YES-Pakistan 2026: Bahria University Showcases Young Entrepreneurs as 290+ Startup Ideas Compete for Rs10 Million

Seven training workshops and a grand startup pitch competition bring together aspiring entrepreneurs, innovative students and emerging businesses in Islamabad, aiming to turn promising ideas into viable ventures.

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Bahria University Islamabad hosted seven entrepreneurial training workshops and the final startup pitch competition under YES-Pakistan 2026, attracting young innovators and emerging business leaders, with more than 290 startup ideas submitted and a prize pool of Rs10 million announced to encourage promising ventures.

Seven training workshops and the final startup pitch competition were held at Bahria University Islamabad under YES-Pakistan 2026, attracting enthusiastic participation from young entrepreneurs, innovative students and startup teams. More than 290 startup ideas were received for the competition, while a total prize pool of Rs10 million was allocated to encourage outstanding startups.

The Bahria University Startup Competition 2026 was organised as part of the Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs Summit, Expo and Awards 2026. The initiative aimed to provide young entrepreneurs with a platform to present their business ideas, introduce innovative solutions and gain practical insights into the business world.

The receipt of more than 290 startup ideas highlighted the growing interest among young people in entrepreneurship, creative thinking and innovation. The competition provided participants with opportunities to present their business plans before experts, receive professional guidance and explore avenues for investment and business development.

The startups recognised for their performance in the competition included Chat Octopus, ReLife, Luqas.ai, GrainHero and Demetronics. Their participation reflected the efforts of young entrepreneurs to develop new business concepts and introduce innovative solutions across different sectors.

In addition to the competition, seven training workshops were conducted to help participants strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, transform their ideas into practical business plans and gain a better understanding of various aspects of entrepreneurship.

According to the organisers, the primary objective of YES-Pakistan 2026 is to strengthen collaboration among universities, business organisations, investors, incubation centres and young entrepreneurs. The initiative seeks to foster an enabling environment for innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development in Pakistan.

The event was described as an important effort to showcase young people's potential, encourage the development of new business ventures and equip emerging entrepreneurs to contribute effectively to the country's economy.