Promoting startups

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In Pakistan, there are significant obstacles to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly for start-ups and young and growth-oriented companies (including lack of access to financing, insufficient financial knowledge and capacity of entrepreneurs, lack of networking opportunities, informality of companies, etc.). The aim of the measure is to promote start-ups and young and growth-oriented companies by creating access to financing and needs-based support services. The target group is start-ups and young and growth-oriented companies in the provinces of KPK, Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. In addition, consulting services are to be offered in Karachi and Islamabad/Rawalpindi, which, along with Lahore, are among the most important start-up hubs in Pakistan. In particular, young and/or female entrepreneurs are to be supported, who together should make up at least 50%. The indirect target group are institutions in the Pakistani start-up scene that advise and support companies, as well as financial institutions that provide co-financing. Furthermore, the employees of the companies, financial institutions and other project partners as well as their families also benefit, as their employment and income situation is improved by the FC measure.