Karachi’s first HEC backed business incubation center holds its inaugural pitching session

CINETIC – Center of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Technology Incubation and Commercialization at NED University, Karachi is the first business incubation space in Sindh being funded by Higher Education Commission and supported by its Networking Partner, Plan9, the first technology incubation center backed by government. The incubation center initiated its operations this January and called for induction applications on intra level. With over 40+ startup applications received, only 12 were shortlisted for the final pitching. The session was lead by Manager CINETIC, Nimra Kamran and Assistant Manager CINETIC, Kainat Waseem. The inaugural session was graced by the Vice Chancellor of NED University, Prof. Dr. Afzal Haque who encouraged the participants and the team of CINETIC to work towards establishing an entrepreneurial ecosystem at the campus. Dr. Syed Mehmood Hasan, Director Office of Research, Innovation & Technology (ORIC) also addressed the audience and shared plans on what CINETIC aims at establishing At NED University.

• Mr. Azhar Rizvi- Founder & Vice Chairman, MIT Enterprise Forum of Pakistan
• Shazia Yaqoob – National Entrepreneurship – Network Wadhawani Foundation
• Zainab Tariq – Assistant Manager, Plan9
  Usama Tauqeer – Communication Designer, Plan9 and Founder & CEO, Aloo Clan
• Bilal Qureshi- Founder, QB Technologies
• Umair Sani and Omar Javaid – BIZFactory
• Hamood ur Rub – Legal Advisor, CINECT
• Ali Raza Jafery – Chairman, Bio Medical Engineering – NED University
• Dr. Farzana – Chairman, Food Engineering – NED University
• Dr Najmi Ghani Haider – Chairperson, Department of Computer Science & IT – NED University
• Dr. Khalid Pasha – Co Chairman Textile – NED University
• Dr. Saman Hina – Associate of ORIC (Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization, NED University)

The startups presented diverse services and products meticulously engineered. The teams hailed from engineering backgrounds, therefore the judges provided them much needed mentorship in terms of formulation of business models, intellectual property and patenting, financial projections and marketing tips. The following startups pitched their ideas:

1. Save Pakistan

This team brought along a working prototype for inexpensive and optimized process to purify water through the process of ozonation. The startup has already installed units in a couple of hospitals around Karachi and is looking for expansion. Effected by a sad demise of a batch made due to naegleria – water borne disease, the team wants to raise awareness how filtered water is not necessarily purified.

2. Energy Efficient Turbulent Box Air Conditioner

This unique Air Conditioner has won thrice at engineering & business contests. It incorporates the latest concept of Industry 4.0 and uses embedded micro-controller to utilize only one-tenth the energy required by a conventional system.This smart air-conditioning system is programmed to constantly adjust to load profiles and changing user requirements.

3. Techcite

Techcite proposed itself as video studio that offers businesses and startups to generate interesting content using animations and their amazing videography expertise at affordable prices without the hassle of resorting to video makers and online paid sites.

4. Cycle Yaari

CycleYaari is a campus company that made it to Top 10 of Startup Pakistan 2015 at regional level and launched itself last August with an all Karachi cycling marathon. The venture proposes NEDians to cycle around the campus to cover long distances between classes and labs in order to commute in short time using an automatic and monetized cycle networking service. The system shall consist of docking stations connected with a mobile app with cyclists accounts.

5. Bookistan

Bookistan has already launched itself as a Facebook group and simply puts itself as a middle man between the buyers and sellers of textbooks. They are currently dealing with textbooks, be it for engineering, medical or business and have already delivered over 60 packages since their launch. Their website is under construction and they plan on targeting schools for expansion.

6. Electronica – Ground Penetration Radar

Electronica aims to be a startup company that designs, develops and manufactures unique electronic devices. They presented their first product Ground Penetration Radar – GPR which is being designed to detect underground water, leakage in pipes, properties of soil and mining regions.

7. MakeTech

MakeTech pitches as a design consulting firm that takes industrial projects and develop them with the help of engineering students over a proposed timeline. The startups aim at providing engineering students some exposure to industrial projects in turn the industries are offered low cost timely delivered solutions. The startup destines to provide mechanical energy, HVAC and product designing, web and software solutions, and management applications for industries.

8. WrapCar

WrapCar introduced an Uber for advertisers where advertising companies can catch up the cars to place ads on the vehicles’ body. Claiming to be the first tech venture in Pakistan to use a model like this, WrapCar presented the app under development and how it will cater to the advertising agencies and the brands.

9. Zindagi Asaan

Zindagi Asaan envisions making daily chores of an ordinary man a hassle free affair. The startup aims to pool resources under one platform for a particular skill force required by users such as tutors, carpenters, house workers, plumbers, etc. The system will be initially launched on Android based platform.

10. E-Prob

E-Prob is an Android application that facilitates utility companies and consumers by enabling consumers to register their complaint without any delay, free of cost and also providing access to load shedding schedule, billing and consumption (daily/weekly/monthly) updates. If an unexpected breakdown occurs, utility company will know the location of incident immediately and take necessary action.

11. Cost Efficient 3D Printers

This team claimed to assemble 3D printers of import quality in a much lesser price. Their business model revolved around assembling printers and providing them to schools and colleges for educational purposes.

12. Bilashir Denim

This textile startup, Bilashir Denim proposed they can manufacture the most inexpensive denim fabric in Pakistan which can be used for customized purposes. The co-founders are graduates of Textile Engineeing and claimed they have relevant industry experience of over five years to make this venture profitable.

CINETIC’s next step ahead involves operation of the selected projects to be executed on the basis of a long term plan of action, interacting with industrial partners, alumni network and having well defined milestone and deliverables to facilitate with a way ahead to all the innovators of NED University in the best form possible.