PESHAWAR: The National Incubation Center (NIC) Peshawar, funded by Ignite (MOITT) in collaboration with Invest2Innovate (i2i), has concluded Invest Lab, a transformative three-day investor education workshop that marks a milestone in strengthening Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A press release said that designed to address the scarcity of early-stage funding in the region, Invest Lab introduced 22 participants from diverse professional backgrounds to the fundamentals of angel investing and laid the foundation for two critical outcomes that will drive long-term impact: the formation of KP’s first Angel Syndicate and the launch of its first dedicated Business Angel Network.
The workshop was led by Maria Carolina Romero, an international early-stage investment expert, and Mubariz Siddiqui, a legal authority on venture financing in Pakistan.The sessions provided deep dives into startup evaluation, deal structuring, term sheets, due diligence, and portfolio strategies suited for emerging markets.
Guest insights were delivered by Misbah Naqvi, Co-Founder & GP at i2i Ventures, who shared actionable perspectives on Pakistan’s venture landscape, and Shehryar Hydri, Managing Partner at Endeavor Pakistan who emphasized the strategic importance of local investor syndication amidst global funding contractions in the panel.
There were significant outcomes of Invest Lab. The local investors from KP united to form a syndicate, allowing them to pool capital, share deal flow, and jointly assess investment opportunities.
The first Business Angel Network will institutionalize investor engagement. The network will host quarterly deal-sharing sessions, facilitate peer-led due diligence, and offer continuous learning opportunities to further professionalize angel investing in the province.
The announcement of the formation of the Angel Syndicate and Business Angel Network was made by Illum Khan, COO of Evamp & Saanga and Chairman NIC Peshawar Strategic Council.
Asim Ishaq Khan, VP LMKT & Director NIC Peshawar, emphasized the broader vision: “Invest Lab is a strategic leap forward in mobilizing local capital for local innovation.
Sarah Munir, CEO of Invest2Innovate (i2i), added: “This collaboration marks accelerated growth for startups in KP. With structures like the Angel Syndicate and Business Angel Network now in place, startups will have greater access to the resources and mentorship they need to compete on a global stage.” Established in 2017, the National Incubation Center Peshawar is the leading startup incubator in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Supported by Ignite and operated by a consortium led by LMKR/LMKT, NIC Peshawar has incubated over 200 startups, created more than 14,000 jobs, and generated over PKR 9.4 billion in revenue.
LMKT is a technology company, specializing in smart cities, agri-tech, clean technology, and tech incubation.Invest2Innovate (i2i) supports entrepreneurs in growth markets through targeted training, investor connections, and ecosystem development.Ignite - National Technology Fund, under the Ministry of IT & Telecom, supports startups and cutting-edge projects.
