Start & grow
Pathway
Five stages, from a first idea to investment. Find where you are today, and your next step.
At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Women, youth and communities with an idea or an enterprise
- What you get
- Training, mentors, seed grants, buyers and investors
- How long
- Incubate 100 days · Accelerate 12 weeks
- Cost
- Ideate and Incubate: free or subsidised for those selected
- How to start
- The 2-minute check, then apply online or on WhatsApp
The SIA Pathway
One pathway. Every changemaker has a next step.
Ideate
Training
For first-time founders
Entrepreneurship training, Business Model Canvas and micro-grants for the top 10%.
ExploreIncubate
100 days
For early ventures
100-day sprints in four sector tracks with seed grants of PKR 100k–500k.
ExploreNewAccelerate
12 weeks
For revenue-earning enterprises
12-week growth programme: market access, KSA corridor, investment readiness.
ExploreNewInvest
Capital
For investment-ready ventures
SIA Catalyst Fund and Pakistan Angels, with post-investment support.
ExploreNewAlumni for Life
For life
For every graduate
Mentoring, procurement linkages, reunions and the SENPak community.
ExploreNew
New here?
Words we use
- Social enterprise
- A business that solves a problem for people or the planet, and earns money doing it.
- Seed grant
- A small sum to start or test an idea. A grant is not paid back.
- Incubation
- A guided 100 days to turn an early venture into a working business.
- Accelerator
- 12 weeks that help a business that already sells to grow faster.
- Mentor
- Someone who has faced the same problems and helps you through yours.
- Blended finance
- Grants, recoverable grants and revenue-share, used together.
Road to 2031
Where the Pathway is heading
Today’s figures against the Strategic Plan’s targets for 2031.
See the numbers
| Row | Today (2026) | Target 2031 |
|---|---|---|
| Microentrepreneurs trained | 3,500+ | 15,000 |
| Enterprises incubated | 100+ | 1,000 |
| Incubation hubs | 3 | 8 |
| Capital mobilised | PKR 20M+ | PKR 500M |
Figures from SIA > Figures, each with a definition and a source on the Live Impact Dashboard.
Sector tracks
Four tracks inside Incubate
Incubate runs in four sector tracks, so founders work alongside others in the same field.
Women-led enterprise
WEDP and rural microenterprise.
Agribusiness & climate
Climate-smart value chains.
Crafts & creative economy
Heritage crafts and e-commerce.
Education & health
Innovation for public goods.
Applying
How to apply
- 1Find your stageThe two-minute check, or read the stages above.
- 2ApplyOnline or on WhatsApp, in Urdu or English, or by voice note.
- 3Hear backThe team contacts you. Each open call sets its deadline.
- 4StartAt a hub or with a local facilitator.
Questions
Before you apply
Does it cost anything?
Ideate and Incubate are free or subsidised for selected participants. Any fee is shown on the application before you submit it.
Can I apply in Urdu?
Yes. Apply in Urdu or English, online or on WhatsApp.
Do I have to start at Ideate?
No. Start at the stage that fits where your enterprise is today.
I am not in Quetta or Loralai. Can I still join?
Tell us where you are when you apply. SIA has offices in Quetta (headquarters), Lahore and Islamabad, works with partners across Pakistan, and online learning is planned on the Digital Campus.
Follow your application in one place
Create a free My SIA account to see where your application is, send documents and read messages from the team.
- See where your application is, step by step
- Send documents and messages to the team
- Keep your venture’s profile up to date
Free, and ready in a minute.
Part of SENPak
After your programme, SENPak keeps you connected to peers, investors and opportunities.
