Google announces startup contest

Competition is set to identify and nurture entrepreneurial talent in Pakistan's burgeoning startup ecosystem

By News Desk

April 06, 2024

This file photo taken on January 22, 2019 shows a technician passing by a logo of US internet search giant Google during the opening day of a new Berlin office of Google in Berlin. — AFP/File

KARACHI: Google Cloud has announced the launch of its inaugural Startup Competition Pakistan 2024, aiming to spotlight and elevate the most innovative technology startups in the country.

The competition is set to identify and nurture the entrepreneurial talent within Pakistan's burgeoning startup ecosystem.Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Country Director for Pakistan, expressed excitement about the initiative, stating, "Google Cloud’s Startup Competition Pakistan 2024 is a platform for the nation's vibrant talent to showcase their potential and for us to foster the next wave of entrepreneurs using Cloud technologies."

The event will feature five categories: AI & Generative AI, E-commerce & Connectivity, Fintech, Frontier Digital Technologies, and Sustainability & Environment. Startups will compete for a chance to present their ideas to a panel of experts and vie for a Rs1 million cash prize in each category. Umar Farooq, CEO of Tech Valley, highlighted the competition's role in propelling Pakistan's startup landscape, "This is a commitment from Google Cloud and Tech Valley to accelerate growth and create new entrepreneurial opportunities in Pakistan."

The competition has attracted support from key players in the startup community, including OPEN, Aspire, Bookme, and Tridorian, as well as Google Developer Groups and venture capital firms like Indus Valley Capital, Fatima Gobi Ventures, and Katalyst Labs. The Grand Finals are scheduled for late July 2024 in Karachi.