Lahore: The Launchpad Expo from Plan9 which is in its 10th iteration was opened on Thursday. It is held bi-annually where aspiring entrepreneurs are given an opportunity to pitch their ideas, which henceforth allows them to receive financial and business assistance. This expo is immensely popular with upcoming and aspiring entrepreneurs which is held for five days, where their ideas are surveyed by Plan9 officials for viability and economic potential.
For its 10th iteration of its Launchpad Expo, Plan9 selected 120 applicants out of a thousand who applied. The chosen candidates will have to go through a series of workshops where training will be provided for social media marketing, idea pitching to investors, team-building, product knowledge etc. After eventual conclusion of these workshops, the judges will choose the triumphant candidate for further grooming and incubation.
At the 10th Plan9 Launchpad Expo on Thursday, the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Chairman Umar Saif revealed that Plan9 had fostered nine startups which were valued at over $70m.
Saif mentioned that Plan9 had attracted a cumulative investment of $2.5m in the last five years. He asserted that the country’s economic and business culture has attained maturity, from which a billion-dollar idea could be conceived by any upcoming entrepreneur.
PITB Chairman on the occasion mentioned that the government’s decision to provide tax-relief to startups in this year’s budget would greatly support the startup ecosystem.
