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01 · Ideate

Turn an idea into a plan you can test, with people who have done it before.

For first-time founders

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Students and mentors from the Young Changemakers Program holding award cheques
  1. Ideate
  2. Incubate
  3. Accelerate
  4. Invest
  5. Alumni for Life
Format
Hub sessions and local facilitators
Support
Micro-grants for the top 10%
Language
Urdu or English

Who it’s for

Eligibility checklist

  • You have an idea, or a small business that is not earning yet
  • You can join sessions at a hub, or through a local facilitator
  • You want to solve a problem in your community

What you get

Benefits

  • Entrepreneurship training
  • Business Model Canvas
  • Micro-grants for the top 10%
  • A route into Incubate

How it works

Step by step

  1. 1Apply
  2. 2Training
  3. 3Business Model Canvas
  4. 4Pitch
  5. 5Micro-grants
  6. 6On to Incubate

Where this stage comes from

Programmes that move into Ideate

  • Microenterprise training with Islamic Relief & Manzil
  • Refugee & host-community bootcamps (GIZ & WESS) with GIZ & WESS
  • Province-wide youth entrepreneurship (13,800 youth)
  • Impact Startup Challenge

Results so far

Results so far

3,500+

Microentrepreneurs trained

23% of 15,000 · 2031

Live Impact Dashboard

FAQ

Your questions

Does it cost anything?

Ideate is 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. You can also send a voice note in Urdu, Balochi or Pashto and the team will complete the form with you.

What about travel and childcare?

Arrangements depend on the hub and the cohort. Tell us what you need when you apply, or ask on WhatsApp, and the team will confirm what is available.

What documents do I need?

The application lists them step by step. If something is missing, save your progress and come back: the form keeps your answers.

Alumni in their own words, shared with their consent

Apply

Apply for Ideate

Apply in Urdu or English.

About you

Add the country code if your number is not from Pakistan.

Where you live or work.

Your idea
Where is your idea or business now?

If it has one.

A few sentences in your own words, in Urdu or English. Who has this problem, and how do they manage today?

Your product or service, and who pays for it.

Is it led by a woman?

In Urdu or English, in your own words. Up to 3 minutes. A recording from your phone can be MP3, M4A, OGG, OPUS, WEBM, WAV or AAC, up to 8 MB.

Support and last step
What support do you need most?

If you have one. You can apply without it. PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, up to 5 MB.

Apply via WhatsApp Send a voice note

Talk to us: +92 330 8470975

Prepare

Get ready before you apply

How to write a strong applicationWhat reviewers look for, and how to show it in plain words.Open
A theory of change in one afternoonA simple way to explain how your work leads to change.Open
Free toolkitsPrintable canvases and worksheets to plan your enterprise.Open

Case studies

Where Ideate comes from

Microenterprise trainingWith Islamic Relief and Manzil.Open
Refugee & host-community bootcampsWith GIZ and WESS.Open
Youth entrepreneurship (13,800 youth)Province-wide.Open

Applying to SIA? Get your free account

Follow your application from the day you send it.

  • 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.

Create a free accountSign in

Get opportunities first.

Monthly newsletter, or join our WhatsApp channel for open calls in Urdu.

Or create a free My SIA account for your applications, tickets and certificates.

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