The first day of the Regional Plan9 Launchpad event in Multan was a success, as aspiring entrepreneurs from different cities of Punjab gathered to pitch their innovative ideas. The event was organized by FEMITECH, a digital service that helps women entrepreneurs succeed online, in collaboration with Plan9, the Punjab Information Technology Board’s tech incubation center.
What is Regional Plan9 Launchpad?
Regional Plan9 Launchpad is an initiative aimed at encouraging tech entrepreneurship to create an impact in the region by helping startups build sustainable businesses. It is a zero-equity opportunity for early to mid-stage startups focused on technology to accelerate their market entry and contribute to the economy by creating jobs and attracting foreign investments.
The event consists of four stages: Expo Day, Training Day, Elevator Pitch, and Final Round. The startups that make it to the final round get incubated for six months at one of the nine centers across Punjab: Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, and Sargodha.
What Happened on Day 1 of Regional Plan9 Launchpad in Multan?
The first day of the Regional Plan9 Launchpad event in Multan was Expo Day, where all the startups got an opportunity to showcase their initial product or service. The event was held at ORIC Department, Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan.
The event started with a welcome note by Dr. Muhammad Asif Khan, Director ORIC BZU Multan, followed by an introduction by Ms. Huma Ismael. She explained the vision and mission of FEMITECH and how it supports women entrepreneurs through digital and legal services.
The startups then displayed their products or services at their respective stalls, where they interacted with the judges, mentors, investors, media representatives, and other participants. The judges evaluated the startups based on their innovation, feasibility, scalability, and social impact.
Some of the notable startups that participated in the event were:
- AgriMart: An online platform that connects farmers with buyers and provides them with quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery
- BookMyDoc: An online platform that allows patients to book appointments with doctors and access their medical records
- Edufy: An online platform that provides personalized learning solutions for students based on their learning styles and preferences
- FitMe: An online platform that provides customized fitness plans and nutrition advice for users based on their goals and body type
- SmartBin: A smart waste management system that uses IoT sensors to monitor the level of waste in bins and notifies the authorities when they need to be emptied
What’s Next for Regional Plan9 Launchpad in Multan?
The second day of the Regional Plan9 Launchpad event in Multan will be Training Day, where the selected startups will get training on how to prepare their pitch decks and team building. The training will be conducted by Mr. Bilal Qamar, Co-founder of Contentopedia, and Mr. Haashir Aziz, Founder of ContentStudio.
The third day will be Elevator Pitch, where the startups will present their pitch decks within two minutes and share their startup idea. The selected startups will reach the final round.
The fourth day will be Final Round, where the startups will get a seven-minute slot to present their final pitch decks and participate in a Q&A session conducted by the judges.
The winners of the final round will get incubated for six months at one of the nine centers across Punjab and receive monthly stipend, legal guidance, free office space, business model development, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
We wish all the best to the startups that are participating in the Regional Plan9 Launchpad event in Multan and hope that they will make their mark in the tech industry. Stay tuned for more updates on the event.