Tech Enthusiasts showcase innovation at the Google I/O Extended and Google Cloud Startup Competition Pakistan

July 27, 2024: The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, hosted the Google I/O Extended 2024 at the Main Campus. Drawing a total of 1,447 participants, including 969 students, eager to learn and engage with the latest in technology.

Dean SMCS, Dr. Shakeel Khoja, welcomed Googlers from Singapore, local guests, and participants, emphasizing the importance of technology in today's world.

The event featured 14 insightful sessions, mostly focused on the latest Google technologies, presented by Harris Solangi, CTO at Watermelon Market; Janise Tan, Developer Ecosystem at Google; Esna Ong, Google for Startups at Google; Atyab Tahir, CEO of Hugo Bank; Omar Alshamsi, CEO of Watermelon Market; Sakina Abbas, CEO of Reactree; Mashhood Rastgar, Head of Engineering at Taleemabad; and Zuhair Jawed, Co-founder of Myco.io.

Additionally, seven hands-on workshops provided in-depth learning experiences, with four focused on AI, one on design, one on mobile development, and one dedicated to Women Techmakers, fostering diversity and inclusion in tech. The event also hosted the finals of a national-level startup competition, showcasing innovative ideas and entrepreneurial talent.

Moreover, Google Cloud, in collaboration with Tech Valley, successfully concluded its inaugural Startup Competition Pakistan 2024, receiving 700 submissions from over 70 cities.

The Grand Finale, held at IBA Karachi in conjunction with the I/O Extended by Google Developers Group, served as a launchpad for innovation, attracting a surge of creative solutions across five key tracks: AI and GenAI, Fintech, Sustainability and Environment, E-commerce and Connectivity, and Frontier Digital Technologies. Startups refined their pitches and identified areas for improvement through mentoring sessions in major cities of Pakistan.

The judging panel consisted of leading local and regional VCs, including Indus Valley Capital, i2i Ventures, Sarmayacar, NVentures, and SEED Ventures. Each winner from the five competition tracks received a cash prize of PKR 1 million and will be offered mentorship from senior Google experts to further refine their ideas.

The competition also facilitated connections with leading VCs, opening doors to potential funding and mentorship. Additionally, all 25 finalists were offered mentorship opportunities with industry experts, including those from the Bank of Punjab and Orbit Startups.

The event was a remarkable success, fostering a spirit of technological excellence and innovation among the participants.