WECON'18 - Wecon Movement

About WECON'18

WECON'18 was held at the University of Central Punjab (UCP), Johar Town, Lahore on 31st March 2018 — drawing 200+ participants and 30+ speakers from across the country. Sponsored by USAID's Punjab Youth Workforce Development Project, this edition introduced the WECON Awards for the first time, hosted a competitive startup pitch session, and ran four parallel workshop tracks for immersive learning.

Programme

Panel Sessions

Investment & Funding Opportunities

Covered revenue streams, seed funding, investment opportunities, and exit strategies — offering insight into how investors evaluate startups.

Moderated by: Sayyed Ahmad Masud (CEO, Change Mechanics)

Humayun Mazhar — CEO, CresVentures
Khurram Zafar — Director, NIC Lahore
Kaiyan Yousaf — Competitive Enhancement Lead, USAID SMEA
Murtaza Zaidi — Director, NIC Peshawar

Panel Discussion: Inclusion

Explored the theme "Privilege, Right or Necessity?" — examining how women's social status, gender, and education shape their access to opportunities.

Moderated by: Sumera Abbasi (Manager, WeCreate Islamabad)

Neelam Azmat — Innovative Intervention Specialist, PPAF
Salwa Akhtar — Development Manager, NIC Lahore
Farzana Yaqoob — President, Asia Institute of Public Policy

Speakers

Keynotes & Featured Voices

Fiza Farhan — Global Strategic Advisor; UN Secretary General's Advisor on Gender & Climate
Ayesha Mansoor — CEO, Origins / Mausummery
Simi Raheal — Gender & Leadership Expert; Harvard / Leavy School USA
Shameelah Ismail — CEO, GharPar
Amna Niazi — Managing Partner, Siddy Says
Shanze Sumreen Faiz — CEO, Gallivant Solutions
Dr. Amjad Saqib — Executive Director, Akhuwat
Umair Jaliawala — Inspirational Speaker, School of Leadership

Learning Tracks

Workshops

Business Model Canvas — Madiha Pervez (Head of Incubation Centre, UCP Lahore)
Design Thinking — Umair Shafique (Chief Innovation Officer, Ideate)
Digital Marketing & Storytelling — Shehab Farrukh Niazi
Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies

Pitch Competition

Startup Pitch Session

Winner

Maps Biotech — Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad

Prize: Rs 50,000 (sponsored by Mera Maan)

7 Shortlisted Finalists

Maps Biotech — Low-cost wearable for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea
Li-Fi — Data transmission through light (5G technology)
Virtual-Eye — Hardware & software solution for the blind and visually impaired
Talking Gloves — Sign-language translation device bridging the deaf community

WECON Awards

Introduced for the First Time

Most Promising Female-Led Startup

GharPar

Shameelah Ismail

A social enterprise providing high-quality at-home beauty services, creating lucrative economic opportunities for women skilled in beauty services.

Best Social Entrepreneur

Mauqa.Online

Develops online tools for illiterate people and connects the underprivileged with nearby work opportunities via the internet.

Best Micro-Entrepreneur

Faizan-e-Islam School and Academy

Rabia Ashiq

Started a school in 2 rooms with a loan from Akhuwat and Kashf Foundation — now operating in a proper building, providing education at minimal or no cost.

Women Supporting Women

Beauty Hooked

Sehr Said

Revolutionized the beauty industry by connecting customers with beauty brands, businesses, and professional services across Pakistan.

Gallery

Event Moments

Call for Partnerships

Let's Build the Future Together

WECON partners with government, international organizations, corporates, and development agencies to scale women's entrepreneurship.

UNESCO UNDP British Council Karandaaz HEC Pakistan NIC Islamabad World Bank Jazz

Become a Partner →

WECON’18