Four high-potential startups from Ignite’s National Incubation Center Lahore have made their mark internationally by securing a spot in the Plug and Play Tech Center in Silicon Valley, USA. This milestone represents the first time any National Incubation Center from Pakistan has placed its startups in the prestigious global acceleration platform. The selected companies—Paymo, Thingsty, Motto Vest, and Voltshare—are showcasing innovation rooted in Pakistan while gaining international exposure and resources.
Paymo is developing Pakistan’s first mobile wallet tailored specifically for Gen Z. Thingsty offers a no-code IoT platform that simplifies deployment and monitoring of smart devices. Motto Vest introduces a patented airbag vest designed to protect motorcycle riders by shielding vital organs and the spinal cord. Voltshare delivers a cloud-connected electric vehicle charging platform that links EV users with both private and commercial charging resources, creating a community-powered energy-sharing network.
NIC Lahore, supported by Ignite and Ministry of IT and Telecom Pakistan, is part of a broader vision to position the country as a global tech and innovation hub. The incubation center operates under a consortium led by NETSOL Technologies Pakistan and includes collaboration with organizations such as HBL, Plug and Play Tech Center, Daftarkhwan, Beaconhouse National University, Accelerate Prosperity, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, and Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
These NIC Lahore startups are currently participating in the GOAL (Global Overseas Acceleration & Learning) Program at Plug and Play Tech Center. This month-long in-person residency equips international founders with training, mentorship, and growth tools needed to scale globally. The program culminates in a presentation at the Plug and Play Tech Center Summit, attended by more than 2,500 stakeholders including corporations, investors, VCs, and government organizations. Plug and Play’s expansive network includes over 565 Fortune 1000 companies and more than 2,000 startups that have collectively raised over $9 billion in funding.
The initiative was made possible through the support of the Pakistan Startup Fund, which covered the participating startups’ expenses for the GOAL Program. This backing, along with administrative and strategic support from Ignite and the Ministry of IT and Telecom, played a vital role in preparing the founders for this global opportunity. NIC Lahore was instrumental in handling logistics, securing visas, and equipping the entrepreneurs for the journey ahead.
Ayub Ghauri, President of NIC Lahore, acknowledged the pivotal role of public institutions, stating that the support received was not just financial but a message of belief and empowerment for Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. Ignite CEO Adeel Aijaz Shaikh added that the participation of NIC Lahore’s startups in Silicon Valley affirms the depth of innovation emerging from the country’s national incubation network.
With Pakistani founders like Paymo’s Khuzaima Saeed and Abdur Rehman Shamsi now stepping onto the global stage, this initiative reinforces that the local startup ecosystem is evolving with the ambition and talent to scale internationally.
