2nd Life 2.0
Expanding waste innovation across industries
Overview
Participants Received Support In:
Building on the first cycle, 2nd Life Pakistan 2.0 expanded beyond plastics to include textiles, electronics, construction, agriculture, food waste, paper and other circular solutions.
Delivered by Unilever Pakistan and SEED Ventures in partnership with UNDP Pakistan, the programme supported both idea-stage and growth-stage startups through acceleration, mentorship, expert-led learning and financial awards.
The Acceleration Programme
Thirty startups, including 15 idea-stage and 15 growth-stage ventures, were selected for a four-week acceleration programme.
Business-model development
Impact strategy
Financial management
Investment readiness
Circular-economy principles
Legal structuring and compliance
Storytelling and pitch development
Weekly mentorship was tailored to the needs and development stage of each startup.
Green Talk Series
The acceleration experience included two Green Talk sessions:
Scaling Impact in Emerging Markets, led by Faraz Khan
Circularity: Cutting Through the Clutter, led by Afia Salam
These sessions connected participants with practical insights from sustainability, entrepreneurship and circular-economy experts.
Jury Day
Jury Day took place on 29 April 2025 at the Unilever Pakistan Head Office in Karachi.
Twelve shortlisted startups presented their solutions before separate Idea Stage and Growth Stage jury panels. The startups were assessed on circularity, innovation, feasibility, impact and scalability.
Growth Stage finalists
Atfaal — confirm spelling
EcoBricks
Pak Bioenergy
Swift Hygiene Industry
TrashIt
Zarkhad Organics Pvt. Ltd.
Idea Stage finalists
Ad2Bag
Eco-HydroTech
FiltResha
FunFungi
Metalyze
MycieBlue
Winners
Track Position Startup Award
Growth Stage 1st Pak Bioenergy PKR 1,000,000
Growth Stage 2nd EcoBricks PKR 750,000
Growth Stage 3rd TrashIt PKR 500,000
Idea Stage 1st FiltResha PKR 500,000
Idea Stage 2nd Metalyze PKR 250,000
Idea Stage 3rd MycieBlue PKR 125,000
The Grand Finale
The Grand Finale was held on 30 April 2025 at Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi. It brought together startups, programme partners, investors, academics and sustainability practitioners for final pitches, discussions and the announcement of six winners.
Future Goals
With an aspirational goal to transform Pakistan’s green landscape over the next five years, 2nd Life Pakistan aims to inspire change and drive sustainability across sectors. The initiative envisions a future where waste management practices are not only improved but also embedded into the nation’s economic fabric, creating a lasting impact.
