The Shahjehan Syed Karim Incubation Center (SSKIC) at the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) held the Cohort-3 Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, September 21, 2024, celebrating the achievements of five start-ups that completed the 6 month incubation process. These start-ups were recognized for their innovative approaches to addressing social needs and becoming self-sufficient businesses. Present at the occasion were Mr. Talib Karim, President of IoBM; Mr. Zubair Tufail, CEO of Tufail Chemical Industries Ltd., Honourable Guest of Honort; Mr. Imran Haleem Sheikh, Deputy CEO of Bank Islami, was the Chief Guest, who addressed the audience via video message; and Syed Azfar Hussain, Program Director of the National Incubation Center (NIC), Karachi. The event was attended by corporate executives, venture capitalists, and industry experts. The ceremony marked a major milestone for Pakistan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with these start-ups set to make significant contributions to the country's socio-economic development.
During his speech, Mr. Zubair Tufail emphasized the importance of innovation in Pakistan’s business landscape. He praised the start-ups, calling them the future of Pakistan's economy. “Their commitment to innovation and social responsibility will play a pivotal role in addressing the country’s challenges and unlocking new economic opportunities,” Mr. Zubair said. Mr. Imran Haleem Sheikh stressed the need to foster innovation and commended SSKIC for its guidance to start-ups. He advised aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace learning from failure.
Mr. Raza Abbas, Head of SSKIC-IoBM, expressed optimism for the future, praising the resilience and creativity of the entrepreneurs. He emphasized that their ventures would significantly contribute to Pakistan's economic growth and social impact. The event was organized by Mr. Raza Abbas and his team, Agha Muhammad Hassaan and Zehra Farooqui, with iobm student volunteers.
The graduating start-ups included: Zarai Baramdaat, Filtresha, Jeanius Digital, 1Archiver, and DIGIBOOKS. Valedictorian Shahroz Ali, founder of Zarai Baramdaat and an IoBM graduate, credited SSKIC for providing resources and direction essential for scaling his venture. Alumni speaker Bilal Afridi, founder of Creative3D Printers (Cohort-1), shared his journey of transforming an idea into a successful business.
The Shahjehan Syed Karim Incubation Center (SSKIC) at IoBM, through its efforts in fostering innovation and supporting startups, aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For instance, it contributes to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by promoting entrepreneurship and job creation through the incubation of new businesses. Moreover, by supporting startups like Zarai Baramdaat, which focuses on agricultural exports, it also aids in SDG 2: Zero Hunger by encouraging innovation in agriculture, which can lead to improved food security
Graduating Start-ups
The start-ups that graduated from Cohort-3 are as follows: