreneurship (IU CORE), in collaboration with Innovista, has launched the Innovista Startup League Campus Round to highlight promising entrepreneurial talent within the university. The event, scheduled for August 29, 2025, at the IU CORE, EDC Campus in Karachi, will provide a platform for students to pitch their innovative business ideas and gain valuable exposure to industry leaders.
The Innovista Startup League is designed to nurture entrepreneurial skills among students and create opportunities for them to engage with mentors, investors, and business experts. This initiative reflects a growing emphasis on cultivating innovation at the academic level, enabling young founders to transform their concepts into sustainable ventures while gaining practical experience in navigating competitive markets.
The jury for this round includes three accomplished professionals from Pakistan’s startup and business ecosystem. Atif Arafi, Founder of Landtrack.pk Pvt Ltd, brings deep expertise in digital solutions and real estate technology. Najia Rizwan, General Manager at Commercial The Hive, offers extensive experience in business operations and growth strategy. Muhammad Sadiq Sabir, Co-Founder of O’Reference, contributes his knowledge of building scalable platforms and fostering startup ecosystems. Their presence ensures that student teams receive feedback grounded in real-world business insights, helping them refine their ideas and identify pathways for growth.
Taking place from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the campus round will allow participating teams to present their concepts to the jury and peers, gaining early recognition and building confidence as they prepare for broader entrepreneurial challenges. By showcasing innovative projects at the university level, IU CORE and Innovista aim to empower young entrepreneurs with mentorship, guidance, and networking opportunities critical to scaling their ventures.
This collaboration underlines the role of universities in developing Pakistan’s startup ecosystem by creating bridges between academic programs and practical business incubation. IU CORE has consistently promoted a culture of innovation by offering students access to resources, structured training, and exposure to industry networks. Partnering with Innovista, which is known for supporting early-stage ventures, further strengthens this mission by providing students with a credible platform to test and validate their business models.
The Innovista Startup League Campus Round emphasizes that entrepreneurship is not limited to seasoned professionals but is also accessible to students with bold ideas and the drive to execute them. With initiatives like this, educational institutions are playing an increasingly important role in building entrepreneurial capacity, preparing students not only for employment but for leadership in creating enterprises that contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth.
As the event gathers aspiring founders, mentors, and industry leaders under one roof, it reinforces the importance of early exposure to entrepreneurial ecosystems and structured support for innovative talent. By encouraging students to explore real-world applications of their ideas, IU CORE and Innovista are equipping the next generation of business leaders with the confidence and tools to compete at national and global levels.