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| Plan9 (Lahore) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Plan9 (Lahore) |
| Type | Business incubator |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Location | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Parent | Punjab Information Technology Board |
Plan9 (Lahore) is a technology incubator based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan that supports startups through mentorship, workspace, and funding linkages. It operates within Pakistan's Punjab provincial innovation ecosystem alongside institutions such as the Punjab Information Technology Board, the National Incubation Center, and university incubators affiliated with the University of the Punjab. Plan9 engages with stakeholders from the State Bank of Pakistan, Ministry of IT and Telecom (Pakistan), and international partners including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to scale entrepreneurial ventures.
Plan9 (Lahore) functions as an incubator and accelerator platform connecting entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and corporate partners such as Telenor Pakistan, PTCL, and Jazz. It provides cohort-based programs influenced by models from Y Combinator, Techstars, and the Startupbootcamp network. The initiative is embedded in Pakistan’s broader startup landscape alongside accelerators like Invest2Innovate and co-working hubs such as The Nest I/O, COLABS, and Daftarkhwan. Plan9 collaborates with academic partners including LUMS, NUST, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, and the Beaconhouse National University.
Established in 2012 under the aegis of the Punjab Information Technology Board, Plan9 was launched as part of a provincial push for technology-driven entrepreneurship similar to efforts by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Pakistan). Its early years saw mentorship from figures connected to Silicon Valley, alumni networks of Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Pakistani diaspora entrepreneurs who previously worked at Google and Microsoft. Over time Plan9 expanded programming paralleling global initiatives like Startup Weekend and events such as Tekathon. Notable milestones include partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme and participation in international forums like Web Summit and SXSW.
Plan9 operates as a program under the Punjab Information Technology Board with oversight involving officials from the Government of Punjab and advisory boards containing representatives from the private sector such as Habib Bank Limited, MCB Bank Limited, and Standard Chartered Pakistan. The operational model includes a core team of program managers, mentors drawn from alumni of Harvard Business School and INSEAD, and technical advisors with experience at Amazon Web Services and Cisco Systems. Governance interacts with regulatory bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and works in concert with innovation policy units inspired by frameworks from the Department for International Development and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Plan9 offers cohort-based incubation, mentorship, seed funding linkages, and pitch events modeled after Demo Day formats used by 500 Startups. Services include access to co-working space, legal clinics with counsel familiar with Intellectual Property Office-style regimes, and technical support using platforms such as Heroku and GitHub. The incubator runs thematic tracks addressing sectors represented by firms like Careem, Zameen.com, Daraz, GoP, and fintech startups collaborating with UBL and MCB. Training programs incorporate lean startup methodologies influenced by work from Eric Ries and design thinking approaches related to IDEO. Plan9 also organizes networking events similar to Lean Startup Machine and participates in pitch competitions akin to Seedstars World.
Funding for Plan9 originates from the Punjab Information Technology Board budget, supplemented by grants and partnerships with entities such as the World Bank, USAID, and corporate sponsors including Tata Group affiliates and local conglomerates like Packages Limited. Strategic partnerships extend to academic incubators at COMSATS University, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, and FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences. Investment connections link startups to angel networks such as Karandaaz Pakistan, Pakistan Angels Network, and venture capital firms with presence in the region like i2i Ventures and Indus Valley Capital. International collaboration has included memoranda with organizations similar to British Council and bilateral development agencies.
Plan9 has been credited with accelerating numerous Pakistani startups that have engaged with markets and investors domestically and abroad, joining cohorts alongside graduates who later interacted with accelerators like Y Combinator and funds such as Sequoia Capital's regional affiliates. The program is recognized by provincial stakeholders and featured in reports by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation assessing Pakistan’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Media coverage has appeared in outlets including Dawn (newspaper), The Express Tribune, and The News International, while alumni success stories have been highlighted at conferences such as GITEX and TechCrunch Disrupt. Critics and analysts from institutions like Lahore University of Management Sciences research groups have evaluated Plan9’s scalability, sustainability, and integration with national innovation strategies led by the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives.
Category:Business incubators Category:Economy of Lahore