STAFF REPORT ISB: A new exchange programme designed to link Austin technology entrepreneurs with their counterparts in Pakistan will be launched in April.
The programme, ATX+PAK, plans to place about 24 entrepreneurs from the Pakistan-based Information Technology Universitys business incubator in Austin-based incubators and accelerators for three weeks.
Organizers expect this initiative would provide the entrepreneurs with advanced training, mentorship and networking opportunities. They are also planning a tour of Pakistans growing tech and innovation hubs for Central Texas investors in the fall and a Creative Collaboration Summit in Austin in 2017.
This programme comes on the heels of similar exchange programmes involving local tech entrepreneurs set up in 2015.
In mid-2015, the Tech Ranch business incubator teamed with the Japan-based Science, Art and Research for Reconstruction as one of 12 initiatives focused on the development of Japanese startups and global expansions.
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development of Japan, or NEDO, allocated $50 million of matching funds for companies funded by approved programs.
In March of that year, another local incubator, the Capital Factory, disclosed plans to work with Dublin, Ireland-based Gravity to provide reciprocal services to members of the Austin incubator and co-working space in an effort to promote startups and mid-sized businesses.