Open to opportunities

sobia bilal

@sobiabilal1

Message

Project management leader driving university-industry commercialization and startup growth.

Pakistan

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek a leadership role in project or program management where I can build industry-academia partnerships, scale startups, and commercialize research within a collaborative, growth-focused organization.

I am a project management professional with over nine years leading complex, multidisciplinary initiatives across universities, startups, and industry. I hold an MBA (Finance) and am PMP certified, with a track record of recovering troubled projects and delivering strategic outcomes.

As a founder and CEO of a strategic consultancy and senior business development leader at innovation parks, I guide startups through funding, help SMEs scale, and build institutional innovation capacity. I leverage an extensive network across government, industry, academia, and investors to translate vision into execution.

In university ORIC and accelerator roles, I developed commercialization strategies, negotiated MoUs with international partners, and managed stakeholder ecosystems—mentors, investors, faculty, and students—to advance research-to-market efforts and incubator programs.

I seek roles where I can apply program design, partnership development, and commercialization expertise to grow innovation ecosystems, support startup scaling, and build lasting industry-academia linkages.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Founder & CEO

Current

Katalysts Consultancy

Nov 2025 - Present (2 months)

Launched a strategic consulting practice serving Pakistan's entrepreneurial ecosystem, guiding startups on fundraising, helping SMEs scale operations, and building innovation capacity in universities through tailored training programs.

Fundraising SME University Commercialization Stakeholder Management Strategic Partnerships

Current

Sr Business Development Manager

Current

National Aerospace Science & Technology Park

Jan 2022 - Present (4 years)

Identified revenue-generating initiatives, developed business plans and policies, and connected private-sector partners with NASTP/PAF divisions to advance collaborative projects and commercialization.

Business Development Market Analysis Partnership Management Business Planning Project evaluation

Current

Volunteer Consultant

Current

IdeaGist

Apr 2020 - Present (5 years 9 months)

Headed mentor recruitment and engagement for the PM's Kamyab Jawan Startup Pakistan program and oversaw microfranchise projects from establishment to commercialization.

Program Management Microfranchise Development Stakeholder Engagement Commercialization

Head of BD & Sales

InnoVista Pvt Ltd

Dec 2024 - Oct 2025 (10 months)

Led market research and go-to-market strategy, established partnerships and alliances, and coordinated cross-functional teams to align business development with product and finance objectives.

Market Research Partnerships Sales Strategy performance reporting Cross Functional Collaboration Business Development

Startup Accelerator Manager

TiE Islamabad Chapter

Apr 2021 - Jan 2022 (9 months)

Managed accelerator programs, stakeholder relations with mentors and investors, designed curricula, monitored KPIs, and coordinated mentors, trainers and startups to ensure program quality and outcomes.

Accelerator Management Stakeholder Management Program Design KPIs Curriculum Development Event Management

Associate Director

Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization

Aug 2017 - Mar 2021 (3 years 7 months)

Built industry linkages, reviewed university technologies for commercial and patent potential, assisted researchers with business plans, and coordinated international collaborations and visits to advance commercialization.

Business Planning Partnership Development Collaboration Marketing Coordination

Program Manager

Student Startup Business Centre

Sep 2015 - Jun 2017 (1 year 9 months)

Led the SSBC to promote student entrepreneurship at CIIT, managing mentorship, startup funding allocation, and program operations to increase student-led ventures and practical learning outcomes.

Program Management entrepreneurship Event Management

Project Manager

National Science & Technology Park

Mar 2014 - Aug 2015 (1 year 5 months)

Managed planning and implementation activities for establishing NSTP, coordinating stakeholders from university, government and industry to build a technology incubation and commercialization ecosystem.

Project Management Ecosystem Development Vendor Management

Project Coordinator

Corporate Advisory Council

Sep 2010 - Mar 2014 (3 years 6 months)

Established industry linkages and MoUs for joint R&D initiatives, coordinated sector committees, and supported collaborative projects between NUST and domestic and international industry partners.

Stakeholder Engagement Sector Coordination

Business/Project Management Instructor

SZABIST & Greenwich University

Aug 2008 - Jun 2010 (1 year 10 months)

Delivered business and project management instruction as visiting faculty, designing curricula and teaching undergraduate students to build practical management skills.

Teaching Curriculum Development Project Management Business Management Instructional Design