Islamabad , 18 August 2026(Kamran Raja): The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, in collaboration with the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP), hosted the SEE Global Economic – Entrepreneurship & Investment Readiness Forum at the U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan Auditorium, bringing together around 150 entrepreneurs, startup founders, ORIC incubation centre directors, academics, investors and innovation ecosystem leaders.
The forum aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s entrepreneurship ecosystem by connecting universities, businesses, researchers and emerging entrepreneurs with international investment opportunities and expertise.
The event commenced with welcome remarks by Ms. Heidi Smith, Director of Public Engagement at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, followed by an Entrepreneurship and Trade Spotlight highlighting U.S.-Pakistan commercial engagement and resources available to Pakistani companies seeking to enter and expand in the U.S. market.
Professor Iqrar, Chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), formally opened the forum and underscored the importance of promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and industry linkages within Pakistan’s higher education sector.
The forum also featured a series of TED-style talks. Prof. Dr. Sumaira Rehman, Rector of Superior University, spoke on university-industry collaboration and entrepreneurship, highlighting the role of universities in empowering young people, nurturing innovation and transforming ideas into sustainable economic opportunities.
Air Vice Marshal Dr. Rizwan Riaz, Pro Rector of NUST, shared insights on research commercialization and the importance of translating academic research and innovation into market-oriented solutions.
A key highlight of the forum was a virtual keynote by Scott Fox, an American entrepreneur and angel investor, who provided practical guidance on U.S. market entry, investment readiness, corporate governance, transparency and access to international investor networks.
Speaking at the event, Heidi Smith highlighted the strength of the U.S. entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem and emphasized the significant potential of Pakistani entrepreneurs and researchers.
She said that connecting Pakistani entrepreneurs with American investors and U.S. innovation ecosystems could enhance their global competitiveness, create new partnerships and contribute to Pakistan’s emerging innovation economy.
The forum concluded with a networking reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy, providing entrepreneurs, academics, investors and ecosystem partners an opportunity to exchange ideas and explore avenues for future collaboration.
The SEE Global Economic Forum highlighted the growing importance of university-industry partnerships, research commercialization and international investment linkages in creating a stronger and more globally competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan.