Scaling Innovation Across Pakistan: The FI x NIC Startup Accelerator Model
The Founder Institute collaborated with Pakistan’s National Incubation Centers (NIC) to deliver regionally customized startup accelerator programs, launching hundreds of founders and fostering job creation across the country.
The Challenge
Pakistan’s national and regional governments sought to promote entrepreneurship to spark innovation and economic growth, but building impactful startup support programs across multiple cities proved difficult.
Local organizations faced constraints in funding, staffing, and access to global best practices. Most did not have the necessary infrastructure or experience to develop customized programs that served a broad demographic of founders. The pressure to deliver measurable economic outcomes quickly made it harder to implement initiatives that emphasized long-term sustainability.
MoITT, through Ignite’s growing NIC network, was ideally positioned to respond to these issues. With a mission to support youth-led innovation, and existing physical infrastructure across major cities, NICs became an ideal public partner. The Founder Institute, with its global network, structured curriculum, and “learn by doing” model, was the right collaborator to operationalize an accelerator that could be both scalable and locally owned.
The Solution: Customized Multi-City Accelerator Program
To meet these challenges, FI and NIC co-developed a multi-city accelerator framework tailored to Pakistan’s needs, combining global acceleration methodology with localized delivery and long-term vision.
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1Train-the-Trainer Approach
The Founder Institute equipped NIC staff in Karachi and Peshawar with the tools and knowledge to independently run high-quality accelerator programs. Through intensive training on FI’s global venture-building curriculum and access to its worldwide mentor network, the model ensured regional ownership, localized delivery, and long-term sustainability of startup support.
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2Long-Term Cohort Cycles
Unlike typical accelerator models, NIC cohorts ran for six months—making them one of the longest and most comprehensive startup programs in Pakistan. This extended format gave founders the structure, accountability, and time needed to validate ideas, build traction, and receive ongoing feedback from seasoned mentors throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
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3City-Specific Rollouts
With five cohorts in Peshawar and four in Karachi, the program provided localized programming based on the unique needs and strengths of each region. Future plans include expanding to Islamabad, Faisalabad, Quetta, and Hyderabad. To ensure quality admissions, founders are assessed using the Entrepreneur DNA test—a psychometric tool that evaluates traits most predictive of startup success.
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4Sustainable Financial Model
The program operated on a public-private hybrid model: NIC funded operational staff, while Founder Institute received a per-company program fee rather than equity. This aligned with the inclusive, impact-driven goals of public sector innovation, prioritizing ecosystem development over financial return.
Key Takeaways
This government-backed partnership highlights how public infrastructure and global expertise can come together to build effective entrepreneurship programs. Designed with local needs in mind, the model delivers scalable, sustainable impact across regions.
Results
The NIC x Founder Institute program has graduated 223 founders, helping them build validated, scalable businesses across diverse sectors. Its success lies in a structured venture-building curriculum, hands-on deliverables, and access to a global network of expert mentors. Founders are selected using the Entrepreneur DNA test, ensuring high-potential entrepreneurs receive the guidance and accountability needed to succeed.
What's Next
Building on the success of this initiative, the Founder Institute and NIC plan to:
- Expand the model into five more cities across Pakistan
- Launch specialized cohorts in agritech, aerospace, and health-tech through regional NICs
- Build partnerships with local and international VCs to enhance access to capital
- Establish a nationwide founder alumni network to encourage peer mentorship and cross-city collaboration
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Proven Entrepreneurship Program -
Global Network
- 442
- Total Founders Enrolled
- 33
- Startups Secured Funding
- 223
- Graduates
- 23
- Cohorts
- 4
- Cities Participated
Founder Institute delivered world-class acceleration experiences tailored for Pakistani founders. The training, structure, and network provided by FI empowered NIC to support startups more effectively and sustainably.
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More About Founder Institute
The Founder Institute (FI.co) is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, we have helped tens of thousands of employees and new/ idea-stage entrepreneurs validate, test, and launch startups worth an estimated $30BN+. Our mission is to activate and empower talented and motivated entrepreneurs to build meaningful technology businesses worldwide
The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 7,800 entrepreneurs raise over $1.85BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.
