The National Incubation Center (NIC) Peshawar, in collaboration with Invest2Innovate (i2i), has successfully concluded Invest Lab, a transformative three-day investor education workshop that marks a major milestone in strengthening Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In light of the Pakistan Startup Ecosystem Report (PSER) 2024, which highlighted a 42% decline in startup funding and underscored the critical need to mobilize local capital, Invest Lab was designed to directly address this funding gap. By equipping local investors with the knowledge and frameworks essential for early-stage investing, the initiative positions KP to foster homegrown innovation through domestic capital deployment.
The workshop was led by Maria Carolina Romero, an international early-stage investment expert, and Mubariz Siddiqui, a leading legal authority on venture financing in Pakistan. Their 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.
Among the most significant outcomes of Invest Lab:
Formation of the Angel Syndicate: For the first time, local investors from KP have united to form a syndicate, allowing them to pool capital, share deal flow, and jointly assess investment opportunities—creating smarter, more collaborative pathways for funding startups in the region.
Launch of the First Business Angel Network: NIC Peshawar and i2i have initiated KP’s first Business Angel Network to 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 of the NIC Peshawar Strategic Council, who termed it “a small but significant step in the right direction.” He emphasized that “building a strong investor community in KP is essential for fueling the next generation of startups, and today marks the beginning of that journey.”
Maria Carolina Romero, who led the training, remarked: “The creation of an angel syndicate and a dedicated network ensures that the startup ecosystem will be strengthened, enabling startups to get the right funding to grow and scale faster with the right support behind them.”
Asim Ishaq Khan, Project Director at NIC Peshawar, emphasized the broader vision: “Invest Lab is a strategic leap forward in mobilizing local capital for local innovation. By enabling the formation of the Angel Syndicate and launching the Business Angel Network, we are building an investment ecosystem that believes in KP’s entrepreneurial future.”
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.”
The success of Invest Lab reflects NIC Peshawar’s growing focus on investment readiness—not only for startups but for the wider ecosystem. By strengthening the connection between local investors and innovative ventures, NIC Peshawar is setting a new precedent for scalable, sustainable growth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
