Offering
Program
The Incubation Program is One Year, starting with six months of accelerated development followed by six months of strategic development.
First six months incubatees will participate in training with subject and field experts, mentoring sessions with industry leaders, fireside chats with established business persons, network with relevant stakeholders, and build your reputation and promote yourself through participating in NICAT and other events within the ecosystem strategically. Through this they develop entrepreneurial skills and their startup. While having office space at NICAT during these six months they build they take their startup to the next stage, business and technology-wise. The in-house makers lab, HPU lab and access to our partners’ state-of-the-art research, development and testing facilities take enable one of a kind development.
The second half / six months are focused towards accelerated growth hacking through networking, prospecting and going to market activities. We help you to place yourself in the right place and put your business out there to find its feet and trot. Our in-house team, experts on panel, strategic partners and industry linkages will give you the path to success. Weekly meetups, reporting and followups help keep steer startups pace and direction to success.
FEATURES
Mentoring
Mentorship is the most crucial part of the development program. Startups identify and tackle challenges with the help of our pool of mentors. If a company is going through some important development phase (legal issues, raising capital, launching the product etc.) we are there for as long as required.
Dedicated Startup Success Managers are also there to help startups track their development, and especially to connect with potential partners and clients.
Advising
Business advisors help with market research and analysis, modeling, marketing strategy and tools, as well as other things businesses may need ranging from general and talent management, accounts and financials to legal.
If a problem requires a specialist in a particular area, we help to identify, analyze and articulate your challenges, and act as a bridge with experts and mentors.
Events and Opportunities
Throughout the year startups participate in NICAT event as well as we recommend and help with local and international activities. These may be guest speaker sessions, talks, meetups, visits, seminars, trainings, symposiums, hackathons, competitions, conferences and other events within the domestic and international eco-systems.
NICAT itself hosts a number of events including Aerohacks, Aero-symposium, Research showcases, Industrial Galas, regular speaker sessions and fireside chats, and industrial visit as well as hosting visitors from industry, academia, government, defense, as well as local and foreign delegation.
By participating in them startups also get tremendous learning opportunities, exposure for their self and startup, and get that critical feedback, insights and wisdoms that can set the course of all our future.
Networking
All our activities are also an opportunity to Network. Networking is critical for startups, to enable them to connect with other entrepreneurs, potential customers, investors, mentors, and partners. Through networking, they gain access to funding opportunities such as venture capital, angel investors, and crowdfunding platforms. Building relationships with investors can help startups increase their chances of securing funding to grow their businesses. Networking can also help to connect with potential customers and partners, providing them with opportunities to grow business and expand market reach. By building a strong network, they gain valuable insights and advice from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts, and access new business opportunities that they may not have been aware of otherwise.
Events are a great way for startups to make the most of networking opportunities. Attending events such as conferences, trade shows, and networking events will provides them with exposure to a wide range of potential contacts and resources.
Training and development
Different startups and entrepreneur need specific skills in addition to understanding and abilities.
The training program is meant to help them develop specifically: entrepreneurial mind to think like an innovator, business tools to understand, build, test, track and grow startups, technology skills as required for the solutions they are building, and also soft skills, such as leadership, emotional intelligence, networking, social and other skills.
Demo-day
Demo-day is the highlight of our program. It is an opportunity for startups to connect with potential investors, customers, partners and the wider business community to share their vision, work and journey. Startups mature through the incubation cycle and one of the primary aims is to make them profitable or investment ready.
In summary, demo day is a critical event for startups participating in an incubator program. We also help to prepare for this throughout the program, to prepare a compelling pitch, practice your presentation, focus on your visuals and body language, public speaking and arguing skills, to be confident and engaging, be prepared to answer questions from investors and more.
FACILITIES
As part of our incubation program, startups have access to our dedicated co-working space for the duration of their tenure. This space is designed to provide a comfortable and collaborative environment for startups to work, meet and network with other entrepreneurs.
The co-working space offers high-speed Wi-Fi and LAN connections, printing and scanning facilities, access to meeting rooms and breakout areas, and other amenities that make it easy for startups to work efficiently and productively. Each startup will be allocated up to three seats in our co-working space, allowing them to work collaboratively with their team members and network with other startups in our community.
The Aero Design and Makers lab is an essential resource for startups in our incubator, providing access to technology to help bring your ideas to life. As a founder, it’s important to make the most of this resource, and we want to help you do that.
Our high-performance computing (HPC) lab is a crucial resource for startups in our incubator, providing access to state-of-the-art GPUs and other technologies that can help accelerate computational workloads. The HPC lab is a space for you to explore your ideas and develop innovative solutions to complex computational problems. Mentors can assist you with developing and optimizing your algorithms and models to help you achieve your computational goals.
Our metaverse lab is a cutting-edge resource for startups in our incubator, providing access to state-of-the-art Oculus systems and other technologies that can help you develop immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences. By utilizing the lab effectively and collaborating with other entrepreneurs, you can develop cutting-edge virtual and augmented reality experiences that will elevate your products and services. We’re excited to see what you can create in the lab, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Rapid prototyping with 3D printers has revolutionized the way products are developed and tested. With the ability to quickly and easily create physical models of designs, 3D printing has significantly shortened the time it takes to move from concept to prototype. By using computer-aided design (CAD) software, designers can create a virtual model of their product, which can then be printed using a 3D printer. This allows for multiple iterations and refinements to be made in a short period of time, significantly reducing the time and cost of prototyping. Rapid prototyping with 3D printers has become a game-changer in the product development process, allowing for faster innovation and better products.
The electronics lab provides a space where you can experiment with cutting-edge technology and develop innovative electronic products. With access to a range of tools, equipment and mentors, startups can build and test prototypes of their electronic products, run tests to validate functionality, and diagnose and repair any issues that arise. The lab also serves as a space to learn and develop new skills, collaborate with other entrepreneurs, and share resources.
Breakaway rooms are private spaces that offer startups a change of scenery from the main workspace, providing a variety of benefits to startups. They are perfect for focused, distraction-free brainstorming sessions. By stepping away from the main workspace, startups engage in free-flowing conversations that lead to more creative and innovative solutions. These spaces can be utilized for private meetings, providing a confidential space for conversations with stakeholders, clients, or investors. Equipped with audio and visual equipment they are also perfect for virtual calls or intimate demos and discussions.
Training hall comes equipped with a large SMD, audio-visual system, and open space is an ideal environment to conduct training sessions, conferences, seminars, and team-building activities, providing a versatile and professional environment to conduct a wide range of activities.
The Conference room is a bigger space for larger groups or exceptional purposes; to hold meetings, presentations, and workshops. It is equipped with audio and visual equipment, and an 80 inch interactive conferencing screen, to help you enhance your presentations and meetings. By utilizing this room properly you ensure a professional and productive environment that supports collaboration and success.
Lockable Lockers for each team member give a lot of ease for personal storage.
It’s important to remember to take it easy and have fun on your journey. To maintain a healthy work-life balance is essential for health and success. Long hours and significant pressure to meet your goals and deadlines can take a toll on your mental health and productivity. This is where a play area at the incubation center can be of great help. It offers much-needed breaks from work and allow teams to engage in playful activities, which can help you relax and destress. A relaxed mind is a more creative mind, and spending time in a play area can lead to increased happiness and creativity.
Additionally, a play area can encourage team bonding among startup members, which is crucial for building a strong and cohesive team. Startups require a strong team that works well together, and a play area can be an excellent way to enhance team bonding by encouraging team members to spend time together in a relaxed and fun setting. Taking regular breaks can help you avoid burnout and increase focus and productivity when you return to work.
The podcast room provides a space for you to record and produce high-quality audio content for their business to connect and collaborate with other startups in the incubator and invite them as guests on your podcast to share their expertise and promote their own businesses.
As an incubatee of NICAT startups have facilitated access to various labs, R&D facilities and projects existing under the umbrellas of NASTP, PAC Kamra and Air University.
www.acp.gov.pk
www.pac.gov.pk
www.au.edu.pk
https://acp-nastp.gov.pk/alphatechnosquare/
Each startup incubated at NICAT is provided a latest generation laptop to help with its business needs for their tenure.
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