In three categories, three Pakistani startups have won the Shell LiveWIRE Top 10 Innovators Awards. In the prestigious competition that judges and rewards companies from around the world on the basis of creativity, startups have made the country proud and paved a new road to inspire local entrepreneurs.
AquaAgro
AquaAgro, a Pakistani startup that models crop yield and helps farmers grow crops effectively, was awarded $20,000 by Shell LiveWIRE’s panel of judges. This startup helps to conserve more than 50% of the water used in conventional agriculture and won first prize in the category of Climate & Circular Economy.
Ramla Kaleem Shah, its CEO, told the judges about the recurring need for freshwater resources in Pakistan. The agricultural sector uses 70% of the country’s water supplies, she said, while nearly 50% of it is wasted.
Shah is optimistic that AquaAgro can provide optimum water usability, increase crop yield, and provide better profit margins for farmers, striving to bring innovative and technological changes to Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
EDVON Robotics Pakistan
The Outstanding Achievement Award in the competition was won by EDVON Robotics. This startup aims to help local schools integrate robotic engineering into their curriculum, according to its CEO and founder, Muhammad Nabeel.
“We were inspired to do more by getting our concept and startup recognized at the global level. We were all affected by COVID-19, but some of us were able to make the most of this chance and create something to support people in this pandemic,” he said.
Enent
In the competition, Enent won the runner-up prize winning $10,000 in prize money. This start-up is a clean-tech electronics business that focuses on the production of creative products to help minimize energy waste in Pakistan.
It claims to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 18,000 tonnes annually, while having a positive effect on grid reliability and saving $0.5 million per year in electricity bills.
Shahjahan Chaudhry, a technology entrepreneur and former National Incubation Sector Chief, praised Pakistan’s efforts to compete against global growth and emerging technology trends. She added that technology investments would make Pakistan prosperous.
