DYS2015: IT professionals share success stories to inspire

Wide range of topics discussed on day 2 of summit.

PESHAWAR:

On the second day of the Digital Youth Summit 2015, there was a wide range of discussions such as online security, cybercrimes, Android development, startups and ways to make money.

There were also talks on methods to pick the right ideas, designing products and marketing them. In addition, participants also spoke about challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Above all, however, there were some very inspirational stories that were presented to young techies.

Master control

One such tale was of Yasser Khattak, the founder of Den. He talked about his startup which he launched at the age of just 15. Four years on, he has managed to raise around £500,000 he shared with students during his session with Fatima Rizwan.

Khattak produced a home automation system called Den. “It is the smartest and most efficient way to control your home and business,” Khattak said. Now based in London, the IT genius’ idea has been widely applauded.

The idea was to control appliances and lights remotely and in real time through the use of a smartphone app. Such a facility has its obvious uses in a country going through a never-ending energy crisis and suffering huge losses because appliances are either left on or on standby.

Khattak said most of the youth who want to take the leap of becoming entrepreneurs were wasting time looking for funding. He told aspiring entrepreneurs and students gathered at the venue that both local and multinational companies would pick or sponsor their idea if it was a good one.

When he was asked on how to pick the right idea by a student, Khattak said, “Just think about the problems around you and their solutions. You pick a bright idea and funding can never be an issue.”

“The key to success is to believe in yourself. People who have made a name in the field are all humans and have started the same way as us,” Khattak asserted.

A number of students from different universities and a handful of entrepreneurs were in attendance on the second day of DYS2015. The two halls of the venue were filled with keen visitors and there was a rush at every session.

A large number of people gathered to hear the session conducted by Asad Iqbal of Hiwaas Software Development on Android software.

There was also a session on ‘culture meets technology’. This interactive exchange explained the use of technology to promote culture and explore the potential of creative industries such as music, drama, arts and entertainment.

Keynote

Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA) President and founder of The Nest I/O, Jehan Ara gave the second keynote speech. Her topic was ‘entrepreneurial landscapes in Pakistan’.

She cited examples of bright entrepreneurs from Pakistan who now had established companies.

Minister for Education Atif Khan and IT minister Shahram Khan Tarakai conducted an interactive session with the youth to bring them up to speed with the government’s efforts. “We know future progress and prosperity is not possible without IT; therefore, we have allotted Rs7 billion towards it for the next three years,” said Tarakai. “We are setting up IT labs in schools and 171 will be established at government educational institutes around the province.” Khan also spoke on the occasion and had a startling revelation to make.

“When I asked students during a visit to a school in Mardan how many of them had seen a computer, only six out of 90 raised their hands.” Khan said students were being taught about computers in books, but few used them practically.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2015.