Entrepreneurs & Startups apply for Plan9 Launchpad 10

Plan9, PITB’s Technology Incubator, is perking with excitement as the squad of plan 9 is all set to take to you, The Launchpad 10. From being the starter in 2012 to now, a top incubator, Plan9 has come a long way and this can be accessed from the reality that today, they get more than 3000 applications from all over Pakistan.

The Launchpad Which is Plan9’s largest event, held semi-annually and contains various activities, including, screening, different workshops, talks and final presentations which are replicated within 3 main cities of Pakistan – Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi (applications are not restricted to these three cities only; people from all across Pakistan are eligible to apply).

Plan9 selects 100 startups from the 3000 applicants who applied from across Pakistan to be incubated. Plan9 also has a lot of global players on board. Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft are some imperative names out of their many partners apart from having excellent mentors and an amazing team.

Event Details

The Launchpad is a weeklong happening which set off the incubation cycle. Two days are devoted to the competition; on an opening day, the shortlisted startups convey their elevator pitches or OBS to an external panel of judges and based on their scores on this day, the startups meet the criteria and qualify for Day Two of The Launchpad.

The next day is tougher as startups need to throw their complete business model in a seven-minute pitch, followed by 3 minutes of Q’s n A. On the second day, winners are marked and these startups get incubated at Plan9 intended for 6 months.

What is the Eligibility Criteria for The Launchpad?

There are some conditions which you need to follow: if you want to meet the criteria to apply for The Launchpad,

Be a Pakistani citizen-Don’t let the fact that the event takes place in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad put off you. Plan9 is a national program and teams from all over Pakistan are called to take part.

18 years above age is required to be eligible.

One applicant can apply only for one idea.

Startups require having a product-based business idea.

The product has to have a tech element.

Startup should be able to show and demonstrate the product’s wireframe/ mockup/prototype.

Startup should have a strong, skillful and self-motivated team of 2- 5 members including 1 CEO and 1 CTO are mandatory.

Plan9 expects founder(s) to compel their startup for 6 months, which means that they will have to be in attendance at Plan9 from 9 am to 5 pm and will not be capable of holding any other job for this period.

There’s no lower limit for years of education of the founder(s) and team members.

*In case you’re selected for incubation and you live outside of Lahore, you’ll have to move to Lahore for the time period of 6 months.

What business ideas qualify for incubation?

As Plan9 is a technology incubator, so it is essential that your business idea is product based and has a tech factor. Your startup may possibly be in any domain associated with technology such as:

Consumer Tech (e-commerce)

EdTech (Education Tech)

IoT (Internet of Things)

SaaS (Software as a Service)

FinTech (Finance Tech)

HealthTech

AdTech

Web App

Hardware

Mobile App