KARACHI: The National Incubation Centre (NIC) Karachi has officially launched its first-ever structured acceleration programme in partnership with Orbit Startups, one of the leading global venture capital firm in emerging markets.

According to a press release, the programme will accelerate 10 high-potential startups annually, offering global mentorship, milestone-driven funding, and visibility to international investors, positioning NIC Karachi as a strategic player in the global innovation landscape.

Through the three-month accelerator, each selected startup will receive up to Rs5 million in milestone-based grants.

It said as Pakistan’s largest tech incubation platform under the Ministry of IT & Telecom and funded by Ignite, the NIC-Karachi continues to push the boundaries of innovation. With this new programme, it signals its evolution from a startup launchpad to a growth-stage acceleration powerhouse, fully aligned with national economic priorities and global innovation trends.

“With a young, digital-first population, Pakistan is going through a technology-driven economic transformation. We’re excited to team up with NIC Karachi to bring Orbit’s global ecosystem and hands-on support to this next generation of founders who can lead in Pakistan and win globally. We believe Pakistan is one of the most overlooked startup markets in the world, and that’s about to change,” said William Bao Bean, the managing general partner of Orbit Startups.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2025