Invest2Innovate (i2i) has just launched applications for its 8th Accelerator Cycle last week and is looking for quickly growing startups from across Pakistan that require support. The applications for the Accelerator Program were launched on August 28th, 2019 and will remain open till September 11th, 2019 at invest2innovate.com.
The i2i accelerator program is an annual four-month intensive business Bootcamp, that takes place over 6 weekends in Murree, Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. Since 2012, i2i has accelerated 41 startups in Pakistan, which have gone on to raise over $6M in the capital and created 1500+ jobs in the country. 58% of these startups have been female-led and 90% of the funds raised have also been raised by their female-led companies.
Muhammad Mustafa, CEO of Mauqa Online said:
What mauqa.online is right now would not have been possible without i2i’s help, without their guidance, especially without their mentorship. We are truly grateful. If we have been able to impact anybody’s life it’s actually because of them.
As part of the flagship accelerator program, startups are provided with bespoke mentorship sessions, access to i2i’s rich investor network and i2i’s evolving curriculum content, catering to the changing needs and trends of the Pakistani entrepreneurial ecosystem.
This year, i2i announced some exciting new additions to their program, including carefully designed, context-specific scaling and investment readiness modules, allowing startups to grow and attract investment the right way. Along with a dedicated CFO for financials, startups will now also be assigned a relevant Research Fellows for insights and industry-specific market research.
As of this year, i2i startups also have the possibility of receiving funding from i2i’s new Venture Capital Fund- i2i Ventures. i2i Ventures has been set up by i2i’s Founder Kalsoom Lakhani and i2i Ventures Managing Partner Misbah Naqvi to close the soaring seed capital gap in Pakistan’s startup space. Although i2i Ventures is not just limited to investing in the i2i accelerator, it has proven to be their main and strongest pipeline.
TPL E-Ventures CEO, Ali Samir Osman said
From my experience of working with startups and evaluating investable opportunities, I have concluded that the i2i accelerator is one of the best programs in Pakistan! It provides founders with a structured approach to learning and mentoring – the impact of which is visible when conducting due diligence with founders.
Applying startups should meet the following criteria:
- Operational for a minimum of 2 years.
- Should have a for-profit model.
- Have at least 1 full-time founder.
- They should be creating a positive social or environmental impact.
- Have shown traction with their model.
All startups meeting these criteria are encouraged to apply for the accelerator program here.
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