Google Cloud has launched its first-ever Startup Competition Pakistan 2024, aiming to highlight and empower the most creative technology startups in the country.
The competition’s goal is to find and assist the entrepreneurial talent flourishing within Pakistan’s growing startup community.
Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Country Director for Pakistan, expressed his excitement about the initiative, saying, “Google Cloud’s Startup Competition Pakistan 2024 provides a platform for the country’s talented individuals to showcase their skills, and for us to support the next wave of entrepreneurs using Cloud technologies.”
The event will feature five categories: AI & Generative AI, E-commerce & Connectivity, Fintech, Frontier Digital Technologies, and Sustainability & Environment.
Startups participating in the competition will compete for the chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of experts, competing for a cash prize of Rs1 million in each category. Umar Farooq, CEO of Tech Valley, highlighted the competition’s importance in advancing Pakistan’s startup scene, stating, “This partnership between Google Cloud and Tech Valley reflects our dedication to accelerating growth and creating new entrepreneurial opportunities in Pakistan.”
The competition has received backing from key figures in the startup community, including OPEN, Aspire, Bookme, and Tridorian, as well as support from Google Developer Groups and venture capital firms like Indus Valley Capital, Fatima Gobi Ventures, and Katalyst Labs.
The Grand Finals are scheduled to be held in late July 2024 in Karachi, where the winners from each category will be announced and rewarded for their innovative ideas and contributions to the Pakistani startup ecosystem.
