4 min read
The National Incubation Center (NIC) Peshawar successfully hosted the KP Investor Summit in conjunction with the graduation ceremony of Cohort 12 startups, marking a milestone in the region’s entrepreneurial journey. The event served as a dynamic platform where investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers came together to celebrate innovation and explore new opportunities for collaboration and investment.
The graduating founders of Cohort 12 showcased their ventures, highlighting solutions in diverse sectors including healthtech, agritech, edtech, e-commerce, and renewable energy. Their presentations marked the culmination of months of intensive mentorship, training, and business development support received at NIC Peshawar. The summit enabled these startups to engage directly with angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate partners, and government representatives, bridging the gap between promising ideas and sustainable growth.
A highlight of the event was the panel discussion, “Beyond the Cheque – Demystifying the Journey from Pitch to Partnership.” Panelists included Rohma Labib (Accelerate Prosperity), Adnan Faisal (ScaleX), Saif Ali (Dastak Ventures), and Nayab Babar (Pakistan Startup Fund), with Maria Carolina Romero moderating. The dialogue explored how investor-founder relationships can go beyond financial transactions to create long-term partnerships, focusing on mentorship, market access, and sustainable scaling.
In his address, Shafique ur Rehman, CEO of Rehman Medical Institute and member of NIC Peshawar’s Strategic Council, praised the dedication of the founders and emphasized the crucial role of NIC Peshawar’s strategic partners in nurturing innovation. He also announced the launch of a fully operational Makers Lab at NIC Peshawar, a cutting-edge facility designed to give startups hands-on access to tools and resources for prototyping, testing, and product development.
Asim Ishaq Khan, Project Director NIC Peshawar, reflected on the dual significance of the day:
“This event not only marks the graduation of Cohort 12 but also demonstrates the strength of KP’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our founders have proven their ability to transform ideas into viable businesses, and through the Investor Summit, we are ensuring they gain access to the right partners, resources, and markets to scale further.”
Delivering the keynote address, Bilal Abbasi, GM Ignite, reaffirmed Ignite’s continued commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. He highlighted that initiatives such as the Pakistan Startup Fund and BridgeStart are equipping startups with the financial and strategic support needed to scale globally and compete on international stages.
The event was attended by a wide array of stakeholders, including investors, academia, development sector representatives, and corporate leaders. The vibrant networking sessions created avenues for potential partnerships, collaborations, and investments, further fueling KP’s growing entrepreneurial momentum.
By hosting the KP Investor Summit alongside the Cohort 12 graduation, NIC Peshawar reinforced its role as a catalyst for innovation and investment in the region. Over the years, the incubation center has become a cornerstone of KP’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting hundreds of founders who are not only creating successful businesses but also generating employment, driving economic growth, and positioning Pakistan as a hub for innovation.
The KP Investor Summit and Cohort 12 graduation concluded on a celebratory note, with participating startups inspired and equipped to take their ventures to the next level, both locally and internationally.
About NIC Peshawar
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 8 billion in revenue. It provides startups with mentorship, access to funding, industry linkages, and global exposure to foster innovation-driven growth.
About Ignite
Ignite – National Technology Fund, under the Ministry of IT & Telecom, supports startups and cutting-edge projects leveraging technologies such as AI, Big Data, Cloud Infrastructure, AR/VR, Cybersecurity, and Robotics. Ignite plays a central role in building Pakistan’s knowledge economy through its national incubation network.
