NIC Peshawar Is Accepting Applications!

NIC Peshawar provides startups with the resources and tools they need to establish themselves as successful entrepreneurs. NIC Peshawar is going to ignite the spark in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa by extending the following:

• One of the best curriculum in the world to incubate & accelerate
• A vibrant and stimulating workspace
• Technology Commercialization Support
• Access to Mentors
• Access to Investor Network
• Access to business leaders across Pakistan

NIC has put in place a comprehensive mentor-driven three-phase acceleration plan: Hatchery, Incubate, Accelerate.

The goal of the Hatchery is to groom aspiring entrepreneurs – and provide them the knowledge they nee

• Employee vs Entrepreneur

d to qualify the rigorous acceleration program. In this phase the program will have the following segments:

• Extroversion, Agreeability, Coachability, Analytical Skills, Forthrightness, Motivation & Fortitude
• Basics of Entrepreneurship
• SME vs Tech startup
• Fundamentals of ideation and pitching
• Local entrepreneurial success stories
• Opportunities for innovation in Pakistan
• Overview of Acceleration Program

Duration: 1.5 Months

The Hatchery would also provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to network and find partners/co-founders.

Based on the Lean Startup Model (LSM) successful companies must pass through some sequenced steps of learning:

• Idea formulation (problem-solution fit, size of market, barriers to entry).
• Company formulation (team and advisors, legal and IPR).
• Product development
• Business development (PR, Events, marketing, sales, branding).
• Funding and Bootstrapping (how to accomplish a lot with a shoestring budget, how to prepare pitch decks, how to pitch to investors, prepare for due diligence, negotiate share holder agreements, report in Board meetings.)

In a structured program, each week focuses on and drills down into the details of a particular topic until the incubatees understand and internalize the concepts and can apply them to their company. NIC Peshawar plans to have two semesters of 12-13 Incubatees in a year to ensure a more structured approach.Founder Institute will provide Incubatees with a world class, rigorous and structured “learn-by-doing” curriculum.

The program will cover:

• Extroversion, Agreeability, Coachability, Analytical Skills, Forthrightness, Motivation & Fortitude
• Idea generation and validation
• Research and customer validation
• Revenue Models
• Naming and positioning
• Product development
• Legal structuring and IPR
• Team formation
• Sales and customer traction
• Marketing and branding
• Bootstrapping and fund raising

PLUS would be offered to both accelerator graduates as well as advanced entrepreneurs who do not require participation in the accelerator or hatchery programs. The primary offerings of PLUS, in addition to those offered by the incubator as a whole would be assistance in accessing best-available vertical-specific content, and networking with investors and advisors. Advisors are accomplished individuals who are considered leaders in their  fields and who can provide market advice, technology advice and connectivity with customers, suppliers and partners in that field.

NIC Peshawar will use curriculum and resources from Founder Institute, which is one of the world’s leading incubator/accelerator, to build great companies. Founder Institute has graduated over 2000 startups, 45% of which have acquired funding, valuing them at over $ 15 billion.