STAFF REPORT ISB: In order to promote and assist the local entrepreneurships across the country, the 2015 Pakistan Start-Up Cup, an intensive, nationwide business competition has been launched in the country. The Start-Up Cup is a locally driven business model competition open to any idea, designed to increase the quality and quality of entrepreneurs in the community.
The US Embassy in Islamabad and the Islamabad Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), in collaboration with the US Pakistan Womens Council, have launched the competition.
Entrepreneurs selected to participate in Start-Up Cup will receive coaching through multi-day “Build-a-Business” workshops and regular mentoring to help turn their ideas into a commercial reality. Prize money of $10,000, $7,500, and $5,000 will be awarded to the winner and two runners-ups with the best Start Up concept.
“Programmes like Start-Up Cup foster greater inclusiveness in Pakistans economy, particularly for women. The entrepreneurial solutions that arise from competitions such as Start-Up Cup foster inclusiveness, grow economies, promote stability, expand the international supply chain, and spread the exchange of ideas,” said Deputy Chief of Mission of US Embassy Thomas E Williams.
There are four base stations for this programme, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi with overall prize money of Rs22.5 million.