Social entrepreneurship in Pakistan is on the rise from education access and environmental sustainability to healthcare and women’s empowerment. However, securing funding remains one of the biggest challenges for impact-driven startups. This guide highlights key grants, incubators, fellowships, and investors available to Pakistani social entrepreneurs, with direct links for application or further exploration.
1. National Funding Programs & Government Support
🔹 Ignite – National Technology Fund (MoITT)
- What it offers: Seed funding (up to PKR 10 million) for tech-driven startups with social impact, particularly through National Incubation Centers (NICs).
- Best for: Edtech, healthtech, civic-tech, agri-tech with a social mission.
- Eligibility: Pakistani citizens with a registered company or idea-stage product.
🔹 PPAF – Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund
- What it offers: Grants to grassroots organizations and community-led enterprises working in areas like women’s empowerment, education, and financial inclusion.
- Best for: Rural entrepreneurs, community-based models, NGO-linked startups.
- Eligibility: Registered social enterprises or CSOs.
🔹 Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES)
- What it offers: Tier-based loans (PKR 100,000 to 5 million) with low markup rates.
- Best for: Youth-led businesses, including social and green enterprises.
- Eligibility: Pakistani citizens aged 21–45 with viable business ideas.
🔹 Startup Pakistan Program (MoST)
- What it offers: Training, mentorship, and funding access under the Digital Pakistan and Startup Pakistan initiatives.
- Best for: Tech-enabled social enterprises.
- Status: Pilot launched, national roll-out in progress.
2. Social Impact Incubators & Funding-Focused Accelerators
| Incubator/Accelerator | Focus Area |
| SEED Ventures | Social entrepreneurship, community impact |
| Invest2Innovate (i2i) | Startup incubation with social lens |
| The Nest I/O | General tech, supports social founders |
| National Incubation Center (NIC) | Tech-driven impact solutions |
| Impact Dynamics | Circular economy, education, food security |
| Balochistan Youth Entrepreneurship Program | Regional impact, marginalized youth |
3. Global Fellowships & Grant Funding Opportunities
🔹 Acumen Fellowship Pakistan
- What it offers: One-year leadership program with access to capital and mentorship.
- Target audience: Social entrepreneurs, NGO leaders, innovators.
- Deadline: Annual cycle.
🔹 Echoing Green Fellowship
- What it offers: Up to $80,000 in seed funding + two years of mentorship.
- Global focus, open to Pakistani founders with bold ideas.
- Highly competitive, requires a unique mission-driven startup.
🔹 GSBI – Global Social Benefit Institute
- What it offers: Mentorship + investment access for early-stage social ventures.
- Run by: Santa Clara University.
- Virtual options available for Pakistani ventures.
🔹 UNDP Innovation Challenge Fund – Pakistan
- What it offers: Grants up to USD $30,000 for scalable social innovations.
- Thematic areas: Climate resilience, youth employment, digital inclusion.
- Apply via: UNDP Pakistan
4. Impact Investors & Alternative Funding Platforms
🔹 Acumen Pakistan
- What it offers: Patient capital for social enterprises in energy, health, and education.
- Focus: Sustainable business models that serve the poor.
🔹 Karandaaz Pakistan
- What it offers: Debt and equity financing to social SMEs, especially in financial inclusion and women-led businesses.
- Donor-backed by: DFID and BMGF.
🔹 SeedOut
- What it offers: Crowdfunding platform for micro-enterprises and social causes.
- Zero-interest loans backed by donors.
- Great for social entrepreneurs needing small, quick injections of capital
🔹 LaunchGood
- What it offers: Global crowdfunding focused on Muslim-world impact ventures.
- Great platform for diaspora-supported social startups in Pakistan.
🎯 Pro Tips to Maximize Your Funding Potential:
- Align with the UN SDGs — funders prioritize measurable impact.
- Collect community stories & data — evidence-based change wins grants.
- Build a hybrid model — combine profit with purpose for sustainability.
Engage with incubators early — many offer grant-writing and legal support.
