Pakistan and U.S. launch Innovation Hive to support startups

The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) has launched ‘The Innovation Hive’ in Islamabad, a new initiative designed to support the Pakistani startup ecosystem. Inaugurated by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the platform aims to connect local entrepreneurs with American mentors, technology, and professional networks to help scale businesses for international markets.

The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between technical talent and the resources required for sustainable growth, such as investment networks and global mentorship. During its first year, the program expects to engage over 250 American mentors.

The launch comes amid strengthening economic ties; bilateral trade volume exceeded $8 billion in 2025, with the U.S. serving as Pakistan’s largest export market. Additionally, the enterprise value of venture capital-backed startups in Pakistan has surpassed $4 billion, with female-founded startups seeing significant funding growth in 2025.