KARACHI: Fast growing businesses are key to Pakistan’s economic future. This was stated by the US Consul General in Karachi, Michael Dodman.
He was speaking as chief guest at a workshop and competition here on Saturday.
The entrepreneurs from across the region are receiving training and guidance for their businesses as part of the StartUp Cup- a `Build a Business’ workshop and competition.
The event organized by the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Islamabad, and funded by the United States Department of State.
The Karachi workshop follows similar workshops in Islamabad and Lahore and is part of a four-month competition to help identify and assist aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into successful businesses.
Addressing the entrepreneurs at the workshop’s opening session the US Consul General, Michael Dodman said that the US government believes that fast-growing businesses are the key to the Pakistan’s economic future.
`We also believe that trade and investment are the future of the US-Pakistan relationship. We are sponsoring StartUp Cup because it is a unique programme that actually teaches aspiring entrepreneurs how to transform their ideas into successful businesses’, he added.
Founded in 2007, the StartUp Cup is a US-based business plan competition aimed at promoting a culture of entrepreneurship.
This weekend’s workshop will train aspiring entrepreneurs how to build business plans, design sales and marketing strategies, attract funding, manage finance, run operations, and supervise, develop, and lead teams.
Business mentoring sessions will provide individual coaching to refine business models for participants over the coming months.
In November, the best proposals will receive cash awards to help launch their businesses PKR 1,000,000 for first place, PKR 750,000 for second place, and PKR 500,000 for third place.