The Higher Education Commission (HEC) invites innovative startups owned by students, alumni, and/or faculty members/researchers (from Public & Private Sector Universities/Degree Awarding Institutions) to apply for the Innovator Seed Fund (ISF) Grant. The grant package includes up to USD 35,000 in seed funding, stretched over startups' proposed budgetary requirements for activities including but not limited to entrepreneurial training, legal/financial / marketing training, and support, among other services.
ISF, envisioned for the development of innovation and startup ecosystem in Pakistan, is a flagship initiative of HEC under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan Project (HEDP). ISF is anticipated to support the development of fledgling startups having innovative ideas through the provision of seed funding grants, to transform them into successful and sustainable enterprises. The grant package includes up to USD 35,000 in seed funding, stretched over startups' proposed budgetary requirements for activities including but not limited to entrepreneurial training, legal/financial / marketing training, and support, among other services.
HEC Innovation Fund ISF Eligibility Criteria
The lead applicant must:
- Either be a student, alumni, and/or faculty member/researcher of the Higher Education Institutions (public and private).
- Have endorsement from one of the HEC Established 35 Business Incubation Centers across Pakistan.
- Have an SECP-registered business concern, ensuring the legal status and promising potential of the startup.
ISF Priority Themes
The priority sectors for ISF support include:
Agriculture, Food Resources and Agri Tech no Housing, Construction and Manufacturing D Banking, Microfinance and FinTech D Health Care and Health Tech Transportation and Logistics D Education and EdTech E-commerce and Smart Retail no. Sustainable Development, Climate and Energy D Emerging Technologies D Creative, Digital Media, Arts and Culture D Other sectors that have potential for growth and impact
Innovative Ideas / Concept Notes on the prescribed application template must be submitted via HEC online portal.
The deadline for Application Submission is January 6, 2023 - 11:59 pm For further information and application submission requirements please visit the HEC website
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