Pakistan: Islamabad’s NIC swaps traditional career fair for startup matchmaking expo
From equity conversations to on-the-spot hiring, fair redefined how students connect with Pakistan’s startup ecosystem
Students gather at the Founders’ Fair at NIC, Islamabad. PHOTO: NIC
Islamabad’s National Incubation Centre (NIC) hosted a Founder’s Fair from April 6 to 8, allowing for a curated, high-energy networking expo that bridges the gap between high-growth startups and top talent.
By replacing traditional career fairs with direct matchmaking, co-founder pairing, and on-the-spot hiring opportunities, the event aimed to connect innovative startups with students for high-impact roles.
The centre posted the event on its Instagram page, thanking the founders and students who showed up ready to build. “Last week, we traded small talk for high-stakes strategy and brochures for equity conversations,” the centre wrote, adding that the fair “wasn’t just a networking event; it was a curated matchmaking expo designed to bridge the gap between Pakistan’s brightest final-year talent and the high-growth startups ready to scale”.
The organisation further noted that the next generation of builders is not focused on finding a “safe job”, but securing a seat at the table.
The event also included workshops where assumptions were challenged, and students were allowed to explore financial clarity, investor understanding, and the art of building a compelling pitch.
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Sharing media of the event, the NIC posted images from a session where over 40 ecosystem leaders engaged in discussions, asked questions, and worked toward building mutual understanding. The Cohort-5 final judging panel includes founders, chairpersons, managers, and vice presidents of various companies, including the Chief Executive Officer of Takhleeq, Ali Shah, the Co-Founder of Marham, Asma Omer, and the Chairman of Rozee, Monis Rahman, among other leading business figures.
Reference Link:- https://tribune.com.pk/story/2601655/islamabads-nic-swaps-traditional-career-fair-for-startup-matchmaking-expo
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
