Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) sponsored, TiE International Business Plan Competition (TIBPC), Islamabad Chapter. The competition successfully concluded in a mega chapter finale on Saturday, 5th January, at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad. This prestigious event had a gathering of over a hundred attendees with participants coming in from all over the country.

His Excellency Mr. Richard Olson, Ambassador of United States to Pakistan and Engr. Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gillani, Executive Director HEC were amongst the high profile dignitaries that attended the event.

“On behalf of all young entrepreneurs and TiE community please accept our heart-felt appreciation for your commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in Pakistan. Your willingness to sponsor TIBPC Islamabad Chapter Competition was a source for huge encouragement for us and all participants of the competition. This surely reaffirms Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) commitment to re-energize the economy of Pakistan by promoting entrepreneurial initiatives. This is an area of mutual interest of both the Fund and The Indus Entrepreneurs in Pakistan”, said Mr. Murtaza Zaidi (Hon. Executive Director, TiE Islamabad.

TIBPC was launched in Islamabad on 28th of November, 2012 in collaboration with HEC. Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) is the exclusive sponsor of the competition. Teams from 36 universities across 16 cities from across the country participated in the competition. The final round had 13 finalists with three teams qualifying for the Regional Finale in Brussels, Belgium. The travel and accommodations expense for Brussels will be funded by TiE Islamabad. Winning team from Brussels will participate in Rice University Business Plan Competition in Houston, USA, which is the world’s richest business plan competition with prize money exceeding USD 1.5 million.

The three winning teams from the event were (in order of rank):

1. Bolo.com

2. Smart SurgiSol

3. Eco-Fuelants