i2i joins hands with National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies to help startups
On a LinkedIn post, i2i said 'this partnership is built on shared goals: expanding access, building stronger support systems, and ensuring founders at all stages get the right resources at the right time.'
The initiative will include startup referrals and pipeline sharing. NICAT - a high-tech engineering and ICT business incubator and accelerator funded by the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom - will refer high-growth graduates to i2i's acceleration programs, while i2i will connect early-stage startups to NICAT for incubation.
Pakistan's 'first operator-led angel investing network' launched
Select NICAT startups will be connected to i2i's angel investor network for funding and mentorship while both organizations will refer mentors and experts from their networks to support startups in each other's programs.
Meanwhile, NICAT will contribute to i2i's Deal Flow Tracker and support onboarding of startups to the Investor Founder Discovery Platform - a verified digital platform that connects startups with investors 'through curated discovery and matchmaking.'
The two will also co-host events including networking sessions and spaces for ecosystem connection and collaboration.
Pakistan's startups face capital crunch, need urgent reforms: i2i report
i2i announced it will offer its knowledge products to NICAT startups, while NICAT will provide access to public sector opportunities and resources.
'We're looking forward to building stronger bridges between our communities and supporting founders more intentionally, together,' i2i said in its post.
What is NICAT?
According to its website, NICAT is dedicated to helping startups and early-stage companies 'turn their cutting-edge ideas into reality and grow their business.'
Based in Ralwapindi, it claims to provide access to state-of-the-art R&D facilities, mentorship, networking opportunities, manufacturing partners, investors and funding, and office space.
'Not only that, we also provide matched industrial and professional linkages that can help companies to connect with key players and advance quickly,' it said, adding that 'with our help, these companies can develop their technology and bring it to market, creating new products and services that change the world.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
08-07-2025
- Business Recorder
Funding rebounds, ecosystem still fragile
Recent signs of revival appeared in the second quarter of 2025 for the startup ecosystem in Pakistan, as per the latest quarterly updates by Invest2Innovate (i2i). Marking the strongest quarter in nearly three years, startups in Pakistan attracted $60.2 million, surpassing the entire 2024 funding total. Once again, fintech dominated the funding landscape, attracting $52 million, or 86.3 percent of the quarter's total announced funding and 50 percent of the total of six deals. This sector continues to lead the charge as it did in 2024, bolstered by a large unbanked population, demand for digital infrastructure, and regulatory encouragement. And while fintech stole the spotlight, healthtech emerged as a standout sector in second quarter. The trend towards fewer but larger deals indicates investors' growing inclination toward safer, growth-stage ventures. Investors remain particularly attracted to sectors that enjoy regulatory backing, demonstrate clear market potential, and offer scalable solutions. Yet, this concentration of capital poses a challenge for early-stage startups and first-time founders, who may find it difficult to secure funding unless they operate within popular sectors or possess robust networks. And despite a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, youthful talent, and rapid digital adoption, startups have faced severe financing shortfalls, with venture funding plunging dramatically from $355 million in 2022 to just $43 million in 2024—a staggering 88 percent decline, according to the "Closing the Funding Gap for Startups in Pakistan" policy brief Telenor, Invest2Innovate, and STZA. I2i also highlight that underlying structural barriers continue to loom large. Seed-stage investments remain scarce, policy ambiguities persist, and funding distribution is uneven concentrated in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Complex regulatory environments, rigid taxation policies, and limited financing options exacerbate these challenges. Regulatory frameworks lack clarity and consistency, with fragmented provincial tax regimes causing high compliance costs and discouraging local and foreign investors. Traditional banking practices fail to accommodate modern startup-friendly financial instruments further constraining capital availability. International comparisons offer valuable insights. According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, Pakistan dropped two positions globally, ranking 76th and falling behind regional peers like India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Lahore and Karachi saw significant declines, highlighting Pakistan's struggles in maintaining competitive momentum. Learning from nations like India, which successfully prioritized venture capital availability, angel investments, and government-backed funding programs, Pakistan must undertake urgent reforms. Targeted tax incentives for angel investors and venture capitalists, extended tax holidays, and formal recognition of alternative financing instruments like convertible notes are crucial. Additionally, regulatory sandboxes for micro-VCs and angel funds could stimulate domestic capital pools. The policy brief "Closing the Funding Gap" proposes concrete solutions: introducing streamlined regulatory frameworks tailored specifically for startups, simplifying tax definitions, digitizing foreign investment procedures, and significantly improving intellectual property protections. Lowering GEM board entry requirements and clarifying IPO processes can foster liquidity and viable exit pathways. Ultimately, sustained progress demands coordinated reforms across regulatory, financial, tax, and institutional domains, supported by macroeconomic stability and political predictability. If successfully executed, these reforms can transform Pakistan's startup ecosystem, attracting substantial domestic and international capital, boosting innovation, and driving long-term economic growth.
Business Recorder
01-07-2025
- Business Recorder
i2i joins hands with National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies to help startups
Invest2Innovate (i2i) announced on Tuesday it has signed an MoU with the National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies (NICAT) to 'deepen collaboration and better serve Pakistan's startup ecosystem.' On a LinkedIn post, i2i said 'this partnership is built on shared goals: expanding access, building stronger support systems, and ensuring founders at all stages get the right resources at the right time.' The initiative will include startup referrals and pipeline sharing. NICAT - a high-tech engineering and ICT business incubator and accelerator funded by the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom - will refer high-growth graduates to i2i's acceleration programs, while i2i will connect early-stage startups to NICAT for incubation. Pakistan's 'first operator-led angel investing network' launched Select NICAT startups will be connected to i2i's angel investor network for funding and mentorship while both organizations will refer mentors and experts from their networks to support startups in each other's programs. Meanwhile, NICAT will contribute to i2i's Deal Flow Tracker and support onboarding of startups to the Investor Founder Discovery Platform - a verified digital platform that connects startups with investors 'through curated discovery and matchmaking.' The two will also co-host events including networking sessions and spaces for ecosystem connection and collaboration. Pakistan's startups face capital crunch, need urgent reforms: i2i report i2i announced it will offer its knowledge products to NICAT startups, while NICAT will provide access to public sector opportunities and resources. 'We're looking forward to building stronger bridges between our communities and supporting founders more intentionally, together,' i2i said in its post. What is NICAT? According to its website, NICAT is dedicated to helping startups and early-stage companies 'turn their cutting-edge ideas into reality and grow their business.' Based in Ralwapindi, it claims to provide access to state-of-the-art R&D facilities, mentorship, networking opportunities, manufacturing partners, investors and funding, and office space. 'Not only that, we also provide matched industrial and professional linkages that can help companies to connect with key players and advance quickly,' it said, adding that 'with our help, these companies can develop their technology and bring it to market, creating new products and services that change the world.'
Business Recorder
23-06-2025
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's ‘first operator-led angel investing network' launched
A private, invite-only angel investing network called Dastak has been launched by entrepreneur Saif Ali, designed to support high-growth Pakistani startups across tech, direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, and services businesses. According to a statement, Dastak brings together seasoned operators, corporate executives, and investors from Pakistan and the diaspora to back 'ambitious founders with more than just capital.' Pakistan's startups face capital crunch, need urgent reforms: i2i report 'I'm not here to chase unicorns. I'm here to help a generation of Pakistanis build companies that put food on the table, pride in the product, and power back in the hands of young people,' Ali told Business Recorder. 'Pakistan will continue to face economic headwinds in the years ahead. The only way our youth can create real change is by building new companies, hundreds or even thousands of them,' he said, adding: 'this can only happen if we mobilize both local capital and local experience.' As per the release announcing the statement, Dastak is built on a premise that has talent but needs 'deeper backing' and it wants to curate a network of strategic angels, thereby simplifying the path to early-stage investment. The network is sector-agnostic with a focus on tech and SaaS; direct-to-consumer brands and modern services - margin-rich services businesses which it said are often overlooked by traditional venture capital investors. Rather than functioning as a fund or platform, Dastak says it facilitates direct investments. Startups gain exposure to operator-angels who have built and scaled companies themselves, while angels get access to vetted deals, legal coordination, and a streamlined investment process. The current group includes founders, C-level operators, and investment professionals spanning fintech, logistics, consumer technology, SaaS, and IT services, both within Pakistan and the diaspora abroad. While individual names are not being disclosed publicly at this stage, access to the network is currently limited to those who bring deep operational experience alongside capital. To ensure regulatory clarity, Dastak says it does not offer investment advice, manage funds, or guarantee returns. It facilitates access to vetted startup opportunities and provides advisory support where helpful. Investment decisions are made solely by individual angels. The initiative's aim is to lowers the barrier to angel investing while helping startups benefit from the mentorship and expertise of experienced professionals.
