Islamabad
The Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs and Innovators Summit, Expo and Awards 2026 (YES 2026) will be held in Islamabad from October 13 to 15 under the theme, “Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for a Sustainable Future.”
The mega event is being organised in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission Task Force on Business Incubation Centres, Bahria University and other leading organisations and stakeholders working for entrepreneurship, innovation, youth empowerment and stronger academia-industry linkages.
YES 2026 will bring together young CEOs, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, industry leaders, academicians, Business Incubation Centres, Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, policymakers and other stakeholders from across Pakistan.
The event aims to provide a national platform for promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, research commercialisation, industry-academia collaboration and youth empowerment.
The three-day programme will feature a National Young CEOs Summit, keynote addresses, CEO conversations, panel discussions and policy dialogues focusing on emerging opportunities and challenges.
An Innovation and Startup Expo will showcase university innovations, startups, student ventures, Business Incubation Centre and ORIC initiatives, research commercialisation projects and industry solutions.
The programme will also include the Bahria University Startup Pitch Competition, providing promising startups and student ventures an opportunity to present their business ideas and innovations.
Entrepreneurial workshops will offer practical capacity-building in key areas, including artificial intelligence for business, sales and negotiation, financial management, investment readiness, future skills and intellectual property.
Sessions focusing on artificial intelligence, digital business, women entrepreneurship and emerging opportunities will also form part of the programme.
The YES 2026 Recognition and Excellence Awards will acknowledge outstanding young CEOs, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, students and alumni for their contributions and achievements.
Higher Education Institutions, Business Incubation Centres and ORICs have been encouraged to facilitate the participation of relevant stakeholders in the event.
The deadline for participation by Higher Education Institutions has been set for September 20, 2026.
The organisers said YES 2026 is expected to provide an important platform for connecting young entrepreneurs and innovators with investors, industry leaders, policymakers and academic institutions while strengthening Pakistan’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.
