While there are many organizations and individuals working to bolster entrepreneurship in Pakistan, there is still a need for more. Information, for example, needs to be more widely available and easily accessible to those who need it. Every student studying for a professional degree should know the various resources available that can help young people with great ideas step in the business world. Getting the right information to the right people is a priority; so is making sure that these young people who have worthy products and innovation to bring to the market actually know how to deal with the business side of the startup. All these things are fast becoming a top concern and if the number of IT events being held and the current programs are any indication, Pakistan has started to realize the importance of polishing local talent so that they can shine on international platforms and help the country achieve new pinnacles of success.
Our readers know about i2i, Plan9 and Microsoft Innovation Center as well as the role these organizations have played in introducing the country to some great talent. Most recent organization to step in and take the responsibility of mentoring talented youth is the LUMS Incubator, LUMS Center for Entrepreneurship (LCE).
“LUMS Center for Entrepreneurship (LCE), set up as an independent center under the LUMS umbrella, aims to formalize the institution’s support for entrepreneurship. It is the nation’s most comprehensive experiential development platform for budding entrepreneurs that formalizes the process of scouting, grooming and facilitating passionate startup founders.”
LCE is a venture which has been primarily designed to allow more students from the university to explore their potential and possibly start their own business. It will aim to bring newer, better ideas to the table and connect people with business models to investors who can make their dreams into reality. LCE will act as yet another channel to help create a bridge between investors and new startups, a channel which is still much needed. LCE will support almost eight different programs that have been put together for future entrepreneurs. This includes The Foundation, a program which will accept requests from all over the country. The primary condition mentions that the venture should be high impact which means that it will include tech and non-tech startups as well.The good news is that you can apply right away to The Foundation. Applications will start getting accepted from March 23rd. This is your chance to become a part of LUMS Business Incubator so don’t miss this golden opportunity.
LUMS has always been a step ahead when it comes to encouraging the spirit of entrepreneurship. Code for Pakistan and Startup Weekend Lahore are only some of the events hosted by the institution recently. The students have also played their part in making the university proud. The winners of FAST SOFTEC, for example, were the Wi-Fast team who hailed from LUMS. As it is, it offers LUMinites an excellent opportunity to see if their ideas can make viable businesses. LCE can also reach students and professionals from all over the country and thereby help more people grow their startups. We would like to extend the very best wishes to LCE and are looking forward to great ideas from this platform.
Image Credits: Khizer Bajwa
