CINETIC: Sindh’s Only HEC Backed Incubation Center Holds Its First Pitch Session

Centre of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Technology Incubation and Commercialization (CINETIC) at NED University, Karachi, is the first startup incubation platform in Sindh funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). It is also the only incubation centre in Sindh, which is supported by Plan9, the only entrepreneurship acceleration programme backed by the government.

CINETIC opened for induction in January, asking for interested people to submit induction applications on an Intra Level. Over 40 startup applications were received, but only 12 made it to the final pitching session.

The pitching session was organised by Manager CINETIC, Nimra Kamran and Assistant Manager CINETIC, Kainat Waseem. The Vice Chancellor if NED University, Prof. Dr. Afzal Haque, and Dr. Syed Mehmood Hasan, Director from Office of Research, Innovation & Technology (ORIC), were also present at the final pitch session. They asked for the participants and the management to push for an entrepreneurial environment and how the programme could positively affect the NED University.

Other notable individuals present at the pitching session were Azhar Rizvi – Founder & Vice Chairman, MIT Enterprise Forum of Pakistan, Shazia Yaqoob National from Entrepreneurship Network, Zainab Tariq Assistant Manager Plan9, Hamood ur Rub Legal Advisor CINECT and several other senior officials from NED University’s different departments and successful entrepreneurs of the country.

All of the startups presented their ideas during the pitch sessions. Since almost all teams were from engineering backgrounds, the products and services they were planning were related to their field of study. The judges took the time to inform the teams about the formulation of successful business models, intellectual property, marketing and the importance of patents; some of the things not taught while studying engineering.

The following startups pitched their product and service concepts:

  • Save Pakistan: The team presented a working prototype for a relatively cheap water purification filter which utilises Ozone gas during the filtration process. After the death of a batch-mate because of a bacteria called naegleria, the group wanted to honor the batch-mate’s memory by doing something permanent regarding the filtration process. The startup has already installed working units at two hospitals and is planning to expand.
  • Energy Efficient Turbulent Box Air Conditioner: This unique idea uses the latest concepts from Industry 4.0 and some embedded microchips to reduce energy costs by 90 percent compared to a conventional air conditioner. It adjusts its output based on the conditional requirements. This air conditioning system has already won three engineering and business competitions.
  • Techcite: The team behind Techcite proposed a video studio for businesses and startups so that they can easily create interesting video content using the team’s animations and videography expertise. This would eliminate the need for resorting to video editors or other paid solutions.
  • Cycle Yaari: This startup made it to the Top 10 Startups of Pakistan at the regional level and launched in August last year. The concept behind the startup is to use cycles to travel instead of walking over long distances. The system is automatic and properly monetized and works in a manner similar to what is available in some European countries.
  • Bookistan: The Bookistan team has already launched a Facebook group for its startup and it acts as a middleman between book retailers and the customers. Bookistan currently deals with university textbooks only. They plan to expand with a website launch and of extending their services to school textbooks.
  • Electronica: This startup aims to develop unique electronic devices. The team also presented their first product called the Ground Penetration Radar (GPR). The GPR can be used to detect underground water, pipe leakages, information about the soil and mining regions.
  • MakeTech: This startup team pitched themselves as a design consultancy firm which will analyse industrial projects and develop them with the help of engineering students within a certain time period. It’s an opportunity for students to gain some practical experience and the industries to get some cheap solutions.
  • WrapCar: This startup offered a car rental service like Uber, but for advertisers. Advertising agencies and brands can place ads on vehicles by paying for it. They claim to be the first tech venture with such a working model.
  • Zindagi Asaan: The startup will be launching an Android app which will let people order any household service like carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tutors etc. from the comforts of their home.
  • E-Prob: This team has worked on a solution which will assist in the long-standing problem of complaint mishandling. They have developed an Android app which will let consumers register their complaints instantly. The app will also offer load shedding schedule, billing information and consumption details (if the metres are electronic). The companies will be able to take heed of complaints instantly.
  • Cost Efficient 3D Printers: This startup aims to assemble 3D printers with a much smaller price tag. The startup’s idea revolves around assembling printers and selling them to educational institutions.
  • Bilashir Denim: The only textile startup from the lot of 12, they pitched the proposal for manufacturing the cheapest denim fabric in Pakistan with multiple uses. The co-founders are from a textile engineering background with over five years of industrial experience.

CINETIC will be involved with these startups for quite some time so that they could be assisted with a long term action plan, developing industrial relations and proceed with some defined milestones and deliverables.

Via: TechJuice

Image Source: CINETIC Facebook Page

He is the Chief Content Officer at ProPakistani. Reach out at aadil.s[at]propakistani.pk



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