Iqra University’s Centre of Research and Entrepreneurship (IU CORE), celebrated a significant moment with the graduation ceremony of its 2nd Cohort and the certificate distribution for SkillUp Batch 1 at the Mini Auditorium, EDC Campus. The event, graced by Chief Guest Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President of FPCCI, honored the success of 18 graduating startups and recognized top performers in Skill Up’s specialized training programs.
Since its inception, IU CORE has successfully incubated 80 startups, with 14 receiving awards in various competitions. A noteworthy aspect of the program is its commitment to diversity with 19 female-led startups. During his welcome address, Mr. Umair Ahmed Khan, Manager – IU CORE and Program Head of SkillUp, emphasized the broad impact of the program. He said;
“Our impact goes far beyond the startups we integrate. More than 200,000 students have been empowered by the IU CORE 2nd Cohort, developing an entrepreneurial mindset that will last for years to come.”
The 18 startups that graduated from IU CORE’s 2nd Cohort include:
- Aish
- Pakistantourism.info
- Phoenix Innovators
- Nail Blizz
- Qayamgah
- MechanicXpress
- FilmBazaar
- Aethersoft Innovations
- Digikeds
- HackAspire
- Organic Fusion
- Sawari Online
- Wastease
- E-Relief
- Medseek
- Vorker
- Safe Space
- Design Ability Institute (DAI)
A video presentation was played during the ceremony, showcasing IU CORE’s journey from integration to execution. This was followed by an address from Prof. Dr. Nassar Ikram, Vice Chancellor of Iqra University, who emphasized the role of innovation in Pakistan’s future.
“Pakistan has faced economic ups and downs, but what will truly make a difference is a focus on IT and entrepreneurship. By promoting innovation and empowering our youth, we can transform the destiny of this country. Our university is dedicated to this mission through freelancing and startup programs, equipping students with the skills and opportunities to contribute to the e-economy and succeed beyond borders.” he expressed.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon discussed FPCCI’s Vision 2030, sharing ambitious targets for Pakistan’s economic growth.
“We aim to significantly boost exports through the potential of our youth and the IT sector. Moreover, our ‘Launchpad Pakistan’ initiative connects innovative startups with investors, driving both innovation and economic growth,” he revealed. He further spoke about the necessity of having academic support for research in Pakistan.
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates to the graduated startups and successful candidates of SkillUp Batch 1, who excelled in Mobile App Development, Web Development, and Video Editing, Animation & Vlogging courses.
Skill Up Batch 1 Position Holders:
Mobile App Development
- Jahanzaib Siddiqui
- Haseeb Ahmed
- Vikram Kumar
Web Development
- Krishna
- Arishba Ali
- Aqsa Hameed
Video Editing, Animation & Vlogging
- Wasea Shams
- S.M Fahad Ahmed
- Ifra Afzal
