Silicon Valley Based Founder Institute Tests a Launch in Pakistan

The Founder Institute (www.fi.co) — that claims to be the world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program — announced today that it is exploring a new chapter launch in Karachi, Pakistan.

Based out of Silicon Valley, Founder Institute was founded back in 2009 and it currently operates with chapters across over 65 cities and 40 countries.

Founder Institute is primarily aimed at providing training and mentoring with specifically tailored curriculum for startups. Institute helps entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company with structured training, expert feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs.

Exposure to Silicon Valley investors is an added and unique value that Founder Institute will offer to Pakistani entrepreneurs.

Founder Institute claims to have helped aspiring technology entrepreneurs launch over 1,200 companies, which have created over 10,000 new jobs till date.

Commenting on the test launch in Karachi, Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute said that Karachi is a city with a ton of potential, especially with its high concentration of technical and financial talent, and population of over 20 million people. He said that the Founder Institute’s comprehensive, step-by-step company launch program can help unleash the city’s talented workforce for the purposes of entrepreneurship.

Leading the Founder Institute’s efforts in Pakistan are two leaders of the local entrepreneurship scene, Sumaan Azmi, and Hassan Qureshi.

Other technology leaders who have signed on to mentor the courses include some impressive entrepreneurs from Pakistan and beyond, include:

• Afaque Riaz Ahmed: Founder and Chairman (BoG), Karachi Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (KITE)
• Badar Khushnood: Google Country Consultant Pakistan, Pakistan
• Farzal Dojki: Founder & CEO, Next Generation Innovation
• Reza Samad: Founder & CEO, Vurke.com

With this beta launch in Karachi, Founder Institute will evaluate Pakistani market to see the demand. For which a full fledge paid graduate program is planned during December 2014 to March 2015, however, there are few free trainings scheduled as well. Keep reading for details.

Entrepreneurs registering with Founder Institute’s graduate program will be selected after a test and will have to incur one time fee of US 450 dollars.

When asked that why startups and entrepreneurs should pay for training and incubation when there are institutes in Pakistan offering the facility free of cost, Hassan Qureshi, Director for Founder Institute in Pakistan, said that such free incubation facilities are more aimed at students, while they also lack the Silicon Valley exposure for the statups.

“Founder Institute, on the other hands, is more focused towards professionals and businesses who seek international attention and funding from global investors”, Hassan added.

Hassan said that all gradates must register a company before the completion of training program who then demo their products and services to VCs from across the world.

Founder Institute Graduate companies include fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.

Anyone interested in launching an innovative technology company in Pakistan is welcome to apply today at http://fi.co/apply/karachi, or attend an upcoming event (which are free of cost):

• Bringing Silicon Valley to Karachi (2014-09-10, 06:30 PM) – http://fi.co/e/24871
• Making the Leap from Employee to Entrepreneur (2014-09-17, 06:30 PM) – http://fi.co/e/24861
• Founder Institute Information Session (2014-09-24, 06:30 PM) – http://fi.co/e/24851