10 Startup Incubators and Accelerators in Islamabad

List of Incubators and Accelerators in Islamabad that will support aspiring entrepreneurs take their ideas and ventures to the next level.

Pakistan’s IT industry has witnessed some of the most remarkable development in the last few years, offering promise to many new entrepreneurs and startups.

We have noted a significant growth in the tendency of entrepreneurship, where emerging startups are increasingly collaborating with accelerators and incubators to make a mark.

We have compiled a list of leading Pakistani public and private sector startup incubators and accelerators, working professionally, supporting startups by offering seed funding, and providing skillful mentorship and training to change the world.

Here’s the list of accelerators and incubators in the capital city Islamabad that will help promising entrepreneurs take their dreams to the next level:

1. The Founder Institute

The Founder Institute is one of the largest incubator, startup launcher and entrepreneur training institute. It is basically an American business incubator founded at California in 2009.

The Founder Institute, launched in September 2015 in Islamabad with the motto “work-to-learn”, offers a months training program to the participants. During their structure training, the institute provokes participants to start their own businesses by instilling them with innovative and inspiring ideas.

Location: WeCreate Centre, Offices 1-5, 2nd Floor, Select 1 Plaza, Above Gloria Jeans, F 11 Markaz, Islamabad.

2. TiE Islamabad Chapter

The Indus Enterprisers (TiE) is a non-profit, global community, founded in 1992 by prominent entrepreneurs of the Indus region. TiE encourages leading entrepreneurs and startups globally.

TiE believes their five pillars for entrepreneurship can boost the startup industries, their five pillars of success are; incubating, mentoring, education, networking and funding.

TiE is focused on the youth entrepreneurs; they are to be mentored, trained and suggest the right investment direction, who can be the successful business leaders in the near future.

Location: WeCreate Pakistan, Office 1, 2nd Floor, Select 1, F 11 Markaz, Islamabad

3. TIC – NUST

Technology Incubation Center (TIC) is an initiative of the National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, founded in 2005. It holds the honor of being Pakistan’s first technology incubator center.

The entrepreneurs approaching TIC can get wide exposure to NUST’s advanced equipment which facilitates startups working on engineering, hardware and big data.

TIC provides business ideas and consultancy to early-age entrepreneurs and emerging startup teams to accelerate their business and become viable contributors to the country’s economy.

TIC also claims to provide office facilities to efficiently transform their capability workable and only keep a tiny amount of inequity for their mentorship.

Location: National University of Sciences and Technology H-12 Main Campus, Islamabad.

4. BIC – COMSATS

Business Incubation Centre (BIC) is an initiative of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology. BIC aims to deploy Research and Development work at COMSATS Institute.

They provide legal and marketing assistance to entrepreneurs and startup teams along with essential requirements for a new setup covering internet connection, office meeting rooms and consultancy.

Location: Business Incubation Centre, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Park Road, Chak Shehzad, Islamabad

5. ICT R&D Fund

The National ICT Research and Development Fund working under the Ministry of IT & Telecom, Government of Pakistan was established in January 2007.

ICT Fund basically supports the research ideas by academia and creative development proposals by industries. The Ministry of IT & Telecom sector contributes the R&D funded projects.

Location: HBL Tower, Jinnah Ave, Islamabad

6. Cloud9 Startups

Cloud9 Startups is a technology-based incubation center by NUST Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. It was launched in December 2012.

Cloud9 is a venture fund and idea incubation center for aspiring entrepreneurs in Pakistan. The company provides mentorship to startups from an early age till the startups start functioning and also provides seed funding up to Rs. 1 million.

Location: Office # 104, Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE), NUST, Islamabad

7. Telenor Velocity

Telenor Velocity is an incubator of Telenor Group. Telenor Velocity claims to be the first digital startup incubator focusing on digital communication. Velocity in their six months training program provides free access to Telenor’s resources and assets to their participants.

The motto is enabling excellent ideas today for a digitally empowered tomorrow. Telenor Velocity uses its customer experience to catch the right customer and provides access to digital distribution and APIs in the leading retail network. They also provide online payment solutions to accelerate entrepreneurship.

Location: Head Office: Silver Square, Plot 15, Mehr Ali Rd, F-11 Markaz, Islamabad.

8. Jazz’s National Incubation Center

The National Incubation Center (NIC) is the first incubation center developed with the mutual collaboration of the Government’s National ICT R&D Fund and Private sector Jazz&Teamup.

Jazz’s NIC was inaugurated in July 2016. Te program coordinates between local entrepreneurs, innovators and multinational investors, along with world-level incubation facilities and access to experts and advisors.

Mobilink and TeamUp recently signed their agreement with the LUMS Center for Entrepreneurship (LCE) to offer their support and mentorship to the innovators and entrepreneurs.

Location: National Incubation Center Plot 24-B, First Floor, NITB, H-9/1, Islamabad.

9. Invest2Innovate (i2i)

Invest2Innovate launched in September 2011, was launched in September 2011 to basically address the social enterprise seed-stage capacity development and funding gap in Pakistan.

i2i identifies high-potential early-stage enterprises with innovative approaches and then provides four-month training for business development, market analysis, and access to advisory support and seed-stage funding in the range of US$50,000 – $200,000. Since 2012, i2i has accelerated 21 Pakistani startups which have gone on to raise over US$1 million in capital, generated 850 jobs, improved businesses, and enhanced social and economic impact in the country.

10. Serendipity

Serendipity is an Islamabad-based technology accelerator that offers Networking, Consultancy and financial support to Pakistani startups.

Serendipity.pk keeps a deep interest in emerging proficient startups to accelerate their growth pathway by using rapid modeling approaches.

Location: 503 ISE Towers, Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, Islamabad.

If you are or know of any startup incubation center or accelerator that should be included in the above list, you are welcome to add in comment.