YES-Pakistan 2026 Bahria University gave young founders a national stage in Islamabad from October 20 to 22, as more than 290 startup ideas competed in the Bahria University Startup Competition for cash prizes totalling Rs1 million. The three day programme, formally inaugurated on October 21, combined the summit and expo with seven entrepreneurial training workshops, panel discussions and a final pitch competition, all aimed at turning promising student ideas into viable businesses.
The event, whose full name is the Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs Summit, Expo and Awards 2026, brought together policymakers, academic leaders, industry representatives, entrepreneurs and social innovators. Organisers said the goal was to strengthen collaboration among universities, business organisations, investors, incubation centres and young entrepreneurs, and to build an enabling environment for innovation and sustainable development in Pakistan.
YES-Pakistan 2026 Bahria University: An Inauguration Focused on Young Founders
Syeda Amna Batool, Member of the National Assembly and Focal Person to the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, attended the inaugural ceremony as chief guest. Vice Admiral Abid Hameed HI(M), Rector of Bahria University, welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of collaboration among academia, industry and the entrepreneurial community. Representatives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) also took part, and Dr Javaid Laghari, Chairman of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres, and Dr Habib Boukhari addressed the gathering.
The summit was organised in collaboration with the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres and OIC-COMSTECH, alongside other universities and organisations. Speakers at YES-Pakistan 2026 Bahria University stressed the need to strengthen academia and industry linkages and to encourage innovation driven entrepreneurship, and they acknowledged the efforts of Murtaza Noor, Founder of YES Pakistan, for bringing universities, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders together on a common platform.
More Than 290 Startup Ideas Chase a Rs10 Million Prize Pool
The centrepiece for student founders was the pitch competition at the heart of YES-Pakistan 2026 Bahria University. According to The Global Times, more than 290 startup ideas were submitted. Bahria University’s official competition page lists the cash prizes for the top five places as Rs300,000, Rs250,000, Rs200,000, Rs150,000 and Rs100,000, totalling Rs1 million, while The Global Times report put the total pool at Rs10 million; this article follows the university’s official figures. Teams presented their business plans before experts, received professional guidance and explored avenues for investment and business development.
The startups recognised for their performance in the YES-Pakistan 2026 Bahria University final included Chat Octopus, ReLife, Luqas.ai, GrainHero and Demetronics, a mix that reflected young entrepreneurs developing new concepts across different sectors. The university’s own Bahria University Startup Competition 2026 page had invited students, innovators and startup teams to pitch an idea, prototype or minimum viable product to a distinguished panel, with special preference for startups with an AI focus. It also noted that selected startups at idea stage may be offered a place at the Bahria Innovation Center for incubation, which gives finalists a possible next step after the applause fades.
Seven Workshops, a P@SHA Keynote and Panels Led by CEOs
Alongside the competition, seven training workshops were held during YES-Pakistan 2026 Bahria University to help participants strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, turn ideas into practical business plans and understand what running a venture actually involves. Dr Shoab A. Khan, Chairman of P@SHA, delivered the keynote address, sharing insights on effective leadership, technological innovation and the changing entrepreneurial landscape.
A panel titled “Leadership, Innovation & Lessons from Leading CEOs” brought together Pervaiz Abbassi, CEO of ADVentures, Muhammad Adnan Mukhtar, Convener of the FPCCI Academia-Industry Committee, and Moazzam Shahbaz, CEO of NAQEEBZ. Another session, “Universities as Catalysts for Future Entrepreneurship,” examined how higher education institutions can nurture entrepreneurial thinking and support startups, with vice chancellors and senior academics from several universities on the panel. A third panel, “Women Driving Innovation & Entrepreneurship,” featured Naima Ansari, Rabia Farhan, Fajar Rabia Pasha and Dr Sonia Saleem discussing women’s entrepreneurial journeys and their contribution to economic growth.
A Wider Push to Link Campuses With Industry
The Islamabad summit did not stand alone. Just before it, the first National Convention of Campus-Based Entrepreneurial Societies was held at FAST-NUCES Islamabad, bringing together student entrepreneurs, faculty advisors and representatives of around 30 leading universities, as Academia Magazine reported. The convention was organised ahead of YES-Pakistan 2026, and speakers there called for a strong national network connecting campus entrepreneurial societies with incubation centres, investors, financial institutions, industry and successful business leaders.
That wider context is what made YES-Pakistan 2026 Bahria University more than a single campus event. Readers following Pakistan’s growing tech economy may also enjoy our report on Pakistan’s IT exports in September 2026, our coverage of Pakistan US Tech Connect 2026 in Silicon Valley and our story on Pakistan ranking among the top five for digital government services.
For the students who pitched, workshopped and networked through the three days, the takeaway was practical: expert feedback, investor conversations and, for the recognised startups, a share of the spotlight. YES-Pakistan 2026 Bahria University showed how much entrepreneurial energy is building on Pakistani campuses, and how much stronger it becomes when universities, regulators, industry and investors share the same room.
Correction: an earlier version of this article reported a total prize pool of Rs10 million, the figure carried by The Global Times. Bahria University’s official competition page totals the top five cash prizes at Rs1 million, and the article has been updated to the official figure.
Sources
- The Global Times: YES-Pakistan 2026, Bahria University Showcases Young Entrepreneurs as 290+ Startup Ideas Compete for Rs10 Million
- Academia Magazine: YES Summit 2026 Opens at Bahria University Islamabad
- The News International: University Role in Promoting Entrepreneurs Stressed
- Bahria University: BU Startup Competition 2026
- Academia Magazine: FAST Hosts Convention for Student Entrepreneurs
- Photo: Academia Magazine
Umar is an engineer by profession and a passionate writer by passion. He has a deep interest in sharing good news related to Pakistan and has been working hard to promote the positive image of his homeland. Umar has written numerous articles on various topics related to Pakistan, such as technology, sports, culture, and economy.