All Pakistan Startup Expo & Awards 2015, organized Startup-Pakistan’s 1st entrepreneurship exhibition at Pak-China Friendship Center on Saturday 09 May 2015. The event was a joint collaboration of Startup Magazine and Entrepreneurial Development Institute (EDI). The event provided a platform to 100 startups for exhibiting their product in front of thousands of participants from all walks of life (including corporate, business incubation centers, entrepreneurs, academia, families etc).
Judges, experts, mentors, budding entrepreneurs and visitors went through different startup stalls at the startup exhibition all day long. Startup stalls shared the value their products were creating for a common citizen in Pakistan.
Being one of the Sponsors of All Pakistan Startup Expo 2015, Khushhali Microfinance Bank Participated in the Expo 2015. As many as 100 best startups (shortlisted by Startup magazine) from all over Pakistan put up stalls from different categories and industries. They not only showcased their products but also competed with each other for 10 exclusive awards!
The official ceremony was inaugurated by Jahangir Tareen, industrialist & entrepreneur. He personally visited all the young startups and appreciated their efforts in the field of entrepreneurship.
The opening speech of Startup Awards ceremony was delivered by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, CEO Air Blue and Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural resources. Other high profile guests who presented Startup Awards to young entrepreneurs were Nadia Hussain (Fashion designer & entrepreneur), Muzamil Hussain Sabri (President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Kamran Rizvi (Founder SoL), Faiez Seyal (Trainer & Coach), Wahaj Siraj (CEO Nayatel), KhurramZafar (Executive Director LUMS Center for Entrepreneurship), Masarrat Misbah (Social Entrepreneur). Startup Expo participants were mentored by 50 CEOs and seasoned entrepreneurs in parallel sessions.
The award categories were: Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Social Entrepreneur of the Year; Female Entrepreneur of the Year; Technopreneur of the Year; Home-based Business of the Year; Service Business of the Year; Venture Funded Business of the Year; Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year, and Best Startup of the Year.
The entrepreneurs had been evaluated on the basis of their business model, originality, sustainability, positive cash flows and impact on their local community.
While addressing the concluding ceremony, President Khushhali Microfinance Bank, Ghalib Nishtar remarked that Khushhali Microfinance Bank’s commitment towards encouraging entrepreneurship is evident by the fact that this is the only bank participating in the event as a sponsor. He said there is a huge potential in our youth who can surely uplift and benefit the economy of the country through innovative entrepreneurial abilities.