We are excited to share information about an exciting new program launching in April called ATX-PAK Tech Exchange Program. This program will invite entrepreneurs from Pakistan to visit Austin incubators for three weeks to receive training and encouragement, and head back to Pakistan to mentor others. The ATX-PAK Exchange organizers are also planning a tour of Pakistan’s tech culture for local investors in late 2016 as well as a Creative Collaboration Summit in Austin in 2017.
The program will accomplish several goals:
- Bringing awareness of creative talent, production, and potential growth opportunities in Pakistan to Austin Entrepreneurs
- Encouraging collaboration between entrepreneurs & start-up incubators/accelerators in Austin & Pakistan to foster growth in both communities
- Giving Pakistani start up opportunities to present their ideas to U.S. investors, Venture Capitalists, Private Equity firms, as well as receive mentorship.
- Give Austin-base start-ups an introduction to opportunities in Pakistan
The program was conceived by a relationship between the City of Austin, the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce and Information Technology University in Lahore, Pakistan and is being funded by the $500K grant from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
This is similar to the program we launched in 2015 with the Japan-based Science, Art and Research for Reconstruction, and we can’t wait to see how it goes!