Techstars Startup Weekend has come back to Karachi and The Nest I/O is hosting it.

It is a 54-hour event where aspiring entrepreneurs gather under one roof to experience the highs, lows, fun, and pressure that make up life as a startup founder. The participants learn to create a real company, and engage with mentors, investors, cofounders, and sponsors who are ready to help them achieve their goals.

The 3-day event will kick off this evening (Friday, April 26) at The Nest I/O with a welcome note followed by a keynote address from the chief guest Mark Rakestraw, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi.

The welcome note will be followed by the first round of pitching, idea selection, and team formation. The mission of the event is to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, teams and communities during this 3-day frenzy.

“The best part about Startup Weekend is that participants themselves select the top ideas through an open voting process, and begin their 3-day journey full of excitement and the pressure of business development, prototyping, and market validation,” says Jehan Ara, President P@SHA and Founder of The Nest I/O.

“The weekend ends with final and much more developed presentations in front of an esteemed panel of judges, which is another opportunity for participants to learn and improvise through critical feedback and a chance to win startup glory, and perhaps end up by launching real businesses” adds Jehan.

Techstars Startup Weekend events around the globe follow the same basic model, with the first day for pitching and teaming up, the second to learn and work and the final day to present and yes, celebrate.

“Each time we host Startup Weekend, we ensure that every single participant has an opportunity to learn skills that will not only help them take part in the competition but also help them in the future," says Jehan.

"We have identified a few basic workshops and sessions that teach participants key elements of starting up a business, networking, and pitching."

This time, seven students from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Khairpur, will be travelling to Karachi to attend Startup Weekend along with eight students from Hyderabad Information & Software Houses Association (HISHA).

The event will begin on April 26, 5 PM and will go on until April 28, 9 PM at The Nest I/O.