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NIC Training Overview 2018-2025

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

74 views54 pages

NIC Training Overview 2018-2025

Uploaded by

Shafeeq Gigyani

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

4.

Provide the detail of trainings, workshops and seminars conducted in both NICs on below mentioned format:

Year Cohort No. of startups attended

(pl attach list of startups)

2 Friends Kitchen
DB Ecart
Digital Tree
E3Graphy
Encoder Bytes Private Limited
EyeSmarty
Fashion With Style Hub
Gameotivity
[Link]
Guleshaoor
HealthNest
Hunarmandan (centre for creativity)
Stockchain
Uzma Awan
Buildenable
Kaarkhaney
LA Roche
Muse Agency 360
PREPARELY
Recart
Drone Robotics
The Cool School
Dice Digital Official
2024 11 & 12 Bmluxuries
The Kabari
Medic Patron
Geofence Attendance
Innovative Composite Engineering Pvt Ltd
Pro-Organic
Tapitcard
Horizon Games
Rooted
Khello
Solar Safai
Find Me Career
LimbTech Solution
Kpstores
Rduinotronics
The Order Of Pen
Second Chance
Silsila Treks And Tours
Nani
Green Black
[Link]
Herbalmist
The relaxe lifestyle
Helpal, Inc.
English By Phone
Needle Art &Handicraft
[Link]
Data Sense
Batoor
Shinelet Footwear (Private)Limited

Noyyaa
Hustle
Green Tech
Cloó
Robust
Apaale
ReliticMedia
Subrung Fashion
Al Futriyaat
toteallyawesome
Digital Lockers
CocoLush
WearKhat
[Link]
Phulwarii
Pixel craft designs/Sehria
Clouditecture
VM Nebula
Brain Drive Technologies
STEMverse
OPA Academy
Zahid Home Tuition
[Link]
Ecozindagi Pvt Ltd
ceeprinto
2025 13 Mind over fear VR
MedBro
Route Trading
OPA Academy
Royal foods
fumez of fragrance
EYE SSENSE
Fairies beauty and dress making services
Strings branding Company
Purigenic Private Limited
Bint-e-Hawa Forum
SkillsVision
EcoLight AI
HopeLens AI
Couturify
Project: VR Escape Room
Rawaan Pakistan
happify eshop
STEAM Havens
Flare ID/ BioBytes
Purexion
Climate Crunch
Escape
The Haiskin
Tabib AI
AgriGanic
Fayakun/ JLD
Letszu Tours and Travels

2018 Trainings /Workshops / Seminars

Google Analytics for Beginners (GBG)

On 14th September, 2018 NIC Peshawar hosted a training for GBG Peshawar on Google Analytics for
Beginners. During the training by Google Business Group Peshawar, participants learned how to transform
businesses using Google Analytics tools and understanding their customers more. Maryam Arshad Manager
GBG-Peshawar delivered this training, to enable the participants to use Google Analytics, starting from
scratch.

Visual Communication and Design

On 11th July, 2018 workshop on Visual Communication Design was held at NIC Peshawar. Sheheryar is an award winning
Visual Communication Designer who had worked with multiple organizations like the World Bank, USAID, and
Government of KP and is currently Designer in Residence at KPITB (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology
Board). He is a specialist in making brand & visual identities, he is one of the most influential designer in the province of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sheheryar explained the concepts of Visual Communication Design to the audience and showed
examples of good communication design strategies vs bad communication design strategies

Product Development & Pricing Simulation by Ed-Tech Works

On 12th July, 2018 workshop on Product Development & Pricing Simulation was hosted at NIC Peshawar by Dr.
Farrah Arif, founder of Ed Tech Worx. This one day workshop was designed to help management
professionals and marketers to understand their customers through market research and build plans that
allows for growth in sales and market share. The startups learned to analyze market feedback, learn mass
positioning, apply pricing strategies such as pricing and skimming, develop communication objectives and
define market segments and build a holistic product development and pricing strategy that optimizes both
market share and profitability.

Design Thinking Workshop for Innovation by Ed-Tech Works

On 13th July 2018, Design Thinking Workshop for Innovation was held at NIC Peshawar hosted by Dr. Farrah
Arif, founder of Ed Tech Worx. This one day workshop was designed to help familiarize the participants with
the basics of design thinking with the help of dynamic discussions, relevant course material and interactive
case studies. The startups learned the basic tools of design thinking to improve organizational performance,
break down and solve complex problems, build a framework that fosters a creative work environment and
develop new ways to establish robust and effective collaboration across all functions.

CPEC Workshop by Obbortunity

On 6th August, 2018 CPEC workshop was held at NIC Peshawar. The workshop was on CPEC and BRI and the
opportunities they hold for startups and businesses. The trainer Hamza Orakzai talked on CPEC Driven
Entrepreneurship and Education Mentoring on China’s 5 year plan and emerging opportunities for the
incubators and entrepreneurs in Pakistan under the purview of CPEC. He also gave an overview on
entrepreneurship in CPEC and educating the masses on this mega project. Brief note on CPEC was also given
by Mr. Hassan Daud Butt, Project Director, CPEC Secretariat, Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms.

She means Business by Women’s Digital League

On 10th November, 2018 NIC Peshawar and Women's Digital League as an official partner of Facebook
#SheMeansBusiness conducted a training program at NIC Peshawar. The training was focused on skill
development of women entrepreneurs to help them scale their businesses. The women were trained in using
Facebook tools and product photography to grow their business.

Coding for kids by Stoore

On 30th November, 2018 Stoore in collaboration with NIC Peshawar conducted a coding workshop for school
kids under their career guidance program. Stoore is a startup hat works in career advisory service for
students in 6th to 12th Grades with a vision to help students explore their talents and passions. The workshop
focused on basics of computer coding, computer languages used to develop apps, websites and software
and the importance of coding in today’s world. The participants learned the basics of coding (Python
language) and how to make simple programs using python language.

Tour Guide Training

On 20th December, 2018 The Enlight Lab organized a 4 days ToT to train youth as tour guide entrepreneur. The
training content included topics of Historical sites and routes, interpretive narration, Communication and
Interpersonal Skills, Risk Management and Conflict Resolution, Environmental Responsibility and Customer
Service. On fourth Day of training participants were given a hands on experience of tour in Peshawar walled
city.
These tour guides will be engaged in promotion of culture and in the long run revitalizing culture economy by
exploring tourism sector for generating income.

How to Startup and Succeed

On 16th Feb, 2018 in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority NIC
Peshawar arranged a seminar for the female entrepreneurs of the local ecosystem. The female startups who
applied for the 1st Cohort but were not selected were also invited to discuss the reasons for not been selected.

The session was quite engaging with an eager audience possessing diverse business background. The session
was concluded with shortlisting of the female candidates for the Hatchery program.

How to Startup by Shameelah Ismail

On 7th Mar, 2019 Shameelah shared her journey with incubates and shared the roadmap of how they
bootstrapped and shaped the initial journey of their Startup.

Building Great Companies by Atif Raees Khan

On 12th Mar, 2018 [Link] Raees Khan LMKT/LMKR CEO visited NIC Peshawar to have an interactive session
with the startups of the first cohort. He shared his success story with the startups along with the ups and
downs he faced as in his entrepreneurial journey.

The session ended with one on one session with the startups where their ideas were discussed in detail.

Beyond the Buzz Launch by Mariyam Mohiuddin

On 27th Mar, 2018 NIC Peshawar partnered up with Pakistan Innovation Lab to host their launch ceremony of
Beyond the Buzz, which is a comprehensive report on the startup ecosystem of Pakistan. A panel discussion
moderating by Mariyam Mohiuddin( Pakistan Innovation Lab) was held with Director Incubation Murtaza
Zaidi, Manager GBG Maryam Arshad, Founder of Peshawar 2.0 Faisal Khan and NIC Advisory Board Member
Shaukat Hayat. The session was quite interactive as the dynamics of th4e startup eco system was discussed
and ended with the launching of the report.

Setting the Direction of Academia Leaders

On 29th Mar, 2018 a networking session was held by the NIC Peshawar for all the ORIC Directors and head of
entrepreneurship centers in KP to bring them on one platform and help push the innovating revolution. The
key points of the session revolved around the possible collaborations and entrepreneurial development
activities that NIC Peshawar plans to carry out in KP and formation of an Academia Forum. The session
included representatives from CECOS University, City University (School of Entrepreneurship), GIKI,
IMSciences, Iqra National University, Islamia College Peshawar, UET Peshawar, Khyber Medical University and
University of Peshawar.

Pakistan Startup Cup

Pakistan Startup Cup-Top 25 Mentoring Session -16th Feb 2018

A mentoring and networking session for the Top 25 startups of the Startup Cup was held at NIC Peshawar.
Mentors from the local ecosystem were invited to have session with these startups and also give NIC
Peshawar an opportunity to showcase themselves as a platform for these startups to be incubated. It also
give an opportunity to these mentors to familiarize themselves with the future mentoring session that will be
held at NIC Peshawar for the incubated startups.

Pakistan Startup Cup-Round 3 -20th March 2018

Startup Cup Round 3 was held at NIC Peshawar. The opportunity was used to generate startup traffic at the
incubator. It was also an opportunity for the team for networking with the startups and encourage them to
apply for the 2nd Cohort. NIC Peshawar Startup of the 1st Cohort “[Link]” has been shortlisted for Final
Round.
Peer to Peer Connect

The first activity planned for the startups of the first cohort was Peer to Peer Connect. It was an ice breaking
activity for the startups to meet, understand each other business and barter their services. A lot of common
factors and issues for supporting each other were highlighted.
A partnership was formed among 4 startups thus bringing them closer and supporting each other.

11.8 GIKI Open House

On 12th April, 2018 Open Day was held at Ghulum Ishaq Khan Institute of Sciences and technology, where
people from different industries were invited to meet their graduates and see their final year projects. The
event was attended by the Communications Lead to examine the graduate’s final year projects. Majority of
the FYPs were high tech products with the potential to be commercialized, so a briefing about NIC Peshawar
was given to them. Around 50 graduates showed interest in being incubated at NIC Peshawar, to
commercialize their final projects.

Startup Grind (GBG)

On 14th April, 2018 NIC Peshawar in partnership with The Google Business Group held Fireside Chat with Syed
Irfan Ajmal. Irfan is a serial entrepreneur, digital marketer, and international speaker. The event was part of
GBG Peshawar’s Startup Grind Series, in which seasoned entrepreneurs talks about their success stories.

Industry Meet-Ups with USAID SMEA

On 17th April, 2018 The National Incubation Center facilitated the road show of USAID SMEA team for The
Challenge Fund. USAID SMEA is a 5 year, $35 Million program that support and strengthen the SME sector. It
targets to increase the sales, jobs, fostering entrepreneurship and increased sectorial contribution to GDP. The
program was designed to work with small and medium ICT enterprises and startups which require support in
technical, marketing, market access, bank credit & loans and business and growth planning.

Startup founders and entrepreneurs joined the presentation and a Q&A session regarding the program was
conducted with the USAID SMEA team. The startups completed their applications on the spot

Karandaaz Fintech Disrupt Challenge

On 2nd May, 2018 seminar on Disrupt Challenge was held at NIC Peshawar by Karandaaz. The purpose of the
seminar was to create awareness regarding the “Fintech Disrupt Challenge 2018”, during which details
regarding the areas of competition, the procedure to apply and the rules and regulations were discussed.

G construct by GBG

On 23rd May, 2018 the session was held at NIC Peshawar. NIC Peshawar, in partnership with The Google
Business Group Peshawar held the G Construct event which is a series of conversations with local
entrepreneurs. The speaker for this event was Aruba who is the co-founder of Focus productions, which is a
media house based out of Peshawar. She shared her own entrepreneurial journey with the audience.

Startup Stories

On 4th and 5th April, 2018 Mavra had 1 to 1 sessions with the startups where the startups shared their stories
about how they emanated in business form. Educational & work experiences of each team members were
discussed.

Marwa excels in capturing the entrepreneurial journeys. The stores by Mavra are inspirational, detailed and
useful. The content of the startup by Mavra was made into creating further content for website, Presentations
and marketing material.

Design Thinking

On 6th & 7th April, 2018 two days training session of Design Thinking was held by Javeria Masood. Design
thinking included "building up" ideas, with few, or no, limits on breadth during a "brainstorming" phase, which
helped reduce fear of failure in the startups and encouraged their input and participation from a wide variety
of sources in the ideation phases.

2.2.1 6th April 2018-Day 1

On day 1 of training, an intro to the core components of what Design Thinking is, what to incorporate, benefits
in reference to business model, model segment identification, organizational development, branding.
Scalability, longevity. The key tools and frameworks were also explained to startups in detail.

Team interaction, idea sharing, examples and case studies were also discussed. The training session wrapped
up with debrief, 5W’s and 1H exercise for the next day.

2.2.2 7th April 2018- Day 2.

On day 2, Consultation with startup teams individually about the user outreach, systems thinking, process
effectiveness, user centered design, and scalability and sustainability was discussed by the trainer. The core
component was to find meaningful solutions by applying cognitive activities.

This approach was also useful in understanding the position and expectations, drive innovative solutions and
develop new and unique commodities, not just at the ideation stage but also during service/product
development and post-production stage.

Design thinking workshops were very useful as it facilitated the creative, intense and quick learning
methodology to provide an empathetic, long-term and innovative lens for the startups.

SECP Registration Session by Assad Saeed

On 10th April, 2018 Assad Saeed, Deputy Director SECP held a workshop to help startups understand the
importance of registering their businesses and its long run affects.

The workshop was quite helpful as a lot of Startups face challenges while registering. The registration
process, online portal and different types of registrations were explained in detail. The discussion revolved
around the following points:

● Registration of legal business entities, types along with pros and cons (Sole, partnership firm, Pvt Etc.)
● Benefits for startups if any
● Shareholding agreements
● Legal requirements w.r.t taxation etc
● MOA and other paper work required
● Process

Center for Social Entrepreneurship

On 12th September, 2018 a seminar on Social Entrepreneurship was held at NIC Peshawar for The Planning
Ministry.
The following points were discussed during the session:
● Themed sessions on helping the Social entrepreneurs to assist the ventures in developing their skill
sets.
● Networking events to connect the social entrepreneurs with investors, experts and sharing of ideas.
● Pitch events, trainings, marketing and other activities undertaken to promote the sector and
organization.
● Annual seed money grant to 25 graduates via business plan competition across Pakistan.
● 20-25 social ventures to be supported and given resources in the accelerator program yearly. Funding
for these ventures to be raised from private sector/government or grant funding.
● Trainings for the skill development of the entrepreneurs.
● Research and publications with participations of academia.
Open Data Workshop for Code for Pakistan

On 4th July, 2018 a workshop was held at NIC Peshawar hosted by Code for Pakistan. Code for Pakistan is a
non-profit building a non-partisan civic innovation ecosystem to improve quality of life across Pakistan. They
believe that digital technology, when used correctly, can both improve governance and open new channels
for citizens to meaningfully engage in the public sphere and have a positive impact on their communities.
Through the creation of open source technology to address civic needs, they aim to transform civic life by
increasing civic engagement, encouraging the opening of government data, and supporting innovation in the
public domain. This workshop was part of their campaign to familiarize the masses with open data.

Waqas Khan at Start-up Grind by GBG Peshawar

On 16th July, 2018 NIC Peshawar in partnership with The Google Business Group Peshawar held a Fireside Chat
with Waqas Khan who is an entrepreneur, a game developer, and international speaker. The event was part of
GBG Peshawar’s Start-up Grind Series in which they call seasoned entrepreneurs and have talks and
interactive sessions with them.
Focus Group Discussion by Impact Dynamics

On 1st August, 2018 NIC Peshawar in partnership with Impact Dynamics hosted a focus group discussion on
how to make workplaces more human. The aim was to have insights of modern workplaces environment and
a clear understanding of personal and communal issues at workplaces.

Design Election Hackathon by Code for Pakistan

On 14th July, 2018 NIC Peshawar hosted the hackathon for Code of Pakistan. Code for Pakistan is a non-profit
building a non-partisan civic innovation ecosystem to improve quality of life across Pakistan. Through the
creation of open source technology to address civic needs, they aim to transform civic life by increasing civic
engagement, encouraging the opening of government data, and supporting innovation in the public domain.
This hackathon was part of their campaign to figure out new and innovative ways to run elections in Pakistan.

GDG Study Jams

On 10th October, 2018 The National Incubation Center hosted Google Developers Group Islamabad, in
collaboration with DEMO Enterprise and Coders Stack to execute it`s very first Flutter Study Jams. The aim
was to spread awareness among local developer about Flutter and it`s practical implementations. The
workshop comprised of three workshop sessions (hands-on training) as per Google Study Jam guide.
At the end of the workshop, the participants demonstrated their Demo Apps (build during three days) before
a certificate celebration.

Vision and Validation

During the session, panel of experienced Mentors spoke on how to develop startup ideas, how to properly
pitch ideas and strategies, and how to analyze existing ideas or business. Founders presented their startup
ideas to the Mentors and received in-depth feedback to improve their ideas and pitches.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

th
Session 24 April, 2018 12th Sep, 2018
Sayyed Ahmed Masud Mohammad Mansoor
Mentors
Muhammad Mansoor Faisal S Khan

Customer Development

During this session, experienced Mentors spoke on how to validate key assumptions, interview potential
customers effectively, and interpret their feedback. Founders presented their progress to the Mentors to
determine if they are pursuing a scalable business with a clear and actionable customer problem.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

th th
Session 8 May, 2018 25 September, 2018
Sayyed Ahmed Masood
Sayyed Ahmad Masud
Mentors Mohammad Mansoor
Mohammad Mansoor
Mohammad Nasurallah

Revenue
During the session Mentors discussed on how to sustain the company before receiving financing or revenue,
identifying the most lucrative revenue source for business, testing different revenue sources with the target
customers, and more. Founders also continued to share their pitches and revenue model to Mentors for
feedback and continued refinement.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

Session 5th June, 2018 2nd October, 2018
Sayyed Ahmad Masud
Ayub Zakori Mohammad Mansoor
Mentors
Adeel Rauf Salman Saeed
Shaukat Hayat

Branding & Design

In this session, Mentors had analyzed existing names and branding, and discussed how to develop a good
name for their business, how to develop an enduring brand, and the basics of great user interface design.
Founders had also shared their pitch and existing branding to Mentors for continued feedback and
refinement.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

th th
Session 12 June, 2018 16 October, 2018
Atif Raees
Mohammad Mansoor
Mentors Shahjahan Chaudary
Sarmad Faraz
Ahad Afridi

Mentor Idea Review

This was the first big checkpoint in the program to determine each Founder’s progress. During the Mentor
Idea Review, the founders presented their customer problems and progress to the panel of FI Mentors for
extensive review. Founders received the rating, and feedback on the validity of their idea, customer problem,
market size, soundness of their revenue model, and more.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

st rd
Session 21 June, 2018 23 October, 2018
Atif Raees
Murtaza Zaidi Mohammad Mansoor
Javeria Hassan Moqeem Ul Haque
Mentors
Adnan Faisal Ayub Zakori
Sayyed Ahmad Masud Fariha Shah
Jahanzeb Khan

Legal

During the session, startups lawyers and CEOs explained various legal agreements, startup legal components
(such as equity), how to protect intellectual property, the best practices for managing a law firm, and more.
As usual, Mentors also provided Founders feedback on their startup pitch and progress, ensuring to explain
what their company is to the growing audience.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

th th
Session 28 June, 2018 30 October, 2018
Natalya Kamal
Mentors Natalya Kamal
Mohammad Mansoor

Go to Market
The mentors explained how a startup should prioritize their go-to market initiatives at the beginning of a
business? How should they evaluate different models for growing the business? How they need to develop
marketing messages that resonate with their target customers? What are the best techniques to test
messaging and customer acquisition channels? How to measure conversion rates? What are unit economics?
How should a startup set growth goals? How to develop a growth plan? How to leverage advisors to set and
develop growth goals and growth plan?

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

th nd
Session 28 June, 2018 22 October, 2018
Sayyed Ahmad Masud Yasir Suleman Memon
Mentors Imtia Rastagar Sayyed Ahmad Masud
Faizan Leghari Mohammad Mansoor

Product Development

During this session, Mentors discussed the best practices in product development and team management to
release a world-class solution, prototyping a solution, speaking with the target customers and to get
feedback, and more. Mentors also provided Founders with feedback on their product’s development and
progress.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

th
Session 10th July, 2018 27 October, 2018
Asim Ghaffar
Zoha Mushtaq
Mentors Mohammad Mansoor
Maham Ejaz
Atique Siddiqi

Mentor Progress Review

Similar to the Mentor Idea Review, the Mentor Progress Review was the second major test in the program. In
this session, Founders focused on presenting their progress and traction to a panel of Mentors for a detailed
review. Mentors evaluated Founders based on their progress, their go-to-market plan, the company’s
scalability, and more.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

th th
Session 19 July, 2018 18 December, 2018
Ayub Zakori
Dr. Sahibzada Ali Mahmud
Faisal s Khan
Sohaib Tanveer
Mentors Illum Khan
Ayub Zakori
Barkan Saeed
Sayyed Ahmad Masud

Hiring and Onboarding

In this session, Mentors discussed how to identify the roles needed to build a world-class company, how to
develop a strategy to recruit, board and retain the best people for the roles, and more. Founders also received
feedback from Mentors on their team plans and product progress.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

Session 2nd August 2018
Saram Bukhari
Shahid Mir Planned for January 2019
Mentors
Ahmad Masud
Sabur Sethi

Growth
In this session, Mentors discussed topics such as defining success for the company, the various tactics to
grow a business, setting growth goals and milestones, communicating the startup’s growth progress and
setbacks with stakeholders and advisors, and more. Mentors also provided Founders with feedback on their
current growth and growth strategy.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

th
Session 7 August 2018
Hamza Orakzai
Shaukat Hayat Planned for January 2019
Mentors
Mohammad Mansoor
Adnan Faisal

Equity & Funding

In this session, Mentors covered numerous topics related to fundraising, including different fundraising
options, what different types of investors expect to see with respect to progress on team, product and
traction, and more. Mentors also provided Founders with feedback on their startup pitch that they can expect
to hear from investors.

Details 1st Cohort 2nd Cohort

Session 30th August 2018
Sayyed Ahmad Masud Planned for January 2019
Mentors
Humayun Mazhar

Leadership & Graduation

Graduating from the Founder Institute is an honor. The program is challenging, and the curriculum is
demanding. In this final session, the startups celebrated graduating with their peers, friends and family, as
well as select Mentors who discussed the important leadership qualities needed to run a successful company.
The startups also learnt about all of the post-program resources and assistance that the Founder Institute
provides.

2019 Trainings /Workshops / Seminars

Franchise PK Training
On 13th February 2019, NIC Peshawar’s first cohort startup Franchise PK held a training workshop for their
employees at NIC Peshawar. The training was sponsored by the USAID SMEA project. Eminent trainers
including Salman Sadiq, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Tareen and Mian Daud Shah conducted the workshop. The
training session was attended by Business Development Officers and Call Center Representatives of Franchise
Pakistan in an effort to scale the startup to national level.

Tutors Gateway Training

On 21st April 2019, NIC Peshawar’s second cohort startup, Tutors Gateway arranged a one day Training session
for tutors at NIC Peshawar. Tutors gateway is an online platform that connects tutors and students. Through
these trainings Tutors Gateway hopes to build the capacity of the tutors on its platform.

Tutors Gateway Boot Camp Orientation

On 29th June 2019, one of our startups Tutors Gateway held an orientation for their summer boot camp at NIC
Peshawar. The boot camp is Peshawar biggest and one of its kind 2-month training boot camp. Orientation
Ceremony was attended by 60 students, trainers, and community partners.

HR Training by Max Foster Global

On 3rd July, 2019 workshop about “Human Resources System” was held by Max Foster Global at NIC
Peshawar. The speakers Dr. Hassan Rasoo & Huma Hameed talked about the Recruitment, Training, Retaining
and Firing of employees. The startups were given a detailed insight in to the perception of the employees;
their needs, desires, capabilities and pain points.
A sincere and hardworking employ should be given extra care and attention in order to motivate him/her as
well as the other employs.
Whenever an employ is leaving the job, he must fill a feedback form, which would help the company get
better. If the employs are frequently resigning the job, it means that there must be something that needs to be
fixed regarding the company

GDG Cloud Study Jams

On 22nd February 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Google Developers Group held a cloud study jams
session for developers and Tech Savvy innovators. The trainers conducted labs on App engine deployment
using Quick Labs during the session on various skills. The successful individuals were awarded Google
Certifications on completing particular labs.

Cloud Study Jam

On 18th March, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Global Shapers Peshawar organized a Cloud Study Jam
session at NIC Peshawar. The session was a great opportunity to bring members of the community together
to learn something in person. The trainings gave the community members a specific skill they can use for
personal development or career advancement. On the day of the Study Jam, the participants received free
access to Quiklabs, worth $55. The session covered the below parts of Google Cloud Certification:
1) Getting started with Cloud KMS.
2) Networking 101.
3) Set up Network and HTTP Load Balancers.
React native Workshop

On 28th March 2019, NIC Peshawar arranged a workshop on React native Workshop at NIC Peshawar, as part
of our new monthly training programs. React Native is a Hybrid Mobile Application Development Framework
that allows mobile app developers to develop apps for android and iOS at the same time instead of coding
separately. The workshop was conducted by Abdul Jalil.

Stoorey Animation Workshop

On 29th March 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Stoorey arranged an Animation Workshop for kids at
NIC Peshawar. Stoorey is a startup working on STEAM Education for school kids. This was the first workshop
of a five part series of workshops for kids.

Stoorey Creative Writing Workshop

On 12th April 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Stoorey arranged a Creative Writing Workshop for
children at NIC Peshawar. Stoorey is a startup working on STEAM Education for school kids. This was the first
workshop of a five part series of workshops for kids.

Stoorey Game Designing Workshop

On 19th April 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Stoorey arranged a Games Designing Workshop for
children at NIC Peshawar. Stoorey is a startup working on STEAM Education for school children. This was the
first workshop of a five part series of workshops for kids.

SMEDA Business Development Workshop – 3 Days

On 24th, 25th& 29thApril 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with SMEDA arranged a three day workshop on
Business Development skills at NIC Peshawar. The first workshop was on The Art of Selling. The workshop
was open for everyone to attend other than the startups of NIC Peshawar. The purpose to the workshops is to
familiarize startups with the basic concepts of running a successful venture.

Stoorey Comics Design Workshop

On 2nd May 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Stoorey arranged a Comics Designing Workshop for
children at NIC Peshawar. Stoorey is a startup working on STEAM Education for school kids. This was the first
workshop of a five part series of workshops for kids.

Stoorey UX/UI Design Workshop

On 3rd May2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Stoorey arranged a user experience and user design
Workshop for children at NIC Peshawar. Stoorey is a startup working on STEAM Education for school
children. This was the first workshop of a five part series of workshops for kids.

USAID SMEA Digital Marketing Workshop

On 4th May 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Chemonics and USAID SMEA held a Digital Marketing
Workshop for entrepreneurs at NIC Peshawar. This capacity building workshop on Digital Marketing for
Startups and SMEs was one of the first in a series of five workshops spanning over a few months and will
cover multiple dimensions of Digital Marketing.

Jazz Design Thinking Workshop

On June 19th, 2019 NIC Peshawar in partnership with Jazz, held a design thinking workshop for our 3rd cohort
startups at NIC Peshawar. The full day workshop conducted by the Jazz team helped the startups with
prototyping their products and in critical thinking. The startups gave a very positive feedback to the session.

Drupak Private Limited

On 11th July, 2019 the IT Students were given the introduction regarding Drupal and Drupak by Syed
Muhammad Azmat Shah. Drupak is a Web development, Web Consultancy and Training company based in
Peshawar, Pakistan with expertise in Drupal. Question/Answer session took place and students were
acquainted with new technical information. The speaker made the students understand even in their native
language in order to give them better understanding of the web training. A practical session was led by the
speaker in which further details were taught to the students on the projector. They were taught tool using and
website making manner. The whole session was full of learning complex technical learning which was
beneficial for the students.

Edtech Workshop

On 15th July, 2019 Dr. Farrah Arif introduced her website “Edtech Worx. EdTechWorx (Pvt) Ltd”. The workshop
was about spreading awareness in students regarding modern means of studying and covering different
courses through virtual studies. It is the first Pakistani education technology company that develops online
digital interactive data-driven products which recreate real-world applications for business decision-making.
The speaker further discussed different courses that can be added to this “Virtual Education system” website
according to the demands of the learners.
“Chat boxes” are also available where different students interact for similar aspirations around the country.

Market Research and Business Analysis Workshop

On 19th July, 2019 a workshop related to the topic of “How to read between the numbers” was held at NIC
Peshawar. The speaker Ans Khurram talked about the culture of scoring in different countries. He talked about
the countries where the scoring graph is strict and the countries where it is lenient. According to the studies,
Japan and other Asian countries with it, are strict regarding scoring and the public does not generously
shower rankings to the service providers whereas US and other few western countries were shown through
the graph who rank prodigally. Pakistan is also in the list of the later countries. A service getting 7 out of 10
would be considered poor in a particular geography and mind-set but at another place even a 6 out of 10
would be considered “very good”. The speaker further talked about business and market keeping the theme of
number in the limelight.

Skills for U Booth Camp- Tutors Gateway

On 29th , 30th & 31st July, 2019 a booth camp organized by Tutors Gateway was held at NIC Peshawar where
focus was on Digital Marketing, Graphic designing, Management and Word Press. The speakers educated the
students to polish their capabilities in area of Digital Skills. Students were provided brilliant mentorship and
training so they could find and avail best jobs present in the market.

Visual Storytelling Workshop by Qissa Khwanan

On 20th, 21st & 22nd August Qissa khwanan held three days’ workshop in collaboration with NIC Peshawar to
train the pre-registered participants on all aspects of Visual Storytelling and Filmmaking. Day 1 was dedicated
to the importance of storytelling and pre-production aspect of Filmmaking. On day 2 the participants learned
camera operations and worked on their individual projects. 3rd and last day of workshop focused on
post-production and editing part of film-making. The workshop was supported by Waduna and Lightshire
Studios.

Storytelling for Children by Qissa Khuwanan

On 19th September, 2019 Qissa Khwanan, in collaboration with NIC Peshawar and Ran’aa Child Welfare
Foundation, hosted kids for a fun filled evening. The participants involved in different activities such as
interactive games, sketching and storytelling. The kids mostly comprised of street children who usually do not
have access to schooling or such interactive sessions. The purpose of the event was to prepare these less
fortunate kids for the world of tomorrow.

CXO Pakistan Tax Regulation Session

On 4th October 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with CXO Pakistan conducted an information session on
Tax Regulations for IT Industry at NIC Peshawar. Tax expert team of CXO Pakistan briefed the participants
regarding the regulations on sales and income tax and how IT based companies can benefit from these
regulations. CXO Pakistan is consultancy agency based in Peshawar. The workshop was attended by more
than 30 businessmen and women attended the workshop.

Trade Management Workshop by Operations 360

On 17th October 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Operations360, an Islamabad based Consultancy
Company, conducted its training on Weboc and Trade Management for the first time in Peshawar at NIC
Peshawar. 30 business owners from all over KPK participated in this training. Such trainings provide an
opportunity to local businesses and startups to learn specialized skills for the development of their business.

Advance Excel Workshop by Operations 360

On 15th November 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with operations 360 held an
Advance Excel Training Session lead by Mr. Abdur Rehman bin Zaheer at NIC Peshawar. Purpose of this
training session was to make participant proficient at their Excel skills. The training focused on advanced excel
skills for smooth running of business. The training was organized by Operations 360 which is an Islamabad
based business consultancy agency.

Rethink Peshawar Meetup

On 18th November 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with Rethink Peshawar held
their inception meeting. The meeting was all about sustainable efforts for peace through culture and heritage.
The city has much to offer to its visitors from religious places, to food, educational institutes, resiliency spots
and more. All we need is collective effort and promote a positive vision as a community. Rethink Peshawar is
a community building organization working for sustainable development of the city.

Income Tax Workshop by Khilji & Co.

On 27th November 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with Khilji & Co. Chartered
Accountants held a day-long workshop on Taxation and Regulations at NIC Peshawar. Representatives from
various organizations including WSSP, KP Economic Zone, PEDO, State Bank of Pakistan, SRSP, Associated
Industry Limited, Sabawoon, and others attended the workshop. The workshop was attended by more than
70 participants and was a very interactive one.
Company Registration Training by SECP

On 6th December 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with SECP conducted a
company registration training at NIC Peshawar. Company registration is one of the most essential element of
initiating a business venture. To understand the nitty gritties of company registration, National Incubation
Center Peshawar invited the startups from IM Durshal, Durshal and Business Incubation Centre Peshawar for
a session with Saeedullah Khan from SECP. The expert from SECP gave participants a walkthrough of the
whole process and answered their queries.

Agile Yoga Workshop by Prudential

On 24th December 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with Prudential Solutions held
a workshop designed to develop an Agile and Growth mindset among young innovators and founders in the
age of disruption. The symposium emphasized on deeper understanding of Agile mindset, scrum framework
and understanding of roles and responsibilities.

Brand Management by Sukkur IBA

On 31st December 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with Executive Development
Center, Sukkur IBA University in collaboration with SMEDA - Pakistan organized one day training workshop on
Brand Management at NIC Peshawar. More than 25 startup founders attended the workshop which was
delivered by Dr. Sarwar M. Azhar, Professor of Marketing and Strategy at IBA Sukkur. The full day workshop
will have a second session next month as well.

Session with Deputy Commissioner Peshawar

On 8th March, 2019 NIC Peshawar communications team hosted a Conversation with Deputy and Assistant
Commissioner Peshawar at NIC Peshawar as part of the new monthly talk series. "District Management is
always here to support anyone who comes up with solutions for our social problems." said Deputy
Commissioner Peshawar, Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh to the entrepreneurs present at NIC Peshawar. It was a full
house as the audience engaged in a very interactive manner with the leadership of District Administration

EGP Gaming Event

On 9th & 10th March 2019, E-Gaming Pakistan (EGP), one of our 2nd Cohort Startups, arranged the biggest
E-gaming event in Peshawar at NIC Peshawar. Electronic Gamers Pakistan (EGP) managed to engage more
than 800 people at this two-day event including 560 gamers.
The purpose of EGP and these kinds of events is to engage the enthusiasts, professionals and casual gamers
to a platform where they can learn, compete, and can win big prizes. EGP will support all the national level
player to compete in International events to represent Pakistan. The most favorite attraction was PUBG, which
is an online action fantasy game. PUBG has more than 400 million players worldwide. Cash prizes were
distributed among the top scorers of PUBG on both days. Other popular games included, Tekken 7, FIFA 19,
Need for Speed (MW) and Dirt Rally. The event was powered by Pakistan E-Sports Federation. Other partners
include Pakistan Cyber Gaming, Naveed Games, VR Here, [Link], ACM Society of FAST NUCES and House
of Entrepreneurs from University of Peshawar. The event was hosted by NIC Peshawar.

Session with Yusuf Hussain

On 20th March 2018, Yusuf Hussain, CEO Ignite visited NIC Peshawar to for a session with our 3rd cohort
startups and check the progress of our previous two cohort startups. Yusuf Hussain welcomed the newly
inducted 3rd Cohort Startups at NIC Peshawar. He actively interacted with the startups during the inaugural
Founder Institute's session on Vision and Validation along with Sayyed Ahmad Masud, CEO Change
Mechanics.

Conversation with Senator Noman Wazir

On 9th April 2019, NIC Peshawar communications team hosted a Conversation with Senator Noman Wazir,
Founder of FF Steel at NIC Peshawar as part of the new monthly talk series. The honorable senator shared his
own success stories with the startups and had a very candid conversation with the audience. He also gave
the startups advice on how to grow their startup into a big business.

Poetry Slam and Book Launch

On 21st April 2019, NIC Peshawar in collaboration with Dastan hosted one of Peshawar’s first poetry slams at
NIC Peshawar. The event gathered intellectuals from all over Peshawar and brought them together to share
their work with the other poets and authors. Kayenat Hammed an author from Peshawar also launched her
poetry book at the event. She is one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first Spoken Word artist, who talked about the
potential in KP youth.

Startup Cup Celebration Event

On 20th June, 2019 NIC Peshawar celebrated the success of two of its startups winning first and third position
at the Pakistan Startup Cup by hosting a cake cutting ceremony at NIC Peshawar. Our startup Nano IT
Solutions won the startup cup and Aprus was 2nd runner up in the competition. Guests from Ignite, PTCL,
LMKT, NIC Advisory board attended the celebratory event along with NIC Peshawar’s startups and team
members.

A Conversation with Khumariyaan Band

On 11th July, 2019 conversation commenced with Khumariyan Band was organized by NIC Peshawar. The
speakers Farhan Bogra and Aamer Shafiq shared their success stories and acquainted the audience with the
challenges which they faced during their struggle respectively. Their main focus was on the subjective
perspective of the society and individuals regarding music. They discussed and shared their hindrances faced
during their struggle period. As it is a taboo in rural Pakistan areas to become a musician; their story was no
different. They faced many hardships and eradicated all obstacles which would come between them and
their dreams.

Taimur Jhagra by Peace without Borders Pakistan

On 8th November 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with Peace without Borders-
Pakistan organized a focused group discussion based on ‘Youth and Nation Building’ in order to bridge the gap
between youth, social development and government. The primary focus was to identify the drivers of change
including education, employment and engagement that can empower youth. Provincial Minister of KP for
Finance, Taimur Khan Jhagra moderated the session, creating awareness and connection between youth,
leaders and government.

GLUG Peshawar Event

On 8th November 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration Glug Pakistan hosted a meet up
of creatives at NIC Peshawar. Writers, bloggers, digital designers, filmmakers and individuals from the
creative industry, came together to share their experiences. The event provided the participants with an
opportunity to network with like-minded people and make life-long connections. The event was attended by
more than 50 artists and art lovers. 6 speakers shared their experiences with the audience.

Art of Storytelling by Qissa Khwanan

On 11th November 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with Qissa Khwanan gathered
a group of storytellers in collaboration with NIC Peshawar. A short presentation on Art and Science of
Storytelling was followed by individual stories by the participants. The audience were given a training on
effective storytelling.
Chalta Phirta Film Festival by Documentary Association of Pakistan

On 13th November 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with the Documentary
Association of Pakistan (DAP) conducted Chalta Phirta Film Festival at NIC Peshawar. The screenings of films
were followed by an interactive discussion with Abdul Rahim, a real-life hero from Bomb Disposal Squad of
KP and Haya Fatima Iqbal, the co-producer of the Film.

Mark My City by Global Shapers

On 4th December 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with Global Shapers Peshawar
executed the My Mark My City Global at NIC Peshawar. People of Peshawar brainstormed about sustainable
solutions for Peshawar city and envision their city ten years from now. The event invited key speakers from
Peshawar Beautification Project and Leading Architects. Professionals and emerging leaders came up with
brilliant sustainable ideas for city ranging from roof top gardens, smart restrooms, tesla tiles.

Women Empowerment Round Table by Enlight Lab

On 10th December 2019, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with The Enlight Lab and
Women's Avenue a round table discussion on women empowerment movements at NIC Peshawar. The
event was organized under the chain of events happening under United Nation’s 16 days of activism against
gender violence.

Vision and Validation

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort

Session 20th March, 2019 26th July, 2019
Conducted during Yusuf Hussain & Yusuf Hussain &
Mentors 2018 Sayyed Ahmed Sayyed Ahmed
Masud Masud

Customer Development

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort

Session Conducted during 2nd April, 2019 1st October, 2019
Mentors 2018 Mohammad Mansoor Suniya

Revenue

During the session Mentors discussed on how to sustain the company before receiving financing or revenue,
identifying the most lucrative revenue source for business, testing different revenue sources with the target
customers, and more. Founders also continued to share their pitches and revenue model to Mentors for
feedback and continued refinement.

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort

Conducted during 23rd April, 2019
Session 9th October, 2019
2018
Sohaib Tanveer,
Mentors Shaukat Hayat, Mian Salman, Murtaza Zaidi
Rashid

Branding & Design

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort

Session Conducted during 30th April, 2019 14th November, 2019
Mentors 2018 Yasir Jaswal Sarmad Faraz

Legal

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort

Session Conducted during 25th June, 2019 26th November, 2019
Mentors 2018 Natalya Kamal Natalya Kamal
Go to Market

The mentors explained how a startup should prioritize their go-to market initiatives at the beginning of a
business? How should they evaluate different models for growing the business? How they need to develop
marketing messages that resonate with their target customers? What are the best techniques to test
messaging and customer acquisition channels? How to measure conversion rates? What are unit economics?
How should a startup set growth goals? How to develop a growth plan? How to leverage advisors to set and
develop growth goals and growth plan?

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort
Session Conducted during 2nd July, 2019 12th December, 2019
Mentors 2018 Maryam Arshad Furqan Qureshi

Product Development

14.8 Hiring and Onboarding

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort

nd
Session 22 January 2019
Shaheryar Latif , Not conducted Planned for 2020
Mentors
Fahad Aziz
14.9 Growth

In this session, Mentors discussed topics such as defining success for the company, the various tactics to
grow a business, setting growth goals and milestones, communicating the startup’s growth progress and
setbacks with stakeholders and advisors, and more. Mentors also provided Founders with feedback on their
current growth and growth strategy.

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort

Session 29th January 2019 25th October 2019
Mumtaz Muslim,
Not Conducted
Mentors Shaukat Hayat, Maryam Arshad
Mohammad Mansoor

14.9 Equity & Funding

Details 2nd Cohort 3rd Cohort 4th Cohort

Session 14th February 2019
Sayyed Ahmad Not Conducted Planned for 2020
Mentors
Masud, Murtaza Zaidi

2020 Trainings /Workshops / Seminars

Brand Management by Sukkur IBA

On 8th January 2020, National Incubation Center, Peshawar, in collaboration with Executive Development
Center, Sukkur IBA University, in collaboration with SMEDA - Pakistan, organized a one-day training
workshop Brand Management at NIC Peshawar. More than 40 startups attended the seminar, delivered by Dr.
Sarwar M. Azhar, Professor of Marketing and Strategy at IBA Sukkur.

Phython Training by ERISP

On 9th January 2020, National Incubation Center, Peshawar, in collaboration with ERISP, held a training
workshop on Python development. The Workshop was conducted by Zahid, founder of ERIS, one of NIC
Peshawar’s 3rd Cohort Startups.

Digital Marketing Training by Accelerate Private Ltd

On 21st January 2020, National Incubation Center, Peshawar, organized a one-day training workshop on
Interpersonal Skills and Organizational Communication Workshop. The trainer was Varah Musavvir, the
founder of Firefly and The Crafter's Guild. The participants were introduced to more effective communication
methods and had one-on-one sessions to overcome persuasive speech fright and hurdles.

Interpersonal Skills and Organizational Communication Workshop

Unidesk Career Readiness Program

On 31st January, 2020, National Incubation Center, Peshawar in collaboration with Unidesk organized one day
training workshop on Career Readiness Program at NIC Peshawar. Over 40 participants attended the event
and were given a deeper dig of career understanding, resume building, and LinkedIN's algorithm. The one to
one sessions were followed by a talk from Dr. Faisal, founder of Peshawar 2.0 and the Deputy Director of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board - KPITB.

A Conversation with Zeeshan Parwez

On 6th February 2020, National Incubation Center, Peshawar hosted Zeeshan Parwez, founder of ROKHAN
and the video producer for Coke Studio, to have a creative workshop mind works. The talk revolved around
tackling creative block tactfully and the fundamentals creatives should act upon during creation. The fantastic
turnout had gentry from different backgrounds, from Art to Music, to Entrepreneurship.

Next Gen Journalists Bootcamp

On 9th March 2020, National Incubation Center, Peshawar, in collaboration with The Centrum Media and the
U.S. Consulate General Peshawar, hosted a 4-day training on digital journalism aspiring and mid-career
journalists at NIC Peshawar. This training brought together trainers from various verticals of Journalism to train
these young journalists.

Art of Pitching

Samar Hasan led a workshop series on the Art of Pitching with Startups of the 5th Cohort. The workshop aims
to prepare startups for their pitches as their incubation period comes to an end. The workshop consisted of
three sessions, including The Art of Storytelling, The Art of Pitching, and The Pitching session, with feedback
from the mentors. The startups prepared their pitches in these weeks to get ready to pitch for investment and
marketing.

Business Canvas Model

On 1st October 2020, Samar Hasan, Co-founder Epiphany, led a full day workshop on Business Canvas Model
with the 6th Cohort Startups. The seminar's main aim was to identify strengths, weaknesses, key activities,
value propositions, and other primary factors that directly impact businesses. The startups got their business
canvas models designed with the mentor's support, which were further reviewed at the end of the workshop.

Advanced Digital Media Training

On 5th November 2020, Madeeha Raza, Founder and Director of Women through Film, led a day-long
workshop on Advanced Digital Media Management. The training focused on the importance of storytelling
while designing a startup’s digital media strategy, the process of developing and executing successful digital
media campaigns to achieve desired goals and the basics of using social media analytics to calculate the
success of campaigns.

Virtual Reality Seminar

On 16th January 2020, National Incubation Center, Peshawar, in collaboration with UET Peshawar, held a
seminar on the development and application of Virtual Reality. Students and faculty members from UET
Peshawar attended the event. The purpose of the seminar was to spread awareness among engineering
students regarding the development and application of Virtual Reality in the future the industry.

Advisor to Chief Secretary KP Pitches

On 4th February 2020, the startups of National Incubation Center Peshawar pitched their ideas in front of the
Advisory Committee to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at NIC Peshawar. To bridge the gap between
government and startups, a panel consisting of Noor M. Khan, advisor to Chief Secretary Delivery Unit, Syed
Asad Kakakhel, Executive Microfinance Division at BOK, and members from CSDU and Code for Pakistan
visited NIC Peshawar to have one-on-one meetings with several startup founders. The founders identified the
areas where they need collaborative efforts from government bodies and the bottlenecks they face in terms
of ease of doing business and access to finance. The panel noted their observations to be taken up with the
relevant departments.
Global Shapers Monthly Meetup

On 21st February 2020, The NIC Peshawar team hosted Global Shapers for their monthly meetup and annual
elections at NIC Peshawar. One of this year's impact areas of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is the
'inclusion' of women in all social and political activities. To deliberate over this exigent issue, a meeting of
Global Shapers Peshawar was conducted, and therein, a debate took place between the male and female
Shapers of the hub. Both gave their respective opinions regarding the inclusion of women of Peshawar and
their empowerment, and ways of chalking out a decisive plan were discussed.

Effective Communication

Samar Hasan, the founder of Epiphany Lab, conducted a session on Effective Communication with NIC
Peshawar's startups. The session focused on the importance of networking and communication in the
business world. It was attended by most of the current and alumni startup founders of NIC Peshawar.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

2nd April, 2020 Effective
Samar Hassan 5th Cohort Startups
Communication

Managing Bias as Startups

Neelam Azmat, the Innovation Specialist at Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, delivered an online session on
Managing Bias as a Startup with the founders of National Incubation Center, Peshawar's startups. She stressed
the importance of managing explicit and implicit biases for a founder or leader and how it impacts business
decision-making.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

Managing Bias as
7th April, 2020 Neelam Azmat 5th Cohort Startups
Startups

Digital Media Marketing 101

Digital Media Marketing is one of the fundamental skills for startups. Salman Saeed, Manager Google
Developer Group - PESHAWAR Chapter, led an online introductory session on Digital Media Marketing with
NIC Peshawar's Startups.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

9th April, 2020 Digital Marketing 101 Salman Saeed 5th Cohort Startups

Personality Development

In today's competitive world, the founders and leaders need to stand out among others by their personalities.
NIC Peshawar's startups learned how to groom their personalities and align them with their brands with Asad
Malik, Business Development Manager at ACCA.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

10th April, 2020 Personality
Asad Malik 5th Cohort Startups
development

Post-Corona Startup Ecosystem

"Startups need to pick up the rein of economic and social development in post-corona times as they can
transform and innovate quickly with the circumstances" ~ Sayyed Ahmad Masud led a session on
"Post-Corona Startup Ecosystem" with the startups of NIC Peshawar. The session was aimed at giving a
holistic view of the post-corona business environment to the startup founders.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

th
15 April, 2020 Post Corona
Syed Ahmad Masud 5th Cohort Startups
Startup Ecosystem

Advanced Digital Media Marketing

Ramsha Hashmi, Digital Campaign Strategist with Sehat Kahani, trained NIC Peshawar's startups on Advanced
Digital Media Marketing and Strategies. She focused on how to use various tools and techniques to maximize
social media reach and visibility.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

15th April, 2020 Advanced Digital Media 5th Cohort
Ramsha Hashmi
Marketing Startups

OLX Startup Hotline

'OLX Startup Hotline' was led by senior team members from OLX Pakistan to empower young startups from
National Incubation Center, Peshawar, with the required skills and knowledge to navigate their businesses
through tough economic times effectively. OLX Pakistan announced equivalent to the value of USD 20,000 to
advertise the OLX platform in addition to exclusive mentorship by the OLX team for three months and brand
consultancy support for one year for National Incubation Center, Peshawar's startups.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

nd
22 April, 2020 Minimum cost,
Waleed Ibraheem 5th Cohort Startups
maximum output
23th April, 2020 Business
intelligence and Hamza Kamran 5th Cohort Startups
data analysis
24th April, 2020 Sales and B2B
Aneeb Faiz 5th Cohort Startups
Marketing

Investment Raising 101

The investment culture is changing rapidly in Pakistan, but it is always challenging for startups to understand
how to be investment-ready. Meenah Tariq, Partner at Karavan, and Omar Pervez, AM – VC at Laksons
Investment Venture Capital, conducted a session, “Investment Raising 101” with the startups of NIC Peshawar.
The speakers tried to burst the myths surrounding the investment for startups.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

th
29 April, 2020 Investment Raising Meena Tariq and
5th Cohort Startups
101 Omar Parvez

Market Research

It is a challenge to conduct Market Research during this Lockdown situation. With the spirit to build an
inclusive startup ecosystem in the region, NIC Peshawar's Marketing and Communications Lead, Bilal Farooq,
delivered a Market Research session. Along with NIC Peshawar, the startups from IM Durshal, BIC IMS, and
Tech Valley Abbottabad attended the session.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

1st May, 2020 Market Research Bilal Farooq 5th Cohort Startups

Startup Stories (Darewro)

Ubaid, the founder of Peshawar's first indigenous and premium delivery and errand service, Darewro, shared
his personal experience of starting his business and his successful struggles. The startups attended the NIC
Peshawar session to learn about the journey of one of the most successful startups in the region.

Date Session Topic Startup Name Participants

th th
9 June, 2020 Startup Stories Darewro 5 Cohort Startups

SECP

Startup registration with SECP is one of the crucial phases in every startup’s journey. How to deal with the
registration process during the lockdown period was a big question posed by our startups. To answer this,
NIC Peshawar invited Saeed Ullah, a representative from SECP, to guide our startups on the process of online
registration of their businesses during the lockdown period.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

th th
11 June, 2020 SECP Saeed Ullah 5 Cohort Startups

Practicing user centricity in startups

User Experience with a startup's product or service is one of the core elements to gauge its success. We
thank Hussam Khurrram and Sajjad Ahmed, two brilliant UX/UI designers, for leading this very informative
session on User Centricity in product designing. The trainers stressed the importance of a Human Centric
Design mindset during product development.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

15th June, 2020 Practicing user
Sajjad Ahmad and
centricity in 5th Cohort Startups
Hussaim khuram
startups

Startup Stories (Bera)

BERA is one of the pioneer startups from KP to be valued at $ 1 Million within a short span. The founder of
Bera shared his story of struggles and achievements with us. He pushed the current incubates at NIC
Peshawar to persevere in the face of hurdles at the beginning of setting up a business.

Date Session Topic Startup Name Participants

th th
18 June, 2020 Startup Stories Bera 5 Cohort Startups

Startup Stories ([Link])

NIC Peshawar started a series of Startup Stories Sessions with the alumni of our program. Sajid Shah, Founder
of [Link], one of Pakistan's top 50 online marketplaces shared the story of his Startup Journey with the
new incubates at NIC Peshawar. The aim of sharing these stories is to inspire the upcoming entrepreneurs to
push through all the hurdles.

Date Session Topic Startup Name Participants

th th
26 June, 2020 Startup Stories [Link] 5 Cohort Startups

Startup Stories (Khawateen Rozgar Services)

On 8th July 2020, the Founder of Khawateen Rozgar Services, Misbah Faiz, conducted an online session under
the series Startup Stories. She shared her journey of building KRS in Peshawar with the current startups of NIC
Peshawar. She urged the female founders to be resilient in all the difficulties to be successful as leaders.
Elements of CX

According to a Salesforce study, 80% of customers feel the company's experience is just as necessary as their
products and services. As our understanding of the consumer has grown, so has a customer experience
definition (CX). With the growth of technology and social media, the way consumers interact with a brand
has become more immersive. It used to be that CX would mean a singular focus on customer service;
however, it now entails all possible interactions a consumer has with a product and brand.

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

30th June, 2020 Elements of CX Ans Khurram 5th Cohort Startups

Market Research

Bilal Farooq Khan, Marketing and Communication Manager at National Incubation Center, Peshawar, led a
Market Research session. The session was open to attend by startups as well as outsiders. The trainer
discussed the importance of market research on the road to success for newly found startups.
Date Session Topic Mentor Participants
14th October, 2020 Market Research Bilal Farooq 6th Cohort

Building a Brand with Shahryar Khan

On 21st October 2020, Shahryar Khan hosted a session on building a brand. The session was also open to the
public. Shahryar Khan is a Senior Officer Visual Communication Design at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information
Technology Board - KPITB. In his session, he focused on the importance of design in establishing a newly
formed business

Date Session Topic Mentor Participants

st
21 October, 2020 Building a Brand Shahryar Khan 6th Cohort

Session on Market Research

On 14th October 2020, Bilal Farooq Khan, Marketing and Communication Manager at National Incubation
Center, Peshawar, led a Market Research session. The session was open to attend by startups as well as
outsiders. The trainer discussed the importance of market research on the road to success for newly found
startups.
Customer Persona

On 8th December 2020, Sayyed Ahmad Masud led a session on mapping out Customer Personas with the
startups at NIC Peshawar. The session focused on designing a customer feedback mechanism on which
customer personas can be built. The mentor stressed the importance of mapping customer personas in the
early stages of a startup’s journey.

Orientation

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

Session 13th March 2020 10th September 2020
Conducted during
Sayyed Ahmad Sayyed Ahmad
Mentors 2019
Masud Masud

Vision and Validation

During the session, the Mentor spoke on developing startup ideas, how to properly pitch ideas and strategies,
and how to analyze existing ideas or business. Founders presented their startup ideas to the Mentor and
received in-depth feedback to improve their ideas and pitches.
Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort
th th
Session 20 March 2020 24 September 2020
Conducted during
Sayyed Ahmad
Mentors 2019 Syed Hassaan Irfan
Masud

Customer Development
During this session, the Mentor spoke on validating key assumptions, interviewing potential customers
effectively, and interpreting their feedback. Founders presented their progress to the Mentor to determine if
they are pursuing a scalable business with a clear and actionable customer problem.

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

Session Conducted during 6th May 2020 16th October 2020
Mentors 2019 Fasieh Mehta Shayan Khaliq

Revenue
During the session, the Mentor discussed how to sustain the company before receiving financing or revenue,
identifying the most lucrative revenue source for business, testing different revenue sources with the target
customers, and more. Founders also continued to share their pitches and revenue model to Mentors for
feedback and continued refinement.

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

th th
Session Conducted during 14 May 2020 25 November 2020
Mentors 2019 Furqan Qureshi Murtaza Zaidi

Branding & Design

During the session, the Mentor had analyzed existing names and branding. They discussed how to develop
the right name for their business, create an enduring brand, and the basics of excellent user interface design.
Founders had also shared their pitch and existing branding to Mentor for continued feedback and refinement.

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

th th
Session Conducted during 30 March 2020 4 December 2020
Mentors 2019 Bilal Farooq Ricardo A. Alvarez

Legal
During the session, the mentor explained various legal agreements, startup legal components (such as
equity), how to protect intellectual property, the best practices for managing a law firm, and more. The
mentor also provided Founders feedback on their startup pitch and progress, ensuring to explain what their
company is to the growing audience.

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

Session Conducted during 21st May 2020 15th December 2020
Mentors 2019 Mubariz Siddiqui Asif Saeed

Go to Market
The mentors explained how a startup should prioritize their go-to-market initiatives at the beginning of a
business? How should they evaluate different models for growing the business? How do they need to
develop marketing messages that resonate with their target customers? What are the best techniques to test
messaging and customer acquisition channels? How to measure conversion rates? What are unit economics?
How should a startup set growth goals? How to develop a growth plan? How to leverage advisors to establish
and develop growth goals and growth plans?

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

Session Conducted during 25th June 2020 30th December 2020
Mentors 2019 Saad Salman Malik Syed Sami

Product Development
During this session, the Mentor discussed the best practices in product development and team management
to release a world-class solution, prototyping a solution, speaking with the target customers, getting
feedback, and more. The Mentor also provided Founders with feedback on their product’s development and
progress.
Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort
rd
Session Conducted during 3 July 2020
Planned for 2021
Mentors 2019 Tashfeen Ahmed

Hiring and Onboarding

In this session, the Mentor discussed how to identify the roles needed to build a world-class company,
develop a strategy to recruit, board, retain the best people for the roles, and more. Founders also received
feedback from the Mentor on their team plans and product progress.

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

th th
Session 16 January 2020 10 July, 2020
Planned for 2021
Mentors Ali Moeen Raana kazmi

Growth
In this session, the Mentor discussed topics such as defining success for the company, the various tactics to
grow a business, setting growth goals and milestones, communicating the startup’s growth progress and
setbacks with stakeholders and advisors, and more. The Mentor also provided Founders with feedback on
their current growth and growth strategy.

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

Session Conducted during 22nd July 2020
Planned for 2021
Mentors 2019 Momina Rajput

Equity & Funding

In this session, the Mentor covered numerous fundraising topics, including different fundraising options. Other
types of investors expect to see concerning progress on the team, product and traction, and more. The
Mentor also provided Founders with feedback on their startup pitch that they can expect to hear from
investors.

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

Session 23rd January 2020 29th July 2020
Planned for 2021
Mentors Owais Zaidi Asad Jafri

Leadership & Graduation

Graduating from the Founder Institute is an honor. The program is challenging, and the curriculum is
demanding. In this final session, startups celebrated graduating with peers, friends, family, and the mentor
also discussed the essential leadership qualities needed to run a successful company. Startups will also learn
about all of the post-program resources and assistance that the Founder Institute provides.

Details 4th Cohort 5th Cohort 6th Cohort

Session 22nd April 2020 30th November 2020
Planned for 2021
Mentors Ahmad Ashkar Farzana Yaqoob

Year 2021

Pitch Perfect
NIC Peshawar startups had a 3-day pitch practice session with mentors and advisors. Startups compete in
different events/forums regularly, and the prerequisite for such competitions is a solid pitch.
The startups presented their pitches to the mentors/advisors and received feedback on their pitches. This
helped them prepare better for the upcoming pitch competitions and understand the fundamentals of
presenting to investors and potential partners.
The following mentors/advisors participated in the sessions:
1. Meena Tariq
2. Illum Khan
3. Sadia Malik
4. Muhammad Sami
5. Shafiqe ur Rehman
6. Mahwish Arifeen
The following startups attended the session:
1. Bera
2. Zarkoon
3. Avance robotics
4. Biz B
5. Thalascreen

How to Startup
12th April 2021

Fasieh Mehta, Senior Manager Business Operations at Quixel, led an online session on “How to Start-Up” with
the startups at NIC Peshawar. The session focused on building a strong foundation on the vision before
starting up any new business venture. Fasieh also stressed on extensive market research, and it’s importance
in setting up the foundation of a startup.

Startup Valuation
14th April, 2021

“You are worth what you can earn in the future”, Mehvish Arifeen, CEO Invest2Innovate, led an introductory
session on calculation of a Startup’s Valuation. Valuation of a startup heavily depends upon the market
opportunity and the market size of a startup. Mehvish emphasized the importance of knowing the valuation of
one’s startup before going-in for an investment deal.

How to Pitch

21st April, 2021

Samar Hasan, Founder of Epiphany, led a session on crafting the perfect startup pitch with our 7th Cohort
Startups. This introductory session is just the beginning of a more extensive series of mentoring and pitching
sessions to work on Startup Pitches running throughout the incubation period at NIC Peshawar.

Market Research

26th April, 2021

How to fuel your marketing strategies based on real-time data collected from the current and potential
customers in the market is the essence of market research. Bilal Farooq Khan, Manager Communication and
Marketing at NIC Peshawar, led an online session on Market Research with the startups.

Personality Development
5th May, 2021

Ibrar Khan, member of NIC Peshawar’s Advisory Board and Vice President Corporate and Economic Affairs at
Jazz; led a session on Personality Development with our startups. The session focused on training the startups
to build an impressive personality. The mentor also gave tips and tricks to the founders for investor meetings.

Winning at Social Media

17th June, 2021

Madeeha Raza, Visibility and Communication Expert conducted a full day workshop on Advanced Digital
Media Marketing; tools and techniques for the startups of NIC Peshawar. The trainer discussed the uses of
several social media tools and how they can be useful for the growth of early stage startups. The workshop
also helped the startups work on their respective startup stories.

Social Media Marketing

28th October, 2021
A session was organized at NIC Peshawar for the 8th Cohort startups to get them familiar with social media
marketing for effective sales. The session covered how to use various social media platforms, identifying
target audiences, details of copy and content writing, importance of call-to action, hashtags, and how to pay
for online ads.

Business Canvas Model-Ahsan Zia

11th November, 2021
Ahsan Zia (Program Officer- SRSP) had a full day workshop with the startups. The workshop focused on
Business Model Canvas where the trainer explained how a Business Model Canvas can be used as a strategic
management template for developing new business models and documenting existing ones. The session
concluded with all participants making their business model canvases.

InspireMill Digital Bootcamp for Women 3-Day

26th to 28th January 2021

National Incubation Center Peshawar held a three-day digital boot camp for women in partnership with
InspireMill. The final day focused on managing finances and the art of pitching. The closing ceremony was
graced by Mr. Zia Ullah Bangash, Advisor to CM KP on ST&IT.

Pitching Workshop by Maryam Arshad 3-Day

Maryam Arshad, Founder of Impact Dynamics, led a three-day-long workshop on Startup Pitches. The
workshop was divided in three sessions. The first session focused on working on startups stories and elevator
pitches. The second session focused on Sales Pitch and the final session on Investment pitch. Startups also
worked on their respective pitch decks with the trainer.
Date Mentor Topic
25th January, 2021 Maryam Arshad Art of story telling
8th February, 2021 Maryam Arshad Sales pitch deck
12th February, 2021 Maryam Arshad Investment pitch deck

Business Model Canvas Workshop

Sayyed Ahmad Masud led an extensive two-day-long workshop on Business Model Canvas Workshop with
the newly incubated 7th Cohort Startups at NIC Peshawar. The workshop not only focused on breaking down
the components of a good business model canvas but also helped the startups to make their respective
models and get feedback from the mentor.

Workshop on Financial Modeling

29th May, 2021

How important is a financial model for a startup? Jawwad Farid CEO Alchemy Technologies, LLC , led a
workshop on Financial Modelling with 7th Cohort startups. He emphasized on how excel is cheaper than
testing ideas in real life. The mentor developed a number of mockup financial models for services as well as
product based startups during the workshop. The founders also learned an important skill of determining the
cost models for their respective model.

Word press Workshop

2nd June, 2021

The workshop focused on development of basic WordPress websites for startups. The trainer, Muhammad
Yasin, helped the founders to work on selection of relevant WordPress themes and how to customize them as
per the needs of the startups. He also gave a comprehensive presentation on how to buy domain and hosting
for one’s websites. During this hands-on workshop the startups worked on building a basic webpage
structure of their respective startups.

Design Thinking Workshop

22nd June, 2021

Sidra Jalil, Founder of Inspire Mill, conducted a day-long hands-on workshop on Design Thinking. The
startups worked on their business model canvasses using the design thinking techniques, from the
identification of problem statement to developing a sustainable solution. The trainer also worked on the
business models individual startups during various activities.

Investment Readiness Boot Camp-Orientation

Orientation- 26th July, 2021

NIC Peshawar officially kick started the much anticipated investment readiness boot camp through Epiphany
Lab. This boot camp is an effort to equip the startups with the necessary tools and skills that are required to
swiftly navigate through the world of investors and VCs.
Over the course of five weeks, the startups will work conscientiously on their financial models and pitches
through one-on-one sessions, rigorous activities and cautiously curated exercises.

Day 1-2
The first two sessions of the Investment readiness boot camp were based around building the base for
startups.
29th July: Revolved around the following:
Madlibs, Viral Toolkit, Business Model Canvas, Business Model Validation, Deep Dive
30th July: Revolved around the following:
Market Sizing, Market Research, Competitor Analysis, Strategic Plan, Deep Dive, Hot Seat

Day 3-4
Once the base for the Investment Readiness bootcamp had been set, the focus was shifted towards working
on the startups financials. For this Amjad Waqar was added to the bootcamp who has extensive knowledge
of company finance and investments. The 3rd & 4th day curriculum details are below:
3rd August:
Finance for Non-Finance, How to Develop Your Costing Mechanism (customer acquisition cost, operational
costs, understanding of various types of costs), One-on-one sessions
4th August:
Building the Financial Forecast of Your Business (budgeting).

Day 5-6

The fifth and sixth sessions of the Investment readiness bootcamp was based around enhancing the Pitching,
financial model of startups and then reviewing the pitch deck, financial & budget model of startups by
trainers.
25th August: Revolved around the following:
Art of Story Telling & Pitching, Finance and Pitch Deck Review.
27th August: Revolved around the following:
Finance and Pitch Deck Review, Budget Review and Finalization, Three years Financial Model Development.

Day 7-8

The 7th and 8th sessions of the Investment readiness boot camp was based around enhancing the Pitching,
financial model of startups and then reviewing the pitch deck, financial & budget model of startups by
trainers.
7th September: Pitch deck finalization, Internal and external mock pitches
Art of Story Telling & Pitching, Finance and Pitch Deck Review.
8th September: revolved around the following:
Demo day, Debriefing about the complete investment readiness bootcamp and incorporating of relevant
feedback into the pitch decks.

Enlight Lab Session on Inclusion

8th till 11th November, 2021

The National Incubation Center organized a Hackathon of Ed-Tech in collaboration with InnovateX, the Enlight
Lab and Supported by U.S. Mission in Pakistan in Partnership with Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network.
The goal of Ed-Hack was to find practical innovative solutions for the challenges faced in Pakistan’s Education
sector; to expand the implementation of technology by fostering innovation and collaboration, and by
connecting key stakeholders through this platform.

The 4 day hackathon saw different trainers conducting workshops with the startups. The winders of the
Ed-Hack were awarded prizes by Finance Minister KP, Mr. Taimur Khan Jhagra at the KP Investor Summit 2021.

Enlight Lab Session on Inclusion

On 19th January 2021, National Incubation Center Peshawar the Enlight Lab, a coalition convener for Peshawar
region, had its monthly meeting at National Incubation Center Peshawar. The coalition engages women,
transgender people, and people with disabilities for inclusive participation in the local government election.
The forum signed a charter of demand from NADRA and ECP, focusing on voter’s facilitation and efficient
access through advanced technological services.

Peshawar Circle Book Reading Meetup

On 13th February 2021, the National Incubation Center Peshawar hosted Peshawar Circles to conduct its
second study circle at NIC Peshawar. The book chosen for reading was George Orwell’s book The Animal
Farm. Participates belonging to diverse backgrounds shared their views and opinions on the book

The Enlight Lab Monthly Meetup

On 17th February 2021, the National Incubation Center Peshawar hosted the Enlight Lab, for the second
meeting of CIP, about women, transgender people and people with disabilities for inclusive participation in
the local government election. Disability Rights Bill KP, One Window Operation for receiving the Disability
certificate and Preparation of local government elect

Thrive Summit 2021

From 8th to 10th March 2021, the National Incubation Center Peshawar hosted Thrive 2021, a three-day event
for women entrepreneurs to learn and get exposure to other more seasoned Women Entrepreneurs, Leaders,
and Experts from all around the world. The event was conducted live at NIC Peshawar.

Trade Foresight - World’s Leading Analytics - Driven Trade Platform

6th April, 2021

NIC Peshawar hosted Trade Foresight, which is World's leading Analytics - Driven Trade Platform for an
online introductory session with NIC Peshawar’s startups to explain how the startups can best utilize Trade
Foresight platform to seek actionable insights and reach untapped markets.

Facebook Live with US Consulate Peshawar

7th April 2021

Manager Marketing and Communication, Bilal Farooq Khan was invited by the U.S. Consulate General
Peshawar to talk about the opportunities for startups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Part of the discussion was also
NIC Peshawar’s first cohort startup, Darewroo and US Public Affairs officer Kahina Robinson. The session was
broadcast live through Facebook.

TiE APWE Roadshow Peshawar

27th April, 2021

NIC Peshawar in collaborating with TiE Islamabad hosted an online roadshow to introduce and talk about the
Accelerator Program for Women Entrepreneurs (APWE). APWE will enable growth stage Pakistani women
entrepreneurs through a fully-funded 3-month Silicon Valley exchange program and 16-month acceleration.
This program is a collaboration of TiE Islamabad Chapter, Change Mechanics, and Ejad Labs. Supported and
funded by the US Department of State-U.S. Embassy Pakistan.

ACCA & International Trade Center Panel Discussion

29th April, 2021

NIC Peshawar was invited by the International Trade Center and ACCA Global to take part in a panel
discussion on the role of accountants in supporting small businesses and growth hubs – accelerators and
incubators. Bilal Farooq Khan, Manager Marketing and Communications represented NIC Peshawar, and the
other panelists and audience were from all across the globe from Africa to Europe.

A Conversation with Muneeb Maayr

3rd May, 2021

NIC Peshawar invited Muneeb Maayr, Founder Bykea and Former co-founder [Link] for an interactive
session with NIC Peshawar startups as part of our “A Conversation With NIC Peshawar” series. The session
was broadcast live on Facebook and revolved around how an entrepreneur can create opportunities in a
developing startup ecosystem.

Startup Connect - Sustainable Fashion

9th June, 2021

NIC Peshawar started a new series “Startup Connect” with a vision to connect Industry leaders with NIC
Peshawar Startups. On 9th June 2021, NIC Peshawar kicked off the series with a discussion on “Future of
sustainable fashion”. The participants were:
Moderator:
Ali Haider - Founder Pixellium
Panelists:
Umar - Founder - ExportLeftovers (elo)
Nazish - Founder - Secret Stash
Mujeeb - Founder - [Link] (NIC Peshawar)
Sehrish - Founder - BizB Store (NIC Peshawar)

A Conversation with Nadeem Hussain

11th June, 2021

NIC Peshawar had the pleasure of hosting Nadeem Hussain, Founder and Coach - Planet N and Chairman
Pakistan Fintech network. He had an engaging conversation with the young founders. The talk reflected on
the startup culture in Pakistan and how emerging entrepreneurs can put their efforts in the right direction to
achieve maximum efficiency. The talk also focused on raising equity and funding in Pakistan’s emerging
startup ecosystem.

After the session, Nadeem Hussain held one-on-one sessions with selected startups. He expressed interest in
partnering with two of NIC Peshawar Startups.

Leaders of the Future Bootcamp

26th & 27th June, 2021

NIC Peshawar held the Leaders of the Future Bootcamp. LFB 3.0 brought national and international speakers
for one of the biggest training boot camps. LFB was organized by Global Shapers Islamabad Hub, SAGE:
Solutions for a New Age & Qissa Khwanan. The speakers discussed the following themes from the 'Future of
Jobs report 2020':

Leonie Nagarajan: Emotional Intelligence

Choon Seng Koh: Creativity, Originality and Initiative
Raheel Bodla: Business Leadership

Startup Connect - Future of Health Tech

30th June, 2021

NIC Peshawar aired Episode 2 of the Startup Connect Series which brought together gurus of the health tech
industry. The session highlighted the current issues faced by Health-Tech startups and the future of the
industry. The esteemed panelists took a deep dive into Pakistan’s Health tech sector and suggested a way
forward for young Health-Tech Startups.

Product Development

On 15th January, 2021, the mentor discussed the best practices in product development and team
management to release a world-class solution, prototyping solution, speaking with target customers and
getting feedback, and more. The mentor also provided founders with feedback on their product’s
development and progress.

Hiring & Onboarding

On 28th January 2021, the mentor discussed how to identify the roles needed to build a world-class company,
how to develop a strategy to recruit, board and retain the best people for the roles, and more. Founders
received feedback from the mentor on their team plans and product progress.

Growth

On 11th February 2021, the mentor discussed topics such as defining success for the company, the various
tactics to grow a business, setting growth goals and milestones, communicating the startups growth progress
and setbacks with stakeholders and advisors, and more. The mentor also provided F=founders with feedback
on their current growth and growth strategy.

Equity & Funding

On 17th February 2021, the mentors covered numerous topics related to fundraising, including different
fundraising options, different types of investors, product and traction, and more. The mentors provided
founders with feedback on their startup pitch that they can expect to hear from investors.

Leadership

Graduating from the Founder Institute is an honor. The program is challenging, and the curriculum is
demanding. In this final session, mentor discusses important leadership qualities needed to run a successful
company. Startups also learned about all of the post-program resources and assistance that the Founder
Institute provides. Startups celebrate graduating with peers, friends, and family, as well as a select mentors.

Orirentation Session

4th March, 2021

Sayyed Ahmad Masud, Regional Director of Founder Institute in Pakistan, led the orientation session of
Founder Institute Curriculum with the newly incubated 7th Cohort Startups. During his session he also
familiarized the founders with FI Portal and all resources available to all the founders through FI Portal. He also
stressed on the importance of every single vertical in the curriculum and how these sessions and assignments
play a crucial role in helping the founders in building great companies.

Legal

18th March, 2021

Every start-up wants to avoid the legal missteps in the start of their journey. Waleed Ahmed, General Counsel
at LMKT, conducted a session on legal mechanics and gave his expert opinion to the startups on how to
handle their legal matters at their respective stages. In addition to the session Mr. Waleed Ahmad also had a
one on one session with the startups and answered their queries regarding contracts and legal agreements.

Vision and Validation

30th March, 2021

Omar Abedin, Director NIC Karachi and CEO of PakTekHub conducted the FI session on Vision and Validation.
The session helped the startups to understand how to validate their ideas and how that would affect their
startups. The mentor shared his own experiences with the founders in the class. He stressed on customer
validation of one’s product or service during various stages of its development. He also introduced some
useful tips and tricks to conduct market research.

Customer Development

13th April, 2021

Ali Moeen, Co-Founder of ezBike; Pakistan’s first electric bike sharing service, conducted an FI Session on
Customer Development with 7th Cohort startups at NIC Peshawar. The session focused on identification and
interviewing the target customers. Ali shared his own experience of customer identification, acquisition and
channels that worked for him.

Branding & Design

28th April, 2021

It’s a goal of every startup to become a brand from a mere product. This journey from a product to a brand
requires an extensive market research and carefully designed strategies to build a brand. The session was led
by Areeb Khan, Creative Director with Imarat Group of Companies. The session revolved around the process
of creating a brand identity for businesses and how design elements and ideas can be manipulated to create
certain brand personality.

Mentor Idea Review

25th May, 2021

Mentor Idea Review is one of the most important milestones in a startups journey where a highly experienced
panel of industry leaders assess the idea viability and startups sustainability.
Panel for Mentor Idea Review of 7th Cohort included; Adnan Faisal – Startup coach at ScaleX Accelerator,
Amjad Ali Arbab – Senior Advisor/ Consultant, Fatima Anila – COO One Network and Muhammad Uzair –
Founder Blimp digital.

Product Development

4th June, 2021

Product Development is a continuous process throughout every startup or business’s lifecycle, particularly in
case of tech product or solution”, was the key takeaway from product development with Rao Shahzad. The
mentor pushed the founders to bring their rough prototypes to the market so that they can get customer
feedback and validation which is essentially important for startups to work on their product-market fit.

Go to Market

3rd July, 2021

Aaqib Sayed CGO of Mikaels Labs conducted a detailed session on Go To Market. The mentor discussed how
a startup should prioritize their go-to-market initiatives at the beginning of a business? How should they
evaluate different models for growing the business? How do they need to develop marketing messages that
resonate with their target customers? What are the best techniques to test messaging and customer
acquisition channels? How to measure conversion rates? What are unit economics? How should a startup set
growth goals? How to develop a growth plan? How to leverage advisors to establish and develop growth
goals and growth plans.

Revenue

2nd August, 2021

M. Junaid Khan, Group EVP commercial planning, pricing and Geo analytics conducted the FI session on
Revenue for the 7th cohort startups. During the session, the mentor discussed how to sustain the company
before receiving financing or revenue, identifying the most lucrative revenue source for business, testing
different revenue sources with the target customers, and more. Founders also continued to share their pitches
and revenue model to mentors for feedback and continued refinement.

Hiring & Onboarding

24th August, 2021

In this session, the mentor discussed how to identify the roles needed to build a world-class company,
develop a strategy to recruit, board, retain the best people for the roles, and more. Founders also received
feedback from the mentor on their team plans and product progress.

Growth

30th August, 2021

In this session, the mentor discussed topics such as defining success for the company, the various tactics to
grow a business, setting growth goals and milestones, communicating the startup’s growth progress and
setbacks with stakeholders and advisors, and more. The mentor also provided Founders with feedback on
their current growth and growth strategy.

Equity & Funding

7th September, 2021

In this session, the mentor covered numerous fundraising topics, including different fundraising options.
Other types of investors expect to see concerning progress on the team, product and traction, and more. The
mentor also provided Founders with feedback on their startup pitch that they can expect to hear from
investors.

Leadership

10th December 2021

During the final session, CEO Ignite, Mr. Asim Sheheryar discussed the important leadership qualities needed
to run a successful company. Startups will able to learn about all of the post-program resources and
assistance that the Founder Institute provides.
Below are just a few of the 10-15 assignments which the startups will complete through Working Groups &
Office Hours:

Vision & Validation

13th September, 2021

During the session, the mentor spoke on developing startup ideas, how to properly pitch ideas and strategies,
and how to analyze existing ideas or business. Founders presented their startup ideas to the mentor and
received in-depth feedback to improve their ideas and pitches.

Legal
28th September, 2021
During the session, the mentor explained various legal agreements, startup legal components (such as
equity), how to protect intellectual property, the best practices for managing a law firm, and more. The
mentor also provided Founders feedback on their startup pitch and progress, ensuring to explain what their
company is to the growing audience.

Customer Development

14th October, 2021

Faizan Laghari, Chief Disruption Officer for TCS, conducted an FI Session on Customer Development with 8th
Cohort startups at NIC Peshawar. The session focused on identification and interviewing target customers.
Faizan shared his own experience of customer identification, acquisition, and channels that worked for him.

Branding & Design

2nd November, 2021

It’s a goal of every startup to become a brand from a mere product. This journey from a product to a brand
requires extensive market research and carefully designed strategies to build a brand. The session was led by
Sidra Ahmad, Brand Manager, Jazz. The session revolved around the process of creating a brand identity for
businesses and how design elements and ideas can be manipulated to create a certain brand personality.

Product Development

4th December, 2021

Product Development is a continuous process throughout every startup or business’s lifecycle, particularly in
the case of tech product or solution”, was the key takeaway from product development with Asim Ghaffar.
The mentor pushed the founders to bring their rough prototypes to the market so that they could get
customer feedback and validation, which is essentially important for startups to work on their
product-market fit.

Business Model Canvas

9th December, 2021
The startups had an in-depth training on Product-Market Fit and Business Model Canvas with Mr. Adnan
Faisal (Founder, ScaleX Accelerator). The training gave the startups an insight on the essential steps to make
their services and products market worthy and how to sustain their businesses while implementing customer
feedback.

Hiring and On-Boarding

15th December, 2021
In this session, the Muhammad Usman Abid, CHRO at Samsons Group of Companies discussed how to
identify the roles needed to build a world-class company; develop a strategy to recruit, board, retain the best
people for the roles, and more. Founders also received feedback from the mentor on their team plans and
product progress.

Year 2022

Digital Marketing Training by IBA Sukkur

17th February, 2022

The National Incubation Center in collaboration with Executive Development Center, Sukkur IBA
University in collaboration with SMEDA - Pakistan organized one day training workshop on Digital
Marketing at NIC Peshawar. Close to 50 startup founders and individuals attended the workshop,
which was delivered by the IBA Sukkur Team.

Commerce Training by IBA Sukkur

3rd March, 2022

The National Incubation Center in collaboration with Executive Development Center, Sukkur IBA
University in collaboration with SMEDA - Pakistan organized one day training workshop on
E-Commerce at NIC Peshawar. Close to 50 startup founders and individuals attended the
workshop which was delivered by by the IBA Sukkur Team.

Market Research

6th April 2022

A virtual sessions was organized for the 9th Cohort startups with Bilal Farooq Khan (Head of
Marketing, Communication & Partnerships) to get them familiar how and why market researches
are conducted. The session shed light on how to conduct market research and identify the right
customer while improvising and evolving with constant market feedback in order to retain
customers and grow businesses.

Microsoft Azure Workshop for Startups

26th May, 2022

NIC Peshawar hosted Sepia Solutions for a workshop on "Microsoft Azure for Startups". The
session focused on how Microsoft Azure supports business growth and innovation via an
intelligent platform.
Microsoft Azure Workshop for Startups

26th May, 2022

NIC Peshawar hosted Sepia Solutions for a workshop on "Microsoft Azure for Startups". The
session focused on how Microsoft Azure supports business growth and innovation via an
intelligent platform.

Agile for Startups

14th June, 2022

NIC Peshawar hosted Khurrum Ghori CEO, of Prudential Solutions, conducted a hands-on
session on Agile for Startups. The discussion revolved around technology revaluation and
trends, the business requirement for agile and the mind-set.

Winning at Social Media

23rd June 2022

A session was organized for the 9th Cohort startups with Muhammad Uzair, Founder Blimp to get
them familiar with social media marketing for effective sales. The session covered how to use
various social media platforms, identifying target audience, details of copy and content writing,
importance of call to action, hashtags and how to pay for online ads.

How to Pitch
29th June 2022

An interactive session with Ibrar Khan (VP Corporate & Economic Affairs, Jazz) on How to pitch for
our startups. The aim of the session was to enable the startups to perfect their pitch decks for
investment and growth purposes. During the session, the startups got a chance to discuss their
business ideas and get feedback from the mentor. The mentor emphasized on the importance of
pitching the idea in a manner that attracts investors, partners and supporters.

Advance Digital Marketing Training

A one-day workshop on Advance Digital Marketing Training was conducted by DEMO through
Meta-Certified trainers at NIC Peshawar. The session was very informative, creating a room for innovation for
all the entrepreneurs as to how one should engage with their audience on social media platforms, how to
reach them using personalized ads, and how to boost ads. Towards the end of the session, all the participants
were given certificates.

SECP Registration
4th October, 2022

Saqib Aslam, (Deputy Registrar of Companies, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan) along with
his team visited NIC Peshawar for a session on SECP registration.

The interactive session helped our newly incubated startups register their businesses without hassle.
Personality Influences Success
18h October, 2022

8.1 Sony Middle East for a landscape photography

22nd October, 2022

Business Model Canvas

12th May, 2022

NIC Peshawar arranged a full-day session on Business Model Canvas with Ms. Romy
Sajjad (Assistant Professor, IMSciences) for its 9th Cohort startups. The interactive
session enabled the startups to assess their customers, offering, infrastructure, and
financial viability.

Session with SECP

21st June, 2022

Women Economic Principles

22nd June 2022

Metric

27th September 2022

Registration
4th October 2022

Build a Sucessful Amazon Business from Pakistan

11th October 2022

Sony Photography Workshop

22th October 2022

NIC Peshawar hosted Sony Middle East for a landscape photography workshop for the
aspiring photographers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The objective of the workshop was to equip the enthusiastic youth with photography
skills and to teach them how to achieve extraordinary images in landscape
photography.

Pinktober

31st October 2022

NIC Peshawar arranged an awareness session called “The Pinktober Pledge” on 31st
October 2022. Doctors from various specialties and institutions were invited to share
and impart knowledge on the subject, emphasizing the importance of self-examination
and early detection.
Women from different walks of life across KP came in and took a pledge to have a
more active role in spreading awareness about breast cancer.

DAFI + Orientation
6th December, 2022

“Who Stops You Seminar” by Rizwan Chowdrey

25th January, 2022

The National Incubation Center hosted Rizwan Choudhry - Life Coach, Real-Life
Counselor and Fitness Consultant hosted a session at NIC Peshawar on the theme
"Who stops you?". The purpose of the session was to motivate startups to get out of
their comfort zones and do more to succeed.
Year 2023

Commanding Communication

13th January, 2023

Change Management expert, Naila Qazi, conducted a session with NIC Peshawar startups focused on
enhancing communication skills. During the session, startups were provided with tools and strategies to
improve their conversational abilities while interacting with clients and teams. The session aimed to equip
participants with the skills necessary to maintain effective communication and build better relationships with
clients and team members.
Design Thinking

28th March, 2023

The workshop focused on equipping startups with the necessary tools to identify and solve complex
problems creatively and efficiently. The startups were also introduced to the hands-on experience of the
design thinking process to enhance the performance and delivery of their products and services.
With this innovative approach to problem-solving, startups are sure to create a lasting impact in their
respective industries.

Session on SECP Registration

2th May 2023

The session was organized with the aim of helping newly incubated startups register their businesses with
ease and without any hurdles. The startups were provided with valuable insights and knowledge on the
registration process, along with step-by-step guidance on filling out the necessary forms and documents. The
startups found the session to be extremely helpful and informative.

Tools for Digital Marketing for Business Growth & Entrepreneurial Success

25th May, 2023

The dynamic session on "Storytelling: Digital Marketing Tool for Business Growth," led by the renowned
Muhammad Usman Arshad Khan, focused on equipping our passionate startups with the essential skills to
conquer the realm of marketing and make consumers reach for their products. This event proved to be an
invaluable opportunity for entrepreneurial growth, as startup were provided with invaluable tools and
knowledge to enhance their marketing prowess. The session equipped them with the skills to effectively
communicate their brand's essence, forge deep connections with their audience, and drive sustainable
business growth.

Session on Market Research

21st June, 2023
The 11th Cohort startups had the incredible opportunity to delve deep into the world of market analysis and
gain invaluable knowledge that will shape their entrepreneurial journeys.
In this eye-opening session, Mr. Bilal skillfully guided our startups through the importance of market research,
emphasizing its pivotal role in making informed business decisions. From understanding customer
preferences and identifying target markets to assessing competition and gauging market trends, our
entrepreneurs were equipped with the essential tools to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape.

Introduction to Financial Modelling: Training

14th July, 2023

NIC Peshawar organized an insightful session on the crucial domain of financial modelling, led by Rizwan
Khan (RMK Associates), a distinguished Financial Advisor. The session was designed to guide startups through
the labyrinth of financial metrics, tools, and strategies.

Winning at Social Media

9th August, 2023

Blimp conducted a comprehensive training session on mastering social media marketing, led by Mr.
Muhammad Uzair (Founder of Blimp). Aimed at the startups of the 11th cohort, this session was designed to
update and equip the participants with the latest digital and social media trends crucial for success in today's
competitive landscape.

Hands-On Training on Financial Modelling

29th August, 2023

The startups of NIC Peshawar had an opportunity to elevate their financial understanding under the expert
guidance of Mohammad Azam, the esteemed Founder of Aprecity Consultants. This comprehensive
workshop was designed in consultation with ACCA Pakistan and was aimed to empower startups with the
essential knowledge to master their financial narratives.

Startup Pitching League - Pitching Workshop (Day 1)

To equip startups for their impending graduation and the subsequent investor summit, the emphasis has been
placed on honing their pitch skills. With this goal, the Pitching League series was initiated. On Day 1, Syed
Ahmad Masud, CEO and founder of Change Mechanics, led the session. Masud began by essentials of
startups, including their categories, potential funding avenues, and registration processes. Once the attendees
were grounded in these core concepts, each startup founder was called on stage to present their pitch.
Following each presentation, Masud provided constructive feedback and insights on refining their pitches,
highlighting the key areas of interest for potential investors. He also delved into the types of investors that
might be attracted based on the startup's concept.

Startup Pitching League - Pitching Workshop (Day 2)

18th October, 2023.
Following the inaugural pitching league session, startups were extended an invitation to present their pitches
before a panel of judges consisting of three Directors from the National Incubation Centers (NIC) across
Pakistan. This session was conducted virtually to ensure maximum participation from all startups. Each
startup was allotted a three-minute window for their presentation, followed by a four-minute Q&A session
with the judges. Subsequently, each startup received constructive feedback from the judges, emphasizing the
need for pitches to be clear, succinct, and adhering to the designated time limit. Founders were briefed on the
criticality of incorporating financial details into their presentations, outlining the costing, revenues, and
potential market scope for their products. It was paramount for founders to grasp the perspective potential
investors would adopt when evaluating their projects, and consequently, tailor their pitches accordingly.

Investment Reediness Bootcamp

1st November, 2023

The second pitch preparation session took place in a virtual format, split into two segments - a morning and
an evening session. The initial session was presided over by judges Huma, Sumera, and Bilal. Startups were
allotted a 4-minute time frame to present their ideas, followed by a Q&A and feedback session from the
panel. This time constraint aimed to ensure that startups could succinctly convey their ideas. The evening
session, led by Uzair and Mahvesh, followed the same format with the remaining startups.

Startup Pitching League - Pitching Workshop (Day 3)

1st November, 2023
The second pitch preparation session took place in a virtual format, split into two segments - a morning and
an evening session. The initial session was presided over by judges Huma, Sumera, and Bilal. Startups were
allotted a 4-minute time frame to present their ideas, followed by a Q&A and feedback session from the
panel. This time constraint aimed to ensure that startups could succinctly convey their ideas. The evening
session, led by Uzair and Mahvesh, followed the same format with the remaining startups.

Startup Pitching League - Pitching Workshop (Day 4)

28th November, 2023

A prelude to the league's grand finale included pitching workshop, conducted by Adeel Hassan, the Founder
& CEO of the innovative aggrotech startup, Fresh Factor. Commencing with a series of introductions, the day's
agenda, and the anticipated program outcomes, Adeel delved into the significance of pitching for founders.
He emphasized the art of storytelling and the importance of effectively communicating one's entrepreneurial
vision.

The workshop unfolded as an engaging and interactive session, featuring startup participants taking the stage
to present their pitches, followed by constructive feedback. As the session neared its conclusion, Adeel
shared insights on structuring a compelling pitch, elucidated investor expectations, and culminated with the
presentation of his own award-winning pitch.

Year 2024

How to Startup
NIC Peshawar hosted a highly informative session, led by Sehrish Raza, Founder of BizB, and Umair Aslam,
Founder of Markaz Technologies. Both founders shared invaluable insights on the processes of launching and
scaling a startup, along with the challenges entrepreneurs typically face, offering practical advice to help
aspiring founders navigate the complexities of the startup ecosystem. The session included an interactive
hands-on activity and concluded with personalized one-on-one mentoring, providing participants with
tailored guidance to further enhance their entrepreneurial journey.

Idea Validataon Workshop

Cynia Ejaz (Head of Corporate Communications, Telenor) led a highly impactful “Idea Validation Workshop” at
NIC Peshawar, where she guided startups through the critical steps of defining and understanding their target
audience, exploring key startup methodologies, and rigorously testing their business model assumptions. The
workshop concluded with personalized one-on-one mentoring sessions, providing participants with tailored
guidance to help propel their ventures forward with clarity and confidence.

Business Model Canvas Workshop

A Business Model Canvas (BMC) workshop was conducted at NIC Peshawar for the 12th cohort of startups,
emphasizing the critical components of building a robust business model. Founders engaged in activities to
define value propositions, identify target customer segments, and design revenue streams—essential skills for
creating scalable, investment-ready ventures.

Legal Foundation Session

Hira Ilyas Choudhry, (Director Legal, LMKR) led an in-depth session on the various legal structure options
available to startups. She guided entrepreneurs through the benefits and considerations of different
structures, from sole proprietorships and partnerships to LLCs, breaking down how each impacts liability,
taxation, and growth potential. This essential session equipped founders with the insights needed to choose a
legal structure that aligns with their business goals and supports long-term success.

Market Research and Competitive Analysis Session

Bilal Farooq Khan(Founder of Innovate X and 37th Productions) and Haleema Hasnain (Ufone) led an insightful
session on Market Research, Customer Segmentation, and Competitor Analysis. The session offered
participants actionable strategies and key insights, providing startups with the knowledge necessary to better
understand their target markets, define ideal customer profiles, and maintain a competitive edge.
Entrepreneurs left the session equipped with practical tools to make informed decisions and build a solid
foundation for sustainable growth.

Enhancing Value Creation

Owais Barlas, (Co-founder, DAO Proptech) and Sabahat Khurram Bokhari, (Founder & CEO of The Inclusion
Lab) led an insightful session on Value Creation, exploring how innovation, technology, and inclusivity come
together.

The session highlighted how emerging technologies are creating more transparency, accessibility, and
fairness, opening up new opportunities for a wider range of people and businesses.

The mentors emphasized the importance of including inclusivity and sustainability in business models and
shared practical strategies for tackling global challenges while building lasting value for startups.

Design Thinking
Bilal Ahmad (Founder of Basecamp and Peshawar 2.0) led an interactive Design Thinking session with the 12th
Cohort of startups at NIC Peshawar. The session focused on creating products and services that are centered
around users' needs and emphasized the importance of empathy in designing meaningful solutions.

Through hands-on activities and real-life examples, participants explored the design thinking process, from
understanding user needs to brainstorming and creating prototypes. This engaging workshop motivated
startups and equipped them with new tools to approach problem-solving from a fresh perspective.

Lean Startup Methodologies

Ali Raza and Ibraheem Saleem (Sr. Principal Technologist & Director Fellowship, Code for Pakistan) led an
engaging session, guiding participants on how to validate business ideas through real-world testing. The
session covered strategies for developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and creating solutions that focus
on customer needs.

The discussion focused on identifying key assumptions, testing them quickly, and reducing risks, helping
startups adapt and adjust their approach as needed.

Entrepreneurship as a Career – Building Futures Through Innovation

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024, NIC Peshawar hosted the event “Entrepreneurship as a
Career – Building Futures Through Innovation.” Students from various schools and universities gathered to
explore how innovation and education can drive sustainable, impactful entrepreneurial careers. Participants
engaged in hands-on activities, creating Lean Canvases and presenting their ideas while refining their
business models.

NIC Peshawar had the honor of welcoming Rob Tate, Public Affairs Officer, and John McKane, Political and
Economic Chief from the U.S. Consulate General Peshawar, who interacted with the students and listened to
their inspiring entrepreneurial journeys.

Art of Storytelling

As part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week celebrations, NIC Peshawar hosted two transformative sessions
that highlighted the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship.

Sana Wafa, (Manager of Marketing and Brand at LMKR) led an engaging and interactive session, equipping
participants with practical tools to craft compelling narratives. She shared actionable strategies to help
startups connect emotionally with their audience, create lasting impressions, and differentiate themselves in
today’s competitive landscape.

NIC Peshawar was also honored to host Mr. Stephen Rasmussen, a renowned expert in the development and
financial sectors, who led a thought-provoking session on the role of storytelling in the entrepreneurial
journey. He explored how mission-driven narratives can attract investors, build strategic partnerships, and
inspire meaningful action. By emphasizing the alignment of storytelling with purpose, he provided startups
with valuable insights to amplify their impact.

Celebrated Pinktober: Going "Beyond the Ribbon"

NIC Peshawar proudly celebrated Pinktober with the "Beyond the Ribbon" event, dedicated to raising
awareness for breast cancer. The day featured impactful talks by Dr. Sadia Nazeem (Rehman Medical Institute
) and Dr. Bibi Zohra (Shaukat Khanam Research Hospital), who empowered the community with essential
insights into early detection and prevention.
In support of the cause, inspiring female-led startups showcased their products, with a portion of their
proceeds donated to breast cancer awareness initiatives. The Peshawar business community united for this
important cause, emphasizing the collective effort to spread awareness and support one another in the fight
against breast cancer.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award

A session was held for the NUST Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award, targeting startups, SMEs, and
students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During the session, NIC Peshawar startups were briefed on the program’s
requirements and the exciting opportunities it presents to promote innovation and growth within the region.

Bank Alfalah Session

Bank Alfalah Ltd conducted a comprehensive and impactful session at NIC Peshawar, offering participants
valuable insights into a range of financial products specifically designed to support startups and growing
businesses. The session highlighted several key initiatives, including SBP-subsidized schemes such as
the PMYBL Loan, which aims to provide affordable financing to youth-led businesses, and the SAAF Scheme,
designed to support entrepreneurs with concessional financing. Additionally, the session covered
the Refinance & Credit Guarantee Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs, which offers critical financial support to
female-led startups, empowering them to scale their businesses. Through these programs, Bank Alfalah is
helping to unlock financial opportunities and drive the growth of startups in the region.

The Bank of Khyber Session

The Bank of Khyber recently conducted an insightful session at NIC Peshawar on the Ehsaas Nojawan
Program, led by Syed Asad Kakakhel (Senior Vice President and Head of the SAAF Division).

The session offered a detailed overview of the program’s various funding schemes, focusing on how it
empowers young entrepreneurs by providing crucial financial resources and mentorship. These schemes are
designed to help transform innovative ideas into successful ventures, offering both financial backing and
strategic guidance to ensure long-term business sustainability. Through the Ehsaas Nojawan Program, The
Bank of Khyber is playing a key role in supporting youth-driven entrepreneurship, and fostering economic
growth and innovation in the region.

SECP Session On Company Registration

Startups at NIC Peshawar gained valuable insights during a session on company registration conducted by
the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). The session covered the registration process in
detail, emphasized the importance of compliance for sustainable growth, and introduced SECP’s initiatives to
support entrepreneurs.

Saqib Aslam provided personalized guidance in one-on-one sessions, helping startups navigate the
registration process and address any queries. This session played a vital role in empowering startups to
formalize their businesses and scale confidently.

Maida’s Session AT NIC

Maida, a renowned global app publisher with over 15 years of experience in driving mobile app growth
across emerging markets, conducted a valuable session at NIC Peshawar. The session provided key insights
into how Maida supports individual app developers, offering expertise in publishing, investment, marketing,
and design.
Participants gained effective strategies for transforming their innovative ideas into successful businesses and
navigating the complexities of the global app ecosystem. The session concluded with personalized
one-on-one consultations between the Maida team and startups, focusing on product development.

NIC Peshawar Hosts Semi-finals of Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA)

NIC Peshawar had the honor of hosting the semifinals of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) in
Peshawar. Top student entrepreneurs from the region pitched their innovative ideas, competing for a place in
the Pakistan finals.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for participants to network with experienced judges and inspiring
entrepreneurs from various industries. The students received insightful feedback, which helped them refine
their entrepreneurial journeys and advance their ventures. This event played a key role in strengthening the
startup ecosystem in Peshawar.

Fireside Conversation: EV’s Unplugged

NIC Peshawar hosted an insightful fireside chat with Abdul Rehman Khan (Lucid Motors), a prominent electric
vehicle company based in California, and Ali Moeen Malik (Founder of ezBike), a leading electric mobility
startup in Pakistan.

The session focused on disruptive innovation in the mobility sector, providing valuable perspectives on
strategic innovation, the future of electric vehicles, and emerging trends in technology. The conversation
offered participants key insights into how these industry leaders are shaping the future of mobility, both
globally and locally, while addressing challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Fireside Conversation: Turning Trials into Triumphs

At NIC Peshawar, an engaging panel discussion highlighted the journeys of three remarkable female
entrepreneurs who have turned challenges into opportunities. Madiha Hamid (CEO of DEMO | Ideas for
Impact), shared her work empowering women and driving social change. Mashaal (CEO of STEMverse),
highlighted the transformative role of Ed-Tech and robotics in revolutionizing education. Rabbiya Khalid
Durrani (CEO of The Flower Boutique), discussed her innovative approach to turning the floral industry into a
successful business.

The session offered powerful insights into resilience, creativity, and determination, motivating the audience to
pursue their entrepreneurial goals. This inspiring conversation celebrated the strength and potential of
women in business, encouraging everyone to embrace their entrepreneurial aspirations.

Year 2025

Product Development
Sidra Jalil, Founder of Inspire Mill, conducted an insightful session on product development. Startups gained
practical knowledge on designing, refining, and launching innovative products, equipping them with
essential tools for success.

Go-To-Market

Muhammad Mustafa (Nibl Foods) and Muhammad Sayaf Arbab (Scale X) conducted an engaging
session on Go-To-Market strategies with NIC Peshawar’s Cohort 12 startups. They provided expert
insights on market entry strategies and shared their knowledge on crafting winning approaches for
sustainable business growth.

Basics of Accounting

Ahad Wazir (Financial Consultant) and Qurat-ul-ain Mumtaz (Ain Consultancy) delivered an
engaging session on accounting fundamentals. Cohort 12 startups benefited from simplified
financial concepts and practical training, enhancing their ability to manage business finances
effectively.

Marketing & Sales

Muddassir Khan (Vodafone) and Sumaira Riaz (Sybrid) led an intensive session for Cohort 12
startups, covering sales tactics, growth strategies, and market positioning. Founders gained
practical insights and one-on-one mentorship to sharpen their go-to-market approach.

Branding & Positioning

NIC Peshawar hosted Hamza Amjad, Executive Director at Ogilvy Pakistan, for an exclusive session
on branding and positioning. Startups learned how to craft compelling narratives, build lasting
brand equity, and leverage creative technology to stand out in competitive markets.

Scaling & Strategy

Growth isn’t just about expansion—it’s about scaling with purpose. Sumera Abbasi, Executive Director at TiE
Islamabad, led an insightful session on sustainable growth, market positioning, and strategic
decision-making, equipping founders with the mindset and tools to scale effectively.

Personality Development

NIC Peshawar recently hosted a dynamic session on Personality Development &

Leadership featuring Rohma Labeeb (AKDN) and Ali Ibrahim (Hashoo Group). The session offered founders
an opportunity to explore what it truly means to lead with impact, communicate with purpose, and
cultivate a strong professional identity.

From enhancing self-awareness and navigating strategic decisions to adopting a growth-oriented

leadership mindset, participants walked away with practical tools to face the entrepreneurial journey with
clarity and confidence.
Book Circle: Creative Workshop on Design Thinking

NIC Peshawar, in collaboration with The Enlight Lab, hosted Peshawar Book Circle for an
interactive workshop on design thinking, featuring insights from Austin Kleon’s books. Bilal Ahmad
from CLLB led the session, which encouraged creative problem-solving and innovation and
equipped participants with practical techniques to enhance their creative processes.

Khadijah Women Entrepreneurship Program

In collaboration with PSW and LMKT, NIC Peshawar hosted this globally recognized initiative
empowering women-led businesses. With mentorship, training, and insights into global trade,
female entrepreneurs gained essential skills to scale their ventures and compete internationally.

Startup Sprint

A high-energy two-day event featuring industry leaders Bilal Farooq Khan and Shafeeq Gigyani
was organized. Participants from FAST, RMI, UET Peshawar, University of Peshawar, and Swabi
Women University tackled business modeling, problem-solving, and pitching under pressure,
refining their startup ideas through expert mentorship.

Phulwari Resin Jewelry Training

NIC Peshawar’s startup Phulwarii conducted a two-day resin jewelry training, equipping participants with
the skills to create unique handcrafted pieces. This initiative not only fostered creativity but also
empowered individuals with entrepreneurial skills in artisan crafts.

Gaming Fiesta

Alumni startup founders, NIC staff, and Cohort 12 startups took a break from the grind for an
all-out battle of skills. From FIFA face-offs to Tekken showdowns and tug-of-war rivalries, this
event reinforced NIC Peshawar’s commitment to building a strong, connected startup community
where creativity thrives.

Stem Bootcamp
One of NIC Peshawar’s startups, STEMverse, hosted a five-day STEAM camp for young innovators
aged 8-15, featuring hands-on learning in 3D modeling, robotics, AI, electronics, and
programming. Designed to spark curiosity and innovation, this initiative nurtured the next
generation of tech leaders.

Session on LinkedIn Mastery

Founders and professionals gained actionable insights on building a powerful LinkedIn presence in
an exclusive session with Bilal Asif, CEO of ConnectGenie AI & Kikbits. From profile optimization to
social selling strategies, attendees left equipped with tools to expand their networks and unlock
business opportunities.
Financial Modelling
Digikhata’s Co-founder, Bilal Anjum, guided startups on revenue forecasting, cash flow
management, and financial sustainability. Founders walked away with a stronger understanding of
data-driven decision-making to drive business growth.

Fundraising Art Exhibition

NIC Peshawar hosted Ranaa Child Welfare Foundation for a fundraising art exhibition. The event
combined art and philanthropy, with proceeds supporting the education and welfare of children
under the Ranaa Foundation.

AzCorp Entertainment Private Limited

NIC Peshawar had the privilege of hosting Imran Azhar, Founder of AzCorp Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., for an
engaging mentorship session with its cohort of startups.

The session delivered a wealth of insights, as Imran shared his vast experience in storytelling, branding, and
creative entrepreneurship. Startups received actionable, personalized advice to sharpen their vision and
approach, making it a truly impactful exchange.

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