The Pakistan Investor Summit 2025 – Summer Edition, held at NIC Karachi, successfully concluded after an engaging five-day run. The event brought together more than 100 startups and over 400 participants, including venture capitalists, angel investors, regulators, industry experts, and international stakeholders.
Through a mix of pitch sessions, expert panels, investor workshops, and global collaborations, the summit provided an exceptional platform for startups to secure funding, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. This five-day initiative emerged as a pivotal moment for Pakistan’s startup ecosystem, delivering unmatched opportunities for growth, exposure, and connectivity.
Day 1: Pitch Fest & Alumni Impact
The summit opened with a high-energy Pitch Fest featuring a wide array of startups from diverse industries. A unique aspect of the kickoff was the inclusion of NIC Karachi alumni as judges—founders who have previously launched and scaled their own ventures and returned to support the next generation.
The judging panel included successful entrepreneurs such as Muhammad Ghayas Ahmedani (Zaaviaa Solutions), Anusha Shahid (autocore.io), Muhammad Furqan Karim Kidwai (ASF Tech Partners), Aurangzaib Alamgir (Porter Pakistan), Sidra Shakeel (Fortify), and Mirza Saad Baig (RAWTS). These seasoned founders offered constructive feedback and guidance, helping new startups refine their strategies and pitches.
Day 2: Investor Education & Capital Strategy
The second day focused on equipping investors with the tools and knowledge to make smarter investments. An exclusive workshop titled “Building Better Investment Strategies” was led by Muhammad Humair, COO of YB Holdings. Farhan Bashir Khan, CEO of Alpha Beta Core, delivered an insightful session on “Understanding Investor Risk Appetite & Return Expectations.”
The day featured two powerful panels: “The 3x Equation: Risk, Reward & Strategy,” moderated by Harris Jamali (Managing Partner, H.M. Associates), and “The Founders’ Panel,” which featured startup leaders like Kassim Shroff (Krave Mart), Abdul Mannan (Bykea), Sharmeen Khan (BeMe.global), and Laiba Amir (Closet). These sessions explored real-world fundraising challenges and strategies for scaling businesses. Additionally, the Investor Insights Panel, led by Sarwat Khan of Alpha Beta Core, offered vital perspectives on founder readiness, data-driven pitches, and socially impactful investing.
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Day 3: Demo Day
Early-stage startups took the spotlight on Demo Day, pitching their ventures to a room full of investors. These startups showcased strong product-market fit and business traction across sectors such as FinTech, edtech, SaaS, sustainability, consumer tech, and AI.
Prominent investors were present, including Abdul Sattar Jumani (Lucky Landmark Pvt. Ltd.), Muhammad Ali Taufeeq (Gobi Partners), and Kashaf Jamal (Fatima Gobi Ventures). Startups like Atfaal, Biomic, Blinq, Chaajao, Haprow, and She6 held impactful sessions, with many securing follow-up meetings shortly after their presentations.
Day 4: Google Cloud Collaboration
The fourth day introduced international collaboration and technological expertise through Google Cloud. Focusing on data, AI, and scalable cloud infrastructure, the day featured top speakers including Esna Ong (Regional Startup Success Manager, Google Cloud), Fannie Soubiele (Head of VC Business Development, Southeast Asia), Kathleen Chiu (Data & AI Specialist), and Osman Ahmed (Venture Partner, Accelerating Asia Ventures).
Salik Khan, Head of Incubation at NIC Karachi, led an engaging session on how data storytelling can build investor trust. Kathleen Chiu also introduced practical AI use cases and demonstrated Google Cloud’s Gemini platform, offering actionable strategies for startups.
Day 5: National Initiatives & Sustainable Growth
The final day marked significant national developments that reaffirmed NIC Karachi’s leadership role in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. Syed Azfar Hussain opened the day by announcing the regional launch of the Pakistan Startup Fund (PSF) and BridgeStart Pakistan—key initiatives led by Ignite.
Dr. Rabia Enam, Board Member at Ignite, and Nayab Babar, CIO and Project Director of PSF, presented comprehensive roadmaps and addressed critical questions from attendees.
Throughout the summit, NIC Karachi demonstrated its multifaceted role—not only as an incubator but also as a facilitator of innovation, a connector of capital, and a national enabler of economic development.
With representation from SECP, FPCCI, corporate giants, investment leaders, and international organizations, the Pakistan Investor Summit 2025 – Summer Edition delivered extraordinary value to founders and investors alike.
As Syed Azfar Hussain, Project Director of NIC Karachi, remarked:
“This summit is a movement and a bridge between founders and capital that’s shaping our economic future.”
Asim Ishaq Khan, VP at LMKT, added:
“We don’t just incubate startups—we co-create ecosystems.”
This landmark event firmly established NIC Karachi as Pakistan’s premier hub for entrepreneurial growth and venture development, underscoring the country’s increasing influence in the global innovation landscape.
