Karachi Civic Innovation Lab
Karachi Civic Innovation Lab (KCIL) launched at the Nest I/O on 25th April with the collaboration of Pakistan Innovation Foundation, Karachi Youth Initiative, and Habib University. The lab is based out of the Playground at Habib University.
The launch event also hosted a panel discussion exploring the need of civic innovation. The panelists included: Jehan Ara – President P@SHA, Imran Azhar – Founder AZ Corp, Saad Amanullah – Chairman of the PIF Board, Saima Zaidi – Associate Professor, Habib University, Amar Shah – Program Coordinator DAI and Anzar Khalid – Head of Mathematics & Integrated Sciences, Habib University.
KCIL builds upon two years of experience of running an Innovation Challenge and Hackathon as well as an Accelerator focused on solving Karachi’s problems. It aims to institutionalize innovation to become a way of thinking for a diverse group of Karachi’s stakeholders – not just the challenge participants – and can be pursued relentlessly and constantly, rather than in a haphazard manner for a limited period of time.
Dr. Athar Osama, CEO Pakistan Innovation Foundation introduced the aim of KCIL, “We are working towards building Karachi’s first ever Civic Data Repository that will enable change-makers and common public to access data and transform it to build solutions for Karachi.”
Speaking on the panel Saad Amanullah stated, “We have been working on this civic movement in Karachi. We cannot do an event and walk away. We need a permanent solution that creates opportunities for our citizens and KCIL is just that.”
Karachi Civic Innovation Lab also introduced their following programs that will be launched in the coming month:
- Community Innovators’ Program
- Civic Accelerator
- University Fellows
- University Internships
- Civic Innovation Fellowships
- Hackathons
- Talks
Technovation Girls Make App Day
Pakistan Innovation Foundation as Regional Ambassador for Technovation Challenge in Pakistan Hosts a Girls Make App Day where students and teachers from the local schools were invited. The girls Met some amazing local partners for Technovation, Got handy with app making and had a chance to see some amazing pitches of Pakistani Teams from 2016. The session also included an interactive session where the girls came up with an App idea in under 30 minutes and pitched it to the audience. #GirlsWhoCode
Every year, Technovation invites teams of girls from all over the world to learn and apply the skills needed to solve real-world problems through technology. Girls ages 10 to 18 learn to identify a problem in their community and create a mobile app solution to address that problem, and then learn how to communicate these ideas and translate them into a fully launched business.
10,000 Girls have participated in TECHNOVATION from 78 countries to make over 1700 mobile apps.
1 Winning Team from the Junior division will receive $10,000 and 1 Winning team from the Senior division will receive $15,000 to accelerate their idea. Other finalists and runner teams will also receive grant money.
VentureLab
Thank you for your interest in Venture Lab – INNOVenture Global’s Pre-Seed Ideas Accelerator for Professionals and University Faculty, delivered in collaboration with Pakistan Innovation Foundation.
VentureLab is an Ideas Accelerator specially designed for Professionals and University Faculty working full-time jobs but with a great idea and not sure of whether it could be transformed into an awesome commercial opportunity.
VentureLab takes you through a 5-month long rigorous, but guided, process to validate the idea – and your own potential as an entrepreneur – with the help of extensive hands-on mentoring by industry leaders and experienced entrepreneurs with a real stake in your success, a rigorous and tested curriculum that helps you advance your idea, and access to global networks.
INNOVentures’ partners are experienced entrepreneurs and hands-on mentors who guide you through your journey during and after the VentureLab process.
Please fill out the pre-application form to request a first meeting to discuss your idea and its potential. If we find your idea attractive, we will schedule due-diligence before deciding upon your admission in the accelerator.
In order to qualify you must:
a) Have a ground breaking idea with the potential to become a global commercial opportunity
b) Have unrestricted and undisputed intellectual property ownership of your idea as an individual or a team.
c) Willing to commit a significant amount of time for the next 5 months dedicated to validating your idea while keeping your job!
d) Willing to consider quitting your job after VentureLab process or entertain the possibility of handing over your idea to an entrepreneurial team working with you.
c) Willing to become a startup CEO/CTO/CSO to put in stupendous amounts of time after VentureLab process to make your idea a global commercial opportunity.
Registrations are now closed
Contact: info@innoventuresglobal.com
