National Incubation Center Karachi continued its Cohort 15 Induction Final Pitching process with Day 3 of the evaluation sessions, bringing together a panel of industry professionals and ecosystem leaders to assess innovative startups competing for incubation. The pitching session was held on March 10, 2026, at NIC Karachi as part of the center’s structured selection process designed to identify promising early-stage ventures for its upcoming cohort.
The evaluation session featured a diverse panel of judges representing various sectors including technology, academia, financial services, manufacturing, and digital platforms. The panel included Anas Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Hackerspace Karachi; Anita Ashfaq Lodhi, Staff General Manager and Chief Technology Officer at Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited; Riaz A., Head of Business at Safepay; Prof. Dr. Rabia Noor Enam, Professor at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology; Noor Afshan Rizavi, Head of Customer Experience for Digital Products and Payments at K-Electric; and Hamza Nasir, Assistant Manager Training Projects at Ignite – National Technology Fund.
During the session, founders presented their startup ideas, business models, and technology-driven solutions to the judging panel as part of the final stage of the induction process. Each startup had the opportunity to demonstrate how its product or service addresses real market needs while also presenting plans for scalability, sustainability, and long-term growth. The panel evaluated ventures based on several factors including innovation, market opportunity, product feasibility, and the capability of the founding team to execute their vision.
NIC Karachi’s induction process is designed to identify startups that demonstrate strong potential to build impactful technology solutions while benefiting from the incubation center’s mentorship and ecosystem support. The final pitching stage provides founders with the opportunity to refine their business concepts while receiving feedback from experienced professionals who bring practical insights from industry, corporate leadership, academia, and the technology sector.
The Day 3 panel brought together expertise from multiple areas of the startup ecosystem. Anas Ahmed contributed entrepreneurial experience from Hackerspace Karachi, a community-driven technology space that promotes innovation and technical experimentation. Anita Ashfaq Lodhi shared perspectives from the manufacturing sector and enterprise-level technology operations through her role at Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited. Riaz A. offered insights from fintech and digital payments through Safepay, while Prof. Dr. Rabia Noor Enam represented academic research and engineering education at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology.
Noor Afshan Rizavi added experience in digital customer engagement and payments through her leadership role at K-Electric, bringing a corporate perspective on technology-driven customer solutions. Hamza Nasir represented Ignite – National Technology Fund, which plays a central role in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
Startups pitching during the session represented a range of ideas spanning technology-enabled solutions designed to address challenges across industries. The live pitching format allowed founders to present product demonstrations, explain their market positioning, and respond to questions from the judges regarding operational strategy, revenue models, and technological capabilities.
NIC Karachi operates under the support of Ministry of IT and Telecommunication Pakistan and Ignite – National Technology Fund. The incubation center works in collaboration with ecosystem partners including LMKT, LuckyOne Mall, and Orbit Ventures to support early-stage startups through mentorship, workspace, networking opportunities, and access to industry experts.
Through programs such as the Cohort 15 induction process, NIC Karachi continues to contribute to the development of Pakistan’s startup ecosystem by identifying innovative founders and providing them with the resources needed to transform their ideas into scalable technology ventures.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
