All About Karachi Startup Weekend @ IBA, Karachi University

Day 1:

I’ve posted two separate posts one about the Idea that I pitched on day one and the other about all of the 21 pitches.

It all started with this :)

Board which contains names of all Pitches and Votes against each one of them:

Final 12 Pitchers which were short listed to form teams and work on their Ideas:

As per the rules of the event, I was able to form a Team during Networking phase and thus got a chance to be the 13th team in the line up.

Day 2:

We were given dedicated rooms with all necessary equipment to work on our Ideas for 54 hours in 2.5 days.

Me and my team with one of our mentors, Mr. Zahir Ali Syed.

Going to Auditorium to attend one of the Guest Speaker Sessions:

I was explaining my Idea to one of the judges, Naveed Qazi, VP Engineering, Folio3, sitting next to me and during that, one of the Guest Speaker started his speech:

Having tea and snacks with my team during the Tea Break:

Day 3:

We have to present our idea with proposal plan and prototype in a 5 minute presentation.
Introduction of Judges and Prizes to be offered to the winners:



My Final Presentation of the idea "Unified" (we renamed it from SPAM after getting an advice from one of our mentor that SPAM has negative connotation)



Winners:

1st – Social Guru
2nd – Islamopedia
3rd – (Tie between 2 teams) Namaz-Qibla Direction & Teen Tappar

I am sorry I was not able to record the 1st Winner Prize because my mobile battery was exhausted by that time. I can only wish if Karachi Startup Weekend guys upload it some where and I can link it, because I know, 1st position holder team was the highlight of this event.



OFFICIAL VIDEO of Karachi Startup Weekend held at IBA, Karachi Univeristy - Courtesy Khizer Iqbal.




Concluding Remarks:

I never thought a single event would change the way I see my professional life. It was so damn eye opening that my direction is almost changed to 180 degrees. Living a 9-to-9 professional life is no more the way I'll pursue. Innovation and Entrepreneurship is definitely the way to go forward!

A thanks of appreciation, to all those brilliant and hardworking people who make it possible, our facilitators, organizers and our mentors. You help us experience the spirit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Thank you!