Turning today’s most promising Startups into tomorrow’s most successful businesses

1. Turning today’s most promising Startups into tomorrow’s most successful businesses Building the Entrepreneurial Eco-System of Pakistan Dr. Zahir Ali Syed Co-Chair MIT Enterprise Forum of Pakistan March 11th, 2009

2. MIT Enterprise Forum of Pakistan • Mission -- to improve the economic well being of the people of Pakistan through the development of an Entrepreneurial Eco-system • Objectives: Working for • Availability of Large Pool of Entrepreneurs • Development of Investor Organizations/Individuals • Promoting Exit Mechanism • Promoting an Enabling Environment

3. Govt. & Regulatory bodies Media Entrepreneurial Eco-System Entrepreneurs Public • Universities, • Incubation • Centers Companies Customers • Funding • FFF • Angels & Networks (TAN) • Private Equity, • Venture Capitalists • Banks • Etc • Help & Support • Mentors/Coaches • SMEDA, CSF, BSF, ASF • Service Providers • Law Firms • Accounting Firms • CAN: Business Advisory • Marketing Firms

4. Entrepreneurship Development: Issues • Universal --- High risk • Fast & disruptive changes – Technology, business models, etc. • Highly competitive; competition from any place in the world • Pakistan specific • Image problem internationally • Lack of -- Stability, Security, Level Playing Field & Rule of Law and Restrictive Bureaucracy and Regulations • Lack of Financing and Weak Infrastructure • Lack of Quality HR • Lack of Mentors/Coaches • Lack of Awareness about Entrepreneurship • Cost of Doing Business • Cultural factors --- Failure – not acceptable; Lack of --- Creativity, Analytical and Critical thinking • Lack of M&A( merger and acquisitions)

5. Entrepreneurship Development: Opportunities • Universal --- High Gain • Deregulation & Liberalization • Globalization--- Market: The whole world • Technology Driven -- Paradigm shifts: Small/virtual teams can make large sums of money • Access to --- Any type of info • Pakistan specific • Low labor cost • A large, young and tech savvy population • A large local market with increasing buying power

6. The Way Forward: Build & Sustain the Eco-System • Awareness Development • Public, Students, Service Providers, Investors, Government and Regulators • Capacity Building • Entrepreneurs • Investors • Service Providers • Regulators • Providing an Enabling Environment • Funding • Conducive Policies • Exit mechanism • Etc.

7. MIT Enterprise Forum of Pakistan: Initiatives • Entrepreneurship Courses/Seminars/Workshops • Business Acceleration Program • Tech Angels Network (TAN) • Cambridge Advisors Network (CAN) • Broadcast of MITEF Events • Lectures/Seminars at various universities • Key notes, Panels & Highlighting Success Stories • Mentoring and Coaching • Global Entrepreneurship Week-- Kaufman Foundation • Etc.

8. Govt. & Regulatory bodies Media Entrepreneurial Eco-System Entrepreneurs Public • Universities, • Incubation • Centers Companies Customers • Funding • FFF • Angels & Networks (TAN) • Private Equity, • Venture Capitalists • Banks • Etc • Help & Support • Mentors/Coaches • SMEDA, CSF, BSF, ASF • Service Providers • Law Firms • Accounting Firms • CAN: Business Advisory • Marketing Firms

9. Thank You