ISLAMABAD: Over 50 teams of aspiring women entrepreneurs participated in a two-day startup workshop at the WeCreate Centre, a part of the WeCreate Challenge.

The WeCreate Challenge is Pakistan’s first-ever startup competition for women entrepreneurs, who compete for prize money and incubation at the WeCreate Centre. Participants are offered training for turning their ideas into viable businesses, going to market quickly, building a team, modifying their business model and learning ways to attract customers and revenue.

At the Extreme Build-a-Business workshop over Saturday and Sunday, industry experts were invited to act as mentors to the aspiring entrepreneurs. They interacted with the participating teams and offered advice on how to improve their business model.

Participants worked to develop a Business Model Scorecard, a visual thinking tool which allows entrepreneurs to map their strengths and weaknesses and identify aspects they have not thought about. Twenty-five successful teams were shortlisted and would be taken to the next rounds of the competition.

Sean Griffin, who is the CEO of Startup Cup Inc and co-founder of the WeCreate project, said he was very impressed by the participating teams and some of the business demonstrated great potential.

He said this is the first WeCreate Challenge, a worldwide activity.

“I have worked with over a thousand startups in Pakistan and the unique thing about the participants here is that they show a desire to promote not just their businesses but also demonstrate what women are capable of,” he said.

One of the participating teams came up with an idea for a children’s library called ‘Far Far Away’, where reading programmes would be offered for children between the ages of four and 10.

A team member, Madiha, told Dawn that attending the workshop helped her identify smaller activities which would help her generate funds for her business.

“Without money to invest, turning my idea into a viable business seemed daunting. The mentors at the workshop helped me realise I could begin with reading sessions and use the revenue to fund the library,”she said.

Another team, comprising fashion designers Maryam Hameed, Komal Abbasi and Momina Tahir brought the idea of an online shopping website which would connect emerging designers with potential customers.

Ms Hameed said the workshop had helped her team understand the importance of market research.

“Two days ago, we only had a rough idea and now we have tangible goals and steps to follow,” she said.

Appreciating the enthusiasm of the participating teams, Nazia Hameed, who is a professor and business mentor, said she was excited to see so many unique ideas.

Another mentor, Javeria Sethi, who is the CEO of Edopia, said the workshop ensured that these aspiring entrepreneurs are thinking along the right lines.

WeCreate Center Manager Communications Mavra Bari said even the teams who were not shortlisted today will be offered support, networking and mentorship oppurtunities through other programmes at the Center.

“Entrepreneurship is one of the best ways to help women gain economic autonomy and empowerment,” she said.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2015

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