Build. Validate. Pitch. Become a founder.
Seven weekends of founders led sessions turn a raw idea into a validated startup and pitch it live to investors and educators at Katalyst Labs, Karachi.
A 7 weekend startup competition for Pakistani students aged 12–20. You'll be taught by real Pakistani founders, mentored one on one, and judged through a multi stage funnel from a raw idea all the way to a live pitch at Demo Day. Every registered participant completes the full programme; the first competitive cut only happens at Stage 4.
Build around a problem you genuinely care about. Deliver a paper prototype or simple demo, and pitch your idea in 3 slides. Judged by a friendly panel of educators and a journalist.
Judged by: Educators + Journalist panel
Validate a real problem with customers, build a working MVP or design, and pitch a 5 slide deck. Judged by an investor panel for investability and traction.
Judged by: Investor Panel
No prior business experience needed the programme starts from zero.
Both pods share the live Saturday sessions but are mentored, scored and ranked separately.
Problem statement + customer hypothesis. Mentor feedback for all.
Milestone everyone proceeds
Working or paper prototype demo (video). Mentor feedback for all.
Milestone everyone proceeds
Submit your 5 slide pitch deck (template provided).
Required must submit to continue
90 seconds video pitch. Scored on clarity, persuasiveness & polish.
Top 50 advance + unlock 1:1 mentorship
Online judging of deck + pitch. Top 10 per pod become finalists.
50 → 20 finalists (10 per pod)
Live pitches at Katalyst Labs, Karachi. Remote finalists pitch over video.
Winners per pod announcedAll five live Saturday sessions and Stages 1–3 happen before any competitive cut every paying participant completes the full programme. From Stage 4 onward, missed deadlines mean elimination (no extensions except documented emergencies).
Builders (Senior) - Investor Panel
Sparks (Junior) — Educators Panel
Judges score independently; the per stage score is the average. Ties are broken by the Stage 4 video score. All judging decisions are final.
Builders 1st Place
+ Investor introductions for all finalists
Builders 2nd Place
Cash prize
Sparks 1st Place
+ Recognition & spotlight
Sparks 2nd Place
+ Certificates for all participants
All 200 participants receive certificates. All 20 finalists receive certificates and are featured in TechTree and Katalyst Labs media coverage. Prizes are non transferable and not exchangeable for cash.
The Cup has two age groups. Sparks (Junior) is for ages 12–15 you build a prototype and pitch in 3 slides to a friendly panel of educators. Builders (Senior) is for ages 16–20 you validate a problem with real customers, build an MVP, and pitch a 5 slide deck to an investor panel. Your age fixes your pod; pods cannot be switched after registration.
Registration closes Wednesday 8 July 2026 at 23:59 PKT, or earlier if the 200 seat cap is reached. The fee is PKR 15,000, payable by bank transfer, JazzCash, or EasyPaisa. Registration is confirmed only once payment is received. The fee is non refundable, but your spot can be transferred to another eligible participant until 3 July 2026.
Not at all. The programme starts from a raw idea and walks every participant through finding a real problem, talking to customers, and building a simple prototype. The early sessions and mentor feedback exist precisely so you don't need prior experience. You just need curiosity and commitment.
Yes the Entrepreneurship Cup is for individual participants only. Each student registers and competes on their own, with their own startup idea.
Stages 1 and 2 are milestones everyone proceeds regardless. Stage 3 (deck) must be submitted to remain in the competition; missing it means disqualification from Stage 4. From Stage 4 onward, a missed deadline means elimination. Extensions are only granted for documented emergencies at the Segment Head's sole discretion.
That's completely fine and exactly what the opening sessions are designed for. Mentors help you discover real problems worth solving before you build anything. The Stage 1 deadline is Sunday 12 July, which gives you the full first week to find your direction after kickoff on 11 July.
No. Demo Day is hybrid finalists outside Karachi who cannot travel pitch live over video in the same running order and are scored on the same rubric. Remote finalists must join the Friday 28 August dry-run and have a stable connection, camera, and microphone ready.
Yes AI tools are allowed and encouraged. However, you must clearly disclose what AI was used for (e.g. writing, code, images). Undisclosed AI generated work passed off as original is grounds for disqualification. All work must be created for this Cup; prior or external projects may only be entered if disclosed at Stage 1.
Spots are capped at 200 and registration closes 8 July 2026. Secure your place today.
Or bundle this with a second Cup and save PKR 5,000.