Islamabad– April 25, 2024: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed government's commitment to empower the youth with modern knowledge and vocational training to make them a valuable asset for the country.
He was addressing 'Girls in ICT' event held in Islamabad in connection with International Day of Information and Communication Technology for girls. The Prime Minister said technology will lead us to a bright future and we will promote young entrepreneurs so they can show their skills internationally and earn the much-needed foreign reserves for the country. Shehbaz Sharif appreciated that a large number of females are associated with tech related fields.
Earlier, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted different polices and initiatives of the government for the betterment of youth especially in the IT sector. She said government is focused on facilitating the young freelancers and innovators to enable them grow their businesses and give them international access.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister distributed commendation certificates among women and girls for their services in IT sector.

“Celebrating the Achievements of Girls in ICT ” 

Lahore – April 23, 2024: Ignite National Technology Fund, a public sector company under the Ministry of IT & Telecom, continued its commitment to nurturing Pakistan's startup ecosystem by joining this year's ITCN Asia event with 10 dynamic startups from its National Incubation Centers (NIC). ITCN Asia is a premier gathering that unites tech enthusiasts, industry experts, and innovators to celebrate progress in information technology and telecommunications. The 24th ITCN Asia took place at Lahore Expo Center from April 18-20, 2024. Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for IT and Telecom, was the Chief Guest and HE Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary General of Digital Cooperation Organization was the Global Guest of Honor at the opening ceremony. The three-day event showcased innovative solutions, emphasizing networking, knowledge-sharing, lead generation, and a series of conferences fostering a collaborative learning environment where like-minded individuals could exchange insights and experiences. 

"Ignite, as a driving force behind fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Pakistan, presented a remarkable selection of 10 innovative startups that have shown significant potential across diverse industries."

Ignite, as a driving force behind fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Pakistan, presented a remarkable selection of 10 innovative startups that have shown significant potential across diverse industries. These startups have thrived through Ignite's incubation and acceleration program, benefiting from crucial mentorship, resource access, and networking opportunities to accelerate their growth.

Ignite's pavilion, showcasing 10 varied startups and their products, drew considerable attention from visitors at ITCN. The startups included Podvare (Internet of Things, NIC Hyderabad), Gojo Pakistan (Transportation, NIC Hyderabad), BreatheIO (Health Tech, NIC Islamabad), Kalam4Solutions (AgriTech, NICAT), Creeco (Pvt.) Ltd. (Agritech, NIC Faisalabad), MachVista (Farm Mechanisation, NIC Faisalabad), Pamico Technologies (AgriTech, NIC Faisalabad), RedMarker Systems (EdTech, NICAT), Scents Rush (E-Commerce, NIC Quetta) and Ziftek (Ed-Tech, NIC Quetta). HE Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary General of Digital Cooperation Organization also interacted with the startups and appreciated their remarkable efforts.  Addressing the inaugural ceremony of a three-day 24th ICTN Asia Conference and Exhibition at the Lahore Expo Centre, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for IT and Telecom said, "As a Minister of IT & Telecom, it is my profound honour and privilege to be standing before the vibrant business community, brilliant minds and enthusiastic workforce that is driving IT sector, not just for Pakistan, but making way for Pakistan to becoming a regional IT hub. It is our vision to digitize the ecosystem, to enhance our knowledge-based economy, and to ensure that all of this collectively spurs economic growth in the country". The minister assured her unwavering commitment to the cause of growth of the IT sector.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of ITCN Asia, Adeel Aijaz Shaikh, CEO Ignite, mentioned that “Ignite is running the largest incubation network in Pakistan with incubation centers in eight different cities of Pakistan which have incubated more than 1480 startups over the last 5 to 6 years. Ignite is participating with eight NIC startups at ITCN this year in different verticals including e-commerce, healthtech, edtech, robotics, transportation, IoT, aerospace, and artificial intelligence. Our startups embody the innovative spirit propelling Pakistan's tech landscape forward. The goal is to showcase the entrepreneurial talent of Pakistan to both local and international visitors at the event to generate new leads and business opportunities for the startups”. 

4 March 2024, Riyadh KSA: Continuing with its tradition of fueling Pakistan’s startup ecosystem, Ignite National Technology Fund, a public sector company with Ministry of IT & Telecom, participated in this year’s LEAP Tech Conference 2024 in Riyad Saudi Arabia with 10 promising Pakistani startups.

“LEAP 2023 is a global tech event that aims to bring together the world’s leading companies, innovators and experts “to discover new ideas, build new partnerships”

LEAP 2023 is a global tech event that aims to bring together the world’s leading companies, innovators and experts “to discover new ideas, build new partnerships, and connect with inspiring mentors and investors and tap into the limitless potential of tech to build a positive future. Ms. Aisha Humera, Additional Secretary (IT & Telecom), graced the event, visiting startup pods and appreciating their efforts. The event  was packed with interactions between Ignite team, incubators, accelerators and investors to discuss collaborative opportunities, while linking startups with industry personnel and investors, paving the way for potential collaborations and growth opportunities. Metaverse Deviser and Rawiah Co. A KSA based Arabic language teaching company joined forces, signing an MOU to revolutionize education and linguistic diversity in the digital age. Exciting matchmaking sessions between startups and investors like NEOM Ventures and Techstars took place.

6 February 2024, Islamabad: In a significant development for the thriving Pakistan’s technology and startup ecosystem, Ignite National Technology Fund, Company incorporated under Ministry of IT & Telecom signed an agreement with Pakistan Services Limited (PSL) - Hashoo Group, led consortium that includes Fauji Foundation, Telenor Pakistan, Change Mechanics, CyberVision International and Founder Institute to manage the National Incubation Center Islamabad for the next 5 years. Mr. Adeel Aijaz Shaikh, CEO Ignite and Mr. Haseeb A Gardezi, Chief Operating Officer, Hospitality Division Hashoo Group represented their respective organizations. 

NIC Islamabad is poised to build upon the success of its predecessor by offering an enhanced array of services designed to empower startups. These services encompass state-of-the-art workspaces, access to venture capital, mentorship from industry leaders, UI/UX design labs, makers spaces, and a focus on pivotal technological sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Robotics, Health, and Augmented/Virtual Reality.

NIC Faisalabad's Agritech startup, RemoteWell, recently achieved significant recognition by emerging as one of the top three finalists in the ZarZaraat competition, outshining 35 other competitive applicants.

As finalists, RemoteWell had the opportunity to present their innovative business idea at the Pakistan Agricultural Coalition's Agri-Connections 2024 conference and expo held in Lahore. 
The remarkable efforts of RemoteWell didn't go unnoticed. They were honored with the title of Best Agri-Startup by the Bank of Punjab at the PAC Agri-Connections 2024 conference.

Their captivating pitch not only impressed the entire investor panel but also garnered invitations for follow-up meetings, indicating substantial interest and potential investment in their venture. 
This consecutive recognition is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of RemoteWell's founders, Inaamul Haq Mansoor and Amir Zahoor, and their exceptional team. NICF couldn't be prouder of their well-deserved success!

Wiser Machines, the NIC Faisalabad AI & IoT startup, has secured an investment on Demo Day from Fusen, a leading deep tech investor based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Wiser Machines' achievements extend beyond securing funding. They have also won the World Bank startup pitching competition, receiving a grant of USD 35,000. Additionally, they have recently been granted residency at Antler, one of the top VCs globally. This is just the beginning for this groundbreaking startup!

A huge shoutout to the founders of Wiser Machines, Ibrahim Ghatila, Talha Khan, Zaid Khan, and Hamza Khan for this remarkable achievement.

InLights is a star startup of National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies – NICAT. InLights represented Pakistan in Saudi Government backed accelerator program called GAIA where InLights received SAR 150K from the National Technology Development Program (NTDP) by the Government of Saudi Arabia. With the support of Ignite NTF and NICAT, founder of InLights Muhammad Ahmed participated in person accelerator program and pitched its product in front of international VCs, corporates, and government entities on demo day. InLights envisions a future with smoother traffic flow by introducing state-of-the-art Smart Traffic Management system using AI and Computer Vision. GAIA empowered InLights to initiate its operations in Riyadh, aligning with its dedication to introduce Made in Pakistan products to the global market.

Agri Revolution, one of our esteemed startups, has reached a remarkable milestone by emerging as the winner of the Grand Finale of NIB III! Their outstanding achievement has garnered well-deserved recognition, with the honor being bestowed upon them by none other than the President at the prestigious President's House. This remarkable feat not only showcases the innovation and dedication of the Agri Revolution team but also highlights the transformative impact their work is making in the agricultural sector.

Icon Pro Solutions Inc., a standout startup from NIC Quetta, secured second place at Whitman’s Panasci Business Plan Competition 2024 in the United States. 

Icon Pro Solutions Inc., a standout startup from NIC Quetta, secured second place at Whitman’s Panasci Business Plan Competition 2024 in the United States.

Under the leadership of Waqar Hussain, their innovative product, Iconic. cloud, earned accolades and a $7,500 prize, simplifying cloud solutions for SMEs globally. This recognition underscores their commitment to innovation and delivering cutting-edge solutions to meet evolving business needs. Icon Pro's journey has been marked by an unwavering pursuit of quality and excellence, expanding its reach to establish itself as a key player in the digital arena. By tapping into new markets, the company has fostered innovation and spurred growth on a global scale, with a passionate team driving their endeavors, there are no limits to the heights that Icon Pro can achieve, making a lasting impact on communities and industries alike.

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