The Pakistan Startup Fund is a strategic initiative launched by the Government of Pakistan under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, executed by Ignite National Technology Fund. PSF aims to strengthen Pakistan’s startup and digital investments ecosystem and accelerate its shift to a knowledge-based economy, working to make the country a more attractive destination for both domestic and international venture capitalists by reducing financial barriers and investment risks associated with early-stage funding.
PSF supports early-stage Pakistani startups with up to 30 percent grant of the total investment round size, with individual grants ranging from a minimum of 50,000 US dollars to a maximum of 1,000,000 US dollars, helping bridge funding gaps and scale operations while fostering innovation and reducing startup risk across sectors and regions. To qualify, startups must be legally incorporated entities in Pakistan with no more than 10 years since incorporation, maintain active tax filer status with the Federal Board of Revenue, and demonstrate an innovation-driven approach or a scalable business model with high potential for employment generation or wealth creation. Startups operating as part of an international holding company must operate through a legally incorporated Pakistani entity to qualify.
On the funding side, applicants must have secured or be in advanced stages of securing private investment, such as a term sheet, funding agreement, or letter of intent, from venture capitalists or other investors, with PSF’s contribution capped at 30 percent of the total investment round. Startups that have not previously received PSF funding are eligible to apply, though a previously rejected application can be reconsidered if there have been material changes in the startup’s circumstances since the initial rejection. Priority is given to startups demonstrating high growth potential, scalability, and alignment with national development priorities, specifically the five Es of the Uraan Pakistan framework, alongside specific objectives around digital economy development, foreign direct investment attraction, job creation, and IT exports, though PSF remains sector-agnostic in its overall approach.
Applications for PSF are accepted on a rolling basis through Ignite’s official channels, requiring applicants to complete an application form, compile required documents, and designate a Project Leader with decision-making authority who will represent the startup during evaluations and potentially sign the eventual grant agreement. Completed applications are submitted via email to pakistanstartupfund@ignite.org.pk, after which applicants receive an acknowledgment email and are later notified of the evaluation decision, with successful startups then asked to provide due diligence information and deliver an investor pitch.
The PSF Advisory Committee comprises industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, and representatives from institutional investors and venture capital firms alongside Ignite, including figures such as Maaike Doyer of Epic Angels, Aman Nasir of Nomura, and Rohma Labeeb, Country Director for Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan under AKDN, among several others spanning finance, technology, and entrepreneurship backgrounds across multiple countries. PSF has stated it does not charge any fee for application at any stage and has not engaged any third party for submission of applications, cautioning that providing false or misleading information will result in immediate disqualification and potential blacklisting from future Ignite programs. The fund maintains a formal review mechanism through a dedicated Review Committee, with any concerns submitted through the official PSF email acknowledged within five working days, reflecting the organisation’s stated commitment to transparency and accountability in how it evaluates and communicates with applicants.
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