The Objective

Invent was created with the collaboration of Cambridge Advisors Network and IBA’s Center for Entrepreneurial Development with the intention of developing and improving the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Pakistan. It aims at achieving this by bridging the gap between the industrial sector and the academia. The business plan competition creates a platform conducive for the interaction of students and professionals and exchange of ideas that have the potential of being crystallized into commercial ventures.

The Event

The year 2010 witnessed the inception of Invent after which it became a yearly tradition. Since then, more than 5,000 students from over 60 universities nationwide have participated in this student business plan competition and have been mentored by professionals from over 26 organizations.

The event spans over a period of four months. Here is a short summary the

  1. Groups of students from different universities register. Each group consists of students from different areas of specialization including business and engineering and submits a draft of their business plan. Business plans are evaluated and short listed.
  2. Training centers are set up in different cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Taxila, Quetta, Sukkur and Gujrawala. Here, short listed candidates are educated on how to develop an effective Executive Summary and Elevator Pitch by mentors. Submitted Executive Summaries and Elevator Pitches are evaluated and short listed.
  3. The short listed groups interact one-on-one by professionals from tens of public and private organizations who train them on how create Business Plans and Draft Presentations. Based on these BP’s and DP’s, more candidates are short listed.
  4. Finalists then present before the judges and three winners are selected.
  5. A total of Rs. 2.5 million is awarded to the three finalists as cash prize. An additional Rs. 1.4 million as seed money is also given to the finalists at various stages of their entrepreneurial ventures.

Impact

Three consecutive years of Invent have brought about some significant changes on the entrepreneurial horizon of Pakistan. Firstly, Invent today has become the largest student business plan competition of Pakistan. Secondly, it has shattered the widespread misconception that that business plan competitions are for business majors only. Such a change in perception is crucial for a greater paradigm shift in the Pakistan’s entrepreneurial sector.  Thirdly, the past three events have promoted a culture of productive interaction between the academia and industrial sectors. Over 450 entrepreneurial ideas by students have been presented to the commercial sector. Such interaction has led to commercialization of tens of ideas that have generated real economic value for the country, and which otherwise would have been left unnoticed.

CASE STUDIES

Invent

Student Business Plan Competition
2010, 2011, 2012 

5000 Students from
60 Universities across
30 cities

Outcome:
450 Entrepreneurial Business Plans Presented
Over Rs. 12 Million Distributed as prize and seed funding

List of Universities that Participated

1  Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
2  Aga Khan University School of Nursing
3  Air University
4  Bahauddin Zakariya University
5  Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences
6  Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering (CASE)
7  COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Abbottabad
8  COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Islamabad
9 FAST -NUCES Islamabad
10  FAST-NUCES Karachi
11  Fatima Jinnah Women University
12  Fatima Jinnah Women University Islamabad
13  Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences & Technology
14  Hamdard University Karachi
15  HITEC University
16  Institute of Business Administration Karachi
17  Institute of Business Management (IOBM)
18  Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan
19  Institute of Space Technology Islamabad (IST)
20  International Islamic University Islamabad
21  Isra University Hyderabad
22  Jinnah University for Women Karachi
23  Karachi Institute of Economics & Technology Karachi
24  Kohat University of Science and Technology
25  Lahore School of Economics (LSE)
26  Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
27  Mohammad Ali Jinnah University Islamabad
28  National Defense University Islamabad (NDU)
29  National Textile University Faisalabad
30  National University of computer & Emerging Sciences (NUCES)
31  National University of Modern Languages (NUML)
32  National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)
33  NED University of Engineering & Technology Karachi
34  Newport Institute of Communication and Economics
35  PAF-Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology
36  Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE)
37  Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences
38  Preston University Islamabad
39  Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology (SZABIST)
40  Sukkur Institute of Business Administration
41  The GIFT University Gujranwala
42  University of Arid Agriculture
43  University of Baluchistan Quetta
44  University of Central Punjab (UCP)
45  University of Engineering & Technology Lahore
46  University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar
47  University of Engineering and Technology Taxilla
48  University of Gujarat
49  University of Karachi
50  University of Management and Technology Lahore
51  University of Punjab
52  University of Sindh
53  University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore
54 Foundation University Islamabad
55 International Islamic University Islamabad
56 University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar

List of Sponsors

A large number of corporations and individuals have contributed millions of rupees and supported the program. Major Sponsors and supporters were as follows: