Celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship at startup summit G-B

GILGIT: The startup summit Gilgit-Baltistan, held from May 2 and May 3 in Gilgit city, marked a key milestone in the development of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Hosted by Accelerate Prosperity and funded by Global Affairs Canada, the event brought together various businesses, national investors, mentors and experts to foster growth and focus on building synergies beyond the local market. Over two action-packed days, various dynamic sessions ensured practical insights for all participants and provoked visionary ideas to build on existing efforts being made in the space.

Rohma Labeeb, Country Director, Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan set the tone of the event with opening remarks highlighting the significance of entrepreneurship in transforming Gilgit Baltistan’s socio-economic landscape. This was followed by an inspiring keynote address by Luke Myers, Counsellor and Head of Development Corporation, High Commission of Canada in Pakistan. Luke stated, “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all the participants here at the summit whose entrepreneurial spirit is driving transformative changes in your communities. Canada’s support of this summit is part of a broader effort in Pakistan aimed at promoting women empowerment, as exemplified by our long-standing partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network and Accelerate Prosperity.

The panel discussion on “Local Roots, Global Dreams: Enabling Gilgit-Baltistan’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” featured Shehryar Hydri, Managing Director at Endeavor Pakistan; Imran Shams, Executive Director at Accelerate Prosperity; Asim Ishaq, Director of National Incubation Center, Peshawar; and Kamran Ghazi, co-founder & CEO of Pura Spring. They explored opportunities for local businesses to expand globally and discussed fostering innovation while addressing regional challenges.. Later, the highly anticipated Startup Pitch Battle showcased promising tech startups from Gilgit-Baltistan, with Bolain Kya Chahye (BKC) winning Judges’ Choice and Easy Drop taking home the Audience Choice award.

Another panel titled “Beyond Capital: The Value-Add of Strategic Investors” highlighted how investors offer insights, mentorship, and networks to drive startup growth, featuring: Hammad Umer, Head of Pakistan, Insitor Partners; Hassan Ahmed, Manager Investments at The Boring Syndicate; Nayab Babar, Chief Investment Officer at Pakistan Startup Fund; and Rohma Labeeb. Additionally, Faheem Samad, CEO and Founder of Calibreon International, shared his journey of building and sustaining the largest tech success story in Gilgit-Baltistan during an inspiring fireside chat.

A key highlight of the event was the Innovation Showcase, an exhibition that featured a diverse range of products from Accelerate Prosperity’s portfolio. This showcase provided attendees with the opportunity to visit the interactive stalls, meet the founders, and explore potential collaborations. It also offered entrepreneurs and investors a valuable space to connect and discuss possible partnerships during dedicated networking sessions. In her closing remarks, Suraiya Zaman, IT Minister of Gilgit Baltistan, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I thank Accelerate Prosperity for organizing such an amazing event and providing a great platform for our entrepreneurs to connect, network, collaborate & learn from the experiences of each other.” Riaz Ahmad,Secretary IT, Gilgit-Baltistan, also attended the event, expressing his support for the initiative and discussions taking place.

Day 2 of the Startup Summit Gilgit Baltistan focused on capacity building and practical knowledge exchange. Workshops, led by various component partners, aimed to equip entrepreneurs with essential skills for business growth. A workshop on Investor Relations and Fundraising, funded by Global Affairs Canada allowed entrepreneurs to interact with the visiting investors for guidance on raising funds and building relationships. LMKT, a key national partner, organized a session on “Build. Market. Scale: Strategies for Exponential Startup Growth,” funded by German Corporation through KfW, featuring speed mentoring for quick, actionable advice.

To help participants build more resilient businesses, Gilgit Baltistan Software Houses Association (GBSHA) hosted a workshop on Design Thinking, also funded by German Corporation through KfW and led by Nadeem A. Malik, former Secretary General Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA). In addition to this, thought provoking roundtable discussions, addressing topics like “Building Sustainable Businesses in the Digital Era” (funded by Global Affairs Canada) and “Agritech Frontiers” (funded by the European Union), were led by HBL P@SHA and GBSHA, focusing on regional challenges.

Throughout the day, 17 Expressions of Interests were signed, alongside Strategic Partnership Agreements, marking the beginning of collaborative efforts between businesses, investors, and industry partners, highlighting the summit’s role in fostering lasting growth in the region.

About Accelerate Prosperity

Accelerate Prosperity is a global initiative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Central and South Asia which offers creative financial solutions as well as pre and post-investment technical assistance to help grow early-stage businesses, startups, and innovative ideas. Through targeted programs, workshops, and collaborations, the organization supports the growth of businesses all across Pakistan, empowering entrepreneurs to thrive and scale their ventures.