Seventeen startups in the Sindh Acceleration Program are gaining access to some of Karachi’s most accomplished founders, chief executives, and industry leaders through a structured mentorship component built into the programme. The mentor network spans expertise across technology, logistics, law, retail, and beyond, giving participating startups exposure to real world insights shaped by professionals who have direct experience building, leading, and scaling successful ventures.
The scale of the mentor network is notable, drawing individuals connected to established Pakistani businesses and platforms including Daraz, Krave Mart, Bagallery, Genesis Holdings, Scalemill, and Trimline Polymers, among others. This breadth of participating organisations gives startups in the programme access to mentors who have navigated a wide range of business challenges across different sectors, from e-commerce and logistics to manufacturing and retail.
The Sindh Acceleration Program is organised through IBA’s Center for Entrepreneurial Development, with support from Sindh Enterprise Development Fund and Sapphire Consulting Services, reflecting a combination of academic, government linked, and private sector backing behind the programme’s mentorship structure. This institutional support has allowed the programme to draw on such an extensive pool of experienced mentors, going beyond what a single incubator might typically be able to offer on its own.
Organisers framed the mentorship component as more than conventional guidance, describing it as practical direction from leaders who understand the entrepreneurial journey firsthand rather than purely theoretical or academic advice. This distinction reflects a broader emphasis within the programme on connecting founders with mentors who have directly experienced the specific operational and strategic challenges startups face as they attempt to scale within Pakistan’s business environment.
With seventeen startups currently benefiting from this extensive mentor network, the Sindh Acceleration Program continues to position itself as a resource connecting early and growth stage founders with experienced business leaders across Karachi’s broader commercial ecosystem. The programme’s structure, pairing startups with mentors from established companies spanning multiple industries, reflects a deliberate effort to give founders access to the kind of practical, sector specific guidance that can meaningfully shape their growth trajectories.
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