NIC LUMS opens
applications for innovators to operationalise tech-enabled solutions for real-world
impact
Lahore, March 18, 2021: The National Incubation Center at LUMS, Lahore (NICL) is ready to induct the next group of passionate innovators looking to make a meaningful impact by transforming their ideas into investor-ready business plans.
The Center has identified high impact areas for improvement
in Pakistan including education, healthcare, agriculture, finance, and the
environment. By harnessing the power of technologies such as artificial
intelligence, cloud, blockchain and the Internet of Things, NICL aims to
partner with the next generation of innovators to solve Pakistan’s most
critical problems. This national-level purpose also gives start-ups supported
by NICL a much larger commercial opportunity than offered by most.
The cohort will be selected to the free-of-cost programme through
a rigorously competitive process. “Each application will be reviewed by members
of NICL’s Foundation Council, which includes successful entrepreneurs with a
diverse range of experiences who have themselves raised significant capital for
growth, as well as angel and venture investors active in Pakistan. Each member
is passionately committed to ensuring progress and success for Pakistan,
committing their time, capital and experience to curate and develop the start-up
ecosystem of the country,” commented Saleem Ahmad, Chairman NICL.
Over the course of six months, the curriculum will be
delivered by esteemed LUMS faculty and international technical experts and will
comprise six intensive bootcamps covering: 1) design thinking; 2) strategy and
business modelling; 3) marketing, branding and sales; 4) finance, accounting,
valuation and equity management; 5) negotiations and legal aspects of
entrepreneurship; and 6) presentation and communication skills. The applied
focus of academic programming, supplemented by bespoke workshops, a speaker
series and mentorship by LUMS alumni, will be instrumental in developing ideas
into reality.
In addition, the cohort can take advantage of a multitude of
resources including the Entrepreneurs in Conversation series which gives
start-ups direct access to those who have successfully tread the path of
innovation and entrepreneurship so they can learn and be inspired by those who
have made it. And through it all, start-ups will find support and guidance from
an esteemed panel of mentors- industry leaders and LUMS graduates who continue
to keep the university’s ethos of “Learning Without Borders” alive by utilising
their strong network to connect start-ups with relevant opportunities, often
establishing a long-term relationship with ventures.
The programme will culminate with an Investor Summit, where
early-stage venture investors will interact with the most promising start-ups. The
top graduates will also be offered a three-month residency with participating venture
capital firms entailing one-on-one mentorship to develop and further commercialise
their ideas. They will also be referred to or nominated to other global programmes
that can bring even greater value to their venture.
This is an invaluable opportunity for mission-driven entrepreneurs
looking for the right experts to guide them on the journey of transformative
disruption. The application deadline is March 28, 2021.
The Investor Summit for the cohort currently in session will
be held on April 10 and 11, 2021. It will be live streamed via Facebook on
NICL’s page, @NICLSolveTogether.
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