Ignite National Technology Fund and COMSATS have agreed to establish a new startup portal to improve Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. After receiving bids, COMSATS Software Solutions was chosen to receive the contract.
Asim Shahryar Husain, CEO of Ignite, and Arshad Quddus Qazi, Projects Director of COMSATS Software Solutions, signed the contract. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Mohsin Mushtaq, Additional Secretary (Incharge) IT & Telecom, Ambassador Muhammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director COMSATS, and representatives from Ignite and COMSATS.
By providing a seamless and connected platform for all ecosystem participants, Ignite’s Startup Portal will strengthen Pakistan’s startup ecosystem.
The portal seeks to act as a one-stop shop. Where companies may register, submit their profiles and pitches, receive coaching and mentoring, and connect with domestic and foreign investors.
The portal intends to connect various ecosystem participants. Such as startups, incubators, accelerators, investors, government officials, regulators, mentors, trainers, businesses, as well as academic groups. This would give Pakistani startups several networking chances.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Mohsin Mushtaq, Additional Secretary (Incharge) IT & Telecom, said: “The Startup Portal, designed by Ignite, represents a significant advancement in the growth of the startup ecosystem in Pakistan. In addition, the site will connect different stakeholders in the ecosystem and give companies the resources they need to flourish.”
“Ignite’s Startup Portal will be a game changer for the startup landscape in Pakistan. It will develop linkages between Pakistani startups and local and international clients and investors,” said Asim Shahryar Husain, CEO of Ignite, during his speech.
Simultaneously, it will not only be a helpful directory for looking for Pakistani businesses in various industries. But it will also eventually develop into a platform for investing in Pakistani startups. In addition, the portal will give startups an additional opportunity to expand and scale up. By connecting them with angel investors, venture capitalists, incubators, accelerators, and other important actors in the ecosystem,” he continued.
Moreover, the new portal will be designed, developed, tested, and launched over the course of about six months.
Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Nafees Zakaria, the executive director of COMSATS, gave a speech at the event and stated, “COMSATS is focusing on the commercialization of R&D work being done in its 27 member countries. Furthermore, we will be able to link stakeholders from other nations with Pakistani entrepreneurs and their R&D products thanks to our startup platform.”
COMSATS was established in October 1994 as the idea of Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam. COMSATS headquarters is hosted by its founding member, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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