Karachi, Two start-ups from the Institute of Business Management’s Shahjehan S. Karim Incubation Centre (SSKIC), Digibook and Creative 3D, clinched top honors at the National Idea Bank (NIB) 2024. The awards ceremony, graced by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, took place at Aiwan-e-Sadr, recognizing the innovative contributions of these emerging businesses to the country’s technological landscape.

According to Institute of Business Management, the third edition of the NIB was organized by the National University of Technology (NUTECH) in partnership with ASPIRE Pakistan. This year’s competition highlighted the critical role of nurturing intellectual abilities and innovation among Pakistan’s youth, as emphasized by President Dr. Arif Alvi during the event. He advocated for an enabling environment that supports the transformation of innovative ideas into competitive and quality products, aiming to boost the nation’s exports and minimize imports.

Digibook and Creative 3D were selected from a pool of over two thousand entries from across Pakistan for their outstanding ideas. Their recognition at the NIB 2024 not only underlines the potential of Pakistani start-ups but also secures them an opportunity to visit Silicon Valley. There, they will participate in mentorship and networking sessions to further their growth and impact. The founders, Aurangzaib Alamgir of Digibook and Bilal Afridi of Creative 3D, along with their teams, represent the high calibre of talent being incubated at SSKIC-IoBM, showcasing the institute’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation within the country.

The ceremony was a testament to the collaborative efforts between educational institutions and government bodies to support entrepreneurial initiatives. It also highlighted the importance of platforms like the NIB in recognizing and promoting the innovative ideas that can drive Pakistan’s economic growth and technological advancement.