Powered by Google for Entrepreneurs Globally and supported by Entrepreneur Organization (EO) locally, Aplós Innovations and SEED Ventures hosted Startup Weekend Karachi 2016.
November 27 was the final day of the 4th edition of Startup Weekend Karachi 2016 and it trended all over Karachi. United States Consul General, Ms. Shelton was the chief guest of the event.
Startup Weekend is a Global startup community and offers a platform to those who want to become entrepreneurs. This 54-hour long event focussed on how to idea, plan, design, development, and launch your entrepreneurial venture.
This time, Startup Weekend Karachi was hosted by Aplós Innovations and SEED Ventures, with support of Entrepreneur Organization (EO) and in partnership with leading groups and companies like, Jang Media Group, Lipton, FM 91, Pizza Hut, Starlinks PR, ProPakistani, Bookitnow.pk and many others.
This year, Startup Weekend Karachi 2016 attracted more than 120 participants, with over 50+ pitches and 14+ startups formed during the weekend.
KASBIT University, Karachi was the venue of the event and also the Academic Partner of Startup Weekend Karachi. Around 120 entrepreneurs turned up for the weekend. With this attendance, 50+ participants pitched their Idea and 14+ came forward to make them a reality after a voting process on the 1st day.
After a day-long work on Saturday, only 1 got selected as the winner and 2 as the runner-ups of competition.
The winning teams’ details are as follows:
1st Prize and Winner of Startup Weekend Karachi 2016: Comfort Cart
Customized shopping carts along with an app to avoid the hassle of waiting in lines
1st Runner-up: YesYes
A pharmaceutical app, that provides medicine at your doorstep in the perfect temperature.
2nd Runner-up: ParhaoSabaq
A web and app platform that connects tutors and students
Hashim Yasin was the facilitator and the event was starred with some really high profile judges, guests and mentors which included:
- Jamal Baquar (Vice President of NBP)
- Imtisaal Abbasi (COO of IAL Satchi&Satchi)
- Danish Amjad (Telenor Velocity)
- Azfar Ahsan (Founder of Nutshell Forum)
- Shahzad Sabir (group director of Usman Anjarwala Group of Companies (UAGC)
- Nauman Vohra (President of EO)
- Faraz Khan (CEO of Seed Ventures)
- Zakiuddin (President OPEN Karachi)
- Essa(CEO of Essa Laboratories) and many more.
Hashim Yasin, facilitator of Startup Weekend quoted:
I’ve never seen a Startup Weekend with such fine-tuned pitches and great ideas. The pitches were raw but the quality was something that was on the whole different level.
Startup Weekend Karachi 2016 ended today. It intends to return bigger than ever next year.
To view Startup Weekend Karachi in pictures, check out their Facebook.
