The start-up entrants were divided among the six awards according to their size, scope, social impact, funding, number of years in operation, and number of employees.
The second edition of the international tech conference LEAP, which discussed technological solutions for upcoming issues, took place from February 6–9 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Eight promising startups from Ignite National Technology Fund’s various National Incubation Centers (NICs) were sent to this year’s LEAP Tech Conference 2023 in Saudi Arabia as part of Ignite National Technology Fund’s tradition of supporting Pakistan’s startup ecosystem.
Ignite National Technology Fund is a publicly traded company under the Ministry of IT and Telecom (NICs). LEAP participants from the NIC included the companies Valeem (Edtech), DigiKhata (Retailtech), Investors Lounge (Fintech), Blockship (Edtech), Datini Fibres (Cleantech), AgriDunya (Agritech), MyTM (Fintech), and Gridizen (PropTech).
The event also featured “The Rocket Fuel Startup Competition,” where startups displayed their products and presented their business plans to a panel of investors, angel investors, and government officials. Each of the six categories in LEAP’s Rocket Fuel Startup Pitch Competition had an award.
The start-up entrants were divided among the six awards according to their size, scope, social impact, funding, number of years in operation, and number of employees.
This gave startups the chance to win total prizes worth $1 million. Out of the 90 startups that participated in the Rocket Fuel Startup Pitch Competition, four NIC startups—MyTM, DigiKhata, Valeem, and Gridizen—were selected to participate in the semifinal rounds.
Asim Shahryar Husain, CEO of Ignite, thanked DCO for supporting Pakistani startups at LEAP 2023 “The fact that 4 out of 8 NIC startups were chosen for the semifinals of the Rocket Fuel Startup Pitch Competition is a source of pride for Ignite and its NICs.
Pakistani startups now have a platform to present their products and business concepts to international investors, thanks to LEAP.
“Foreign investors’ increasing confidence in Pakistani startups’ ability to grow over the past two years is evident in the upward trajectory of their investments in those companies, particularly in industries like e-commerce, fintech, and retailtech.”
The event provided Ignite’s NIC startups with new business and investment leads that can aid in their continued growth, particularly in the MENA region.
The LEAP Tech Conference offers the chance to network with more than 100,000 tech pioneers, venture capitalists, and top experts from around the world in order to find new ideas, form new partnerships, and connect with motivational mentors and investors.
Over 700 speakers from various nations participated, including leaders in technology and artificial intelligence, former football players who are now tech enthusiasts, and investors with multimillion dollar portfolios.