Edison – CIC : Pakistan–Boston Global Accelerator
An acceleration program that takes Pakistan’s B2B tech companies to US buyers, US investors, and the Boston innovation ecosystem. 12 weeks of virtual preparation, then 4 weeks in person at CIC Cambridge in Kendall Square.
Cohort 1 · Applications close November 21, 2026, 11:59 PM PKT
One Program. Four Months. One Bridge to Boston.
startups per cohort
Virtual Acceleration
US Immersion in
Cambridge, MA
partners: Edison in Pakistan,
CIC in Boston
What’s covered: Edison Innovation Services covers the program, round-trip flights, and accommodation in Cambridge. Founders cover meals outside program sessions and visa costs.
Two Partners. One Bridge.
CIC Catalyst
Program design and US delivery
Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) was founded in 1999 in Kendall Square, Cambridge, and builds innovation ecosystems in cities around the world. CIC Catalyst is its strategic advisory and programming arm, connecting founders to buyers, investors, and mentors across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Edison Innovation Services
Local partner in Pakistan
Edison works with government leadership and knows Pakistan’s business and innovation landscape. Edison identifies promising founders and companies across Pakistan and leads scouting and recruitment for each cohort.
Three Outcomes Shape Every Session.
Tested US Market Fit
Real conversations with US buyers, and a clear view of what has to change in your product, pricing, and pitch.
A Network in Boston
Mentors, corporates, investors, and the Pakistani-American founder community that started in Boston with OPEN in 1998.
Investor Readiness for the US
A US deck, USD unit economics, and direct feedback from US investors on what it takes to raise.
Meetings That Move Your US Business Forward.
Four weeks at CIC Cambridge, built around the conversations that matter: buyers, investors, and the Boston ecosystem.
Buyer Meetings
One-on-one meetings with US buyers, procurement teams, or channel partners, selected in advance for your sector and stage.
US investor session
A closed-door, Shark Tank–style session where you pitch to US investors and get direct, unfiltered feedback.
Showcase Night
Present your company at the Venture Café Thursday Gathering in Cambridge, one of the largest weekly innovation gatherings in Boston.
Weeks in the
ecosystem
Mentors, founder panels, curated tours, and daily coworking at CIC Cambridge alongside startups, corporates, and investors.
Cohort 1 is open. Applications close November 21, 2026.
Built for Revenue-Earning B2B Companies.
Seed to Series A, paying customers at home (US$250K+ ARR preferred), Pakistan-based (engineering, operations, or headquarters), and a clear idea of who you would sell to in the US.
We are looking for companies in:
Not this cohort: consumer e-commerce, quick commerce, ride-hailing, local logistics, and IT-services firms without their own product.
Prepare Online. Then Land in Boston
12 weeks · Virtual · Jan 4 – Apr 4, 2027
Virtual Acceleration
Goal: Arrive US-ready: a tested US value proposition, USD pricing, a target account list, and an investor-ready pitch.
About 31 hours of total commitment, including group sessions, 1:1 sessions, and individual business scaling assignments.
4 weeks · In person · Apr 12 – May 16, 2027
US Immersion
Goal: Turn preparation into US conversations: buyer meetings, investor feedback, and relationships across the Boston ecosystem.
CIC Cambridge, Kendall Square
During the 4 weeks and after
Showcase Night and Beyond
Goal: Put your company in front of the Boston ecosystem and leave with relationships to follow up on.
Venture Café Cambridge
Applications Open
Oct 19 – Nov 21, 2026 · 11:59 PM PKT
Review and Selection
Nov 22 – Dec 15, 2026
May include a short video interview with Edison and CIC Catalyst experts.
Virtual Program
Jan 4 – Apr 4, 2027
In person at CIC Cambridge
Apr 12 – May 16, 2027
From Founders Who Landed With CIC.
Founders from CIC Catalyst acceleration programs on what changed for them in Boston.
“We were able to solidify our business model and action plan thanks to advice from our mentor, who is a professional with keen understanding of the pharmaceutical business and local trends. This kind of support is the key to overcoming the big hurdles facing startups as they work to
expand internationally with limited financial resources.”
Teppei Konishi
CEO, Biomy, Inc. and GAH participant
“Throughout the program, I made significant progress toward my goals. I pivoted my business idea, refining my target customers and strategy.”
Yu Han
STUDENT, J-STARX PARTICIPANT
“This is my first experience as an entrepreneur in the US, and initially I wasn’t familiar with startup culture here. Mentoring and business matching through CIC has helped me in many ways. For example, I’ve successfully onboarded a fractional CFO, learned about hiring processes, and been
introduced to legal and IP specialists. Networking with other companies at CIC has also been valuable.”
Yuichi Hikichi
CEO, Tuning Fork Bio · GAH participant and CIC coworking client
What to Expect in the Virtual Acceleration
Twelve weeks of live sessions with CIC Catalyst experts, built around your company. You keep running your business from Pakistan while you get it ready for US buyers and investors. Live sessions are timed to work for both Pakistan and Boston.
Weeks 1–4
Foundations
Weeks 5–8
Go-to-Market
Weeks 9–12
Investor and Arrival Readiness
Workshops & Lectures
Practical sessions led by CIC Catalyst experts and practitioners.
Mentoring
One-on-one time with mentors who know your sector and the US market.
Founder Panels
Founders who have built US businesses share what worked and what did not.
Assignments & Check-Ins
Short assignments that build your US plan, reviewed in readiness check-ins.
Time commitment: about 31 hours over 12 weeks, including assignments. Indicative schedule; the final agenda is shared at onboarding.
Before You Apply
Book Your US Visa Interview Now.
That was the wait for a B1/B2 appointment in Islamabad in June 2026. Visas must be in hand by March 12, 2027, so start before you are selected. Selected founders receive a participation invitation letter confirming their place, program dates, and location.
Source: VisaWaits, June 18, 2026. Check current times at pk.usembassy.gov.
What the Selection Panel Looks For
A panel of Edison and CIC Catalyst experts scores every application out of 100. Shortlisted founders then interview with the panel, and the final score weighs the application and the interview equally.
US market fit and target
20
Traction and revenue
20
Product and technology
15
Founder and team
15
US readiness
15
Boston and cohort fit
10
Communication in English
5
How Selection Works
Apply Online
Oct 19 – Nov 21
Founders must submit company details, traction, US target, and a 2-minute pitch video in English.
Review and Selection
Nov 22 – Dec 15
Review may include a short video interview with Edison and CIC Catalyst experts, with decisions by December 19.
Meet the Team Behind the Program
Edison and CIC Catalyst experts select the cohort together, and the CIC Catalyst team runs the
program from Boston.
Edison Innovation Services
Imtiaz H. Gilani
Edison Innovation Services
A civil engineer, academic leader, and public servant. He engineered mass-transit megaprojects in New York before serving twelve years as Vice-Chancellor of UET Peshawar, where he founded new campuses, research centres, and the university’s Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization. A former provincial minister and acting Chairman of Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission.
M. Saleem Ahmad Ranjha
Edison Innovation Services
Four decades of experience across government, nonprofit, corporate, technology, education, and agriculture. Founding Director of Akhuwat, the world’s largest interest-free microfinance institution, with work spanning the Benazir Income Support Programme, Alkhidmat, Fatima Group, Digiskills, and Avanceon. Board member and advisor to the Hashoo Group and Fountain House.
CIC Catalyst
Alejandra Winters
Director, International Soft Landing
Alejandra leads Catalyst’s global market entry and soft-landing programs, supporting startups as they expand into new regions.
With over a decade of experience, she has helped more than 200 startups from Latin America, Asia, and Europe scale into the U.S., Japan, and other international markets. She also leads Catalyst’s International Programs, developing industry-focused cohorts that drive measurable growth.
A trained engineer and design thinker, Alejandra brings deep expertise in internationalization, ecosystem building, and cross-cultural innovation.
namika maki
Head of Japan Desk
Namika Maki is the Head of CIC Japan Desk, where she leads the team in Japan Desk’s mission, which is to connect Japanese innovators with each other, the CIC network, and other important resources so they can fix the world through innovations. Since joining Japan Desk as Program Manager in November 2024, she launched a student accelerator program and has developed new events and initiatives for 2025.
Prior to joining Japan Desk, she worked in the higher education space supporting student accelerator programs at the Harvard Kennedy School, and course and faculty support at the Harvard Business School. Namika also previously worked for many years with Japanese clients as a travel consultant and Japanese speaking guide at a receptive tour operator, bringing deep cross-cultural communication experience to her work. Namika graduated with a BS in Psychology from Suffolk University.
Sayumi Suzuki
Senior Program Manager, Japan Desk
Sayumi Suzuki is a Senior Program Manager for the Japan Desk at CIC Cambridge. Sayumi has a BA in Japanese language and Culture from University of Tsukuba, and MA in Linguistics from Syracuse University. She has worked as an IT consultant at Hitachi, and Japanese lecturer at several universities in the U.S and Japan including University of Nevada, and International Christian University in Tokyo. She is also a developer of two innovative e-learning materials for learners of Japanese.
Since joining CIC, she has led multiple acceleration programs as a program manager, including JETRO GSAP, JETRO GAH, and Hiroshima Launchpad.
Yumi Jane Kaplan
Program Manager, Japan Desk
Yumi Jane Kaplan has been a Project Associate for CIC Japan Desk since 2024. With a background in education and cross-cultural communication, Yumi brings a passion for fostering connections and supporting international collaboration. As Project Associate, Yumi has supported the planning and operation of several startup acceleration programs, leveraging her expertise in curriculum development and relationship-building to enhance participant experience. Yumi holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Washington and a BEd from Tamagawa University.
Zack Metz
Project Associate, Japan Desk
Zachary Metz is a Project Associate for the CIC Japan Desk, a team he’s been a part of since 2022. He has a BA in Japanese History and Anthropology from Hampshire College. Prior to joining the Japan Desk, Zachary worked as a business language consultant and trainer for Japanese managers and researchers working within international teams. As a Project Associate, Zachary actively supports and manages operations of startup acceleration programs, runs several community events, and assists with communications and systems for the Japan Desk team.
Amelia Devine
Analyst, Japan Desk
Amelia Devine is an Administrative Coordinator and Analyst for the Japan Desk at CIC Cambridge, overseeing administrative operations and finance. She received her MA in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and her BA in Japanese Studies from Gettysburg College. Amelia previously worked in international education, including three years as an Assistant Language Teacher in Shiga Prefecture on the JET Programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Curious how the program works in practice? Learn more about how the Pakistan–Boston Global Accelerator operates as an innovation, strategy, and venture-building partner.
A global accelerator for Pakistan-based B2B tech companies: 12 weeks of virtual preparation with CIC Catalyst, then 4 weeks at CIC Cambridge in Kendall Square with buyer meetings, a US investor session, and a Showcase Night at Venture Café.
Edison Innovation Services covers the program, round-trip flights, and accommodation in Cambridge. Founders cover meals outside program sessions and visa costs.
No. The program is equity-free. Neither CIC Catalyst nor Edison takes equity.
One founder or C-level executive attends everything, including all 4 weeks in Cambridge. A second C-level decision-maker may join the virtual sessions.
About 31 hours across the 12 weeks of virtual acceleration, including assignments. In Cambridge, about 20–24 hours of structured sessions over 4 weeks, plus full coworking access.
No. Many founders set up a US entity after the program, once they know it is worth it.
Yes, a B1/B2 visa, in hand by March 12, 2027. You can apply with a booked visa interview. Waits in Pakistan are long, so book your interview now.
Your seat carries over to the next cohort.
Ready to sell in the US? Apply to Cohort 1
by November 21.
15 seats. Start your visa appointment today so you are ready if selected.