CEO Ignite Mr. Asim Shahryar Husain visited National Incubation Center (NIC) Quetta at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering, and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) and had an insightful discussion with Dr. Faisal Ahmed Khan, Pro Vice Chancellor BUITEMS, and many startups at the NIC to compliment them on their innovative business solutions to local problems using ICT.
CEO Ignite appreciated the commendable work done by NIC Quetta as the sole incubator in Balochistan at present for promoting entrepreneurship in the province through training and mentoring of successful startups. So far, 44 startups have graduated from NIC Quetta creating more than 400 jobs, generating cumulative revenue of Rs. 74 million and raising investments of Rs. 56 million. NIC Quetta has launched some successful startups including Gul Technology (a smart helmet for saving miners from poisonous gases), KhanMart (an ecommerce site for dry fruits and shawls), Furniture Magenta (an online store for imported and local furniture), and many other startups. Gul Technology was included in the Pride of Pakistan contingent at the recent Pakistan Day Parade. CEO Ignite stated that these are commendable achievements considering that there was no entrepreneurship program in Balochistan when NIC Quetta was launched. He recommended to both NIC and startups to divide their incubation cycle into three phases of business planning, product development, and marketing & sales so that majority of the startups have revenue by the time they graduate to make themselves sustainable in future. He said that artificial intelligence will replace many repetitive jobs in future. Hence, entrepreneurship is the future so that students and graduates create their own businesses and jobs in future.
He motivated startup founders to take advantage of the facilities and resources offered by NIC Quetta including world-class entrepreneurship curriculum and its connections with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors. Mr. Muhammad Shah Khan, Director NIC Quetta informed that 12 startups in the current batch of NIC Quetta will pitch their ideas and plans at an investor summit in Lahore before graduating by end of April. CEO Ignite wished the startups good luck and ensured his full support to NIC Quetta for establishing a maker’s lab as well as for launching more successful startups in future.
