Zindigi has completed the Campus Rounds 2026 of its Zindigi Prize initiative, with student entrepreneurs at six universities across Pakistan showcasing their startup ideas for a platform, funding and mentorship. The campus stage is the opening phase of the competition, and the teams that stood out are now moving forward as the contest continues.
What happened?
The campus rounds were held at FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences Islamabad Campus, the National University of Technology, Foundation University Islamabad, Lahore Garrison University, FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences Peshawar Campus, and the Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Organisers celebrated the talent and energy shown by the participating teams across the capital, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Key details:
- Zindigi Prize is a year-long entrepreneurship programme run by Zindigi, the digital banking brand of JS Bank, that gives student entrepreneurs a platform, funding and mentorship to turn ambitious ideas into high-impact startups.
- The competition follows a three-stage path: campus rounds at participating universities, followed by regional rounds and a final national round.
- The campus rounds covered institutions in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, showing the geographic spread the initiative aims to achieve.
- Teams that succeed at the campus stage move forward through the competition, with further opportunities to refine their ideas, receive guidance and pitch to wider audiences.
What it means for people in Pakistan:
For students with a startup idea, competitions like Zindigi Prize offer an early chance to present before a panel, receive feedback and compete for funding and mentorship, without needing connections or capital to start. For Pakistan’s wider startup ecosystem, campus rounds at universities across several provinces help surface founders and ideas from beyond the usual big-city hubs, which is where the next generation of local businesses and jobs can come from.
