Pakistan’s Centre of Excellence in Gaming and Animation (CEGA) has officially opened registrations for its second incubation cohort, offering early-stage teams and established ventures in gaming, animation, and creative technology a six-month programme with no equity taken in return. The joint initiative was established by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, Ignite National Technology Fund, and HUM Network Limited, and is designed to accelerate local startups working in gaming, animation, and creative technology by providing structured support that takes participants from ideation through to market validation and demonstration readiness.
Participants in the second cohort get direct access to modern infrastructure, technical laboratories, and dedicated co-working spaces, and will be mentored throughout the cycle by industry professionals. Founders will also integrate with an expert network tied to Ignite, Tech Destination Pakistan, and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom. The zero-equity model is a deliberate design choice that removes the financial barrier to participation, allowing early-stage founders to access institutional support without giving up a stake in their ventures at a stage when valuations are still forming and the cost of dilution is highest.
Several prominent partners have joined the second cohort to strengthen the digital content and interactive technology ecosystem, including Section Soft, Ideofuzion, Sablo Studio, the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship, Techsol Space, and AGON Esports. The broader CEGA hub has set an ambitious target of training up to 10,000 individuals and incubating 200 startups over the coming years, directly aligned with national goals for expanding Pakistan’s creative economy. Founders interested in applying can register through the official CEGA portal at cega.com.pk/signup, where they will be required to submit their details, startup name, and product focus for evaluation and matching with tailored support services.
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