On September 23, 2025, NIC Karachi and NIC Peshawar partnered with Orbit Startups to host Orbit Demo Day 2025 in Karachi, a vibrant showcase of Pakistan’s entrepreneurial talent. This landmark event celebrated the first cohort of startups under their collaboration, drawing investors, industry leaders, and stakeholders. Additionally, it highlighted Pakistan’s growing innovation landscape, with both NICs playing a pivotal role in empowering founders to scale globally.

Syed Azfar Hussain, Project Director of NIC Karachi, kicked off the program with welcoming remarks, while Kelly Pang from Orbit Startups stressed the partnership’s role in supporting emerging markets.

Innovative Startups

The cohort’s startups then pitched groundbreaking solutions to a diverse audience. For example, Blinq streamlines invoice digitalization with real-time reconciliation, while Chaajao delivers e-learning through live and recorded classes. Similarly, Mergn offers a SaaS platform for customer retention, and Connectia optimizes fleet operations with smart fuel cards. TrashIt converts organic waste into compost, and STEMverse gamifies AI and robotics education. Moreover, VM Nebula supports e-commerce sellers with AI-powered virtual desktops, and Apaale reduces logistics inefficiencies by connecting shippers and truckers. These ventures showcased Pakistan’s diverse innovation potential.

Panel Discussion

Following the pitches, a panel titled “From Idea to Impact: Supporting Startup Growth in Pakistan” featured Ali Tabba of YB Group, Kelly Pang, Manish Phulwani of EQ2 Ventures, and Vladimira Briestenska of Neem, moderated by Zeba Qureshi from OPEN London. They explored strategies for scaling, challenges in emerging markets, and the power of partnerships. Consequently, the discussion offered actionable insights for founders navigating Pakistan’s ecosystem.

Voices of Impact

Key figures shared their perspectives on the event’s significance. Asim Ishaq Khan, Vice President of LMKT, highlighted how NIC Karachi and Peshawar create a pipeline of scalable businesses, with startups pitching side by side to attract global interest. Likewise, Ali Tabba emphasized YB Group’s commitment to platforms like NIC Karachi, enabling founders to access global networks. William Bao Bean of Orbit Startups noted Pakistan’s tech potential, citing investments in 29 local startups over five years to drive economic transformation. Finally, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication reaffirmed government support, closing with a call for continued innovation.

Networking and Future Opportunities

The event wrapped up with a hi-tea networking session, where founders connected with investors, corporates, and media. This interaction sparked potential collaborations and investments, further strengthening Pakistan’s startup ecosystem.

The Power of NIC and Orbit Collaboration

NIC Karachi, managed by LMKT with YB Group and Orbit Startups, has incubated over 375 startups, creating 1 million jobs and generating PKR 10 billion in revenue, funded by Ignite. Similarly, NIC Peshawar, established in 2017, has supported over 200 startups, yielding PKR 9.4 billion in revenue and 14,000 jobs. Orbit Startups, ranked sixth in emerging markets by MAGNiTT, scales ventures globally, with investments like Dastgyr in Pakistan.

Together, these organizations are transforming bold ideas into impactful ventures, positioning Pakistan as a hub for innovation.