Organization · Venture Capital

Invest2Innovate (i2i)

Invest2Innovate (i2i) is a dual-entity organization based in Pakistan that supports early-stage startups through investment, mentorship, and community infrastructure. It operates i2i Ventures, Pakistan's first female-founded institutional VC fund, focusing on technology startups.

Venture CapitalFunderCommunityEvent hostPublisher

Overview

What Invest2Innovate (i2i) does

What Invest2Innovate (i2i) is

Invest2Innovate (i2i) is a dual-entity organization based in Pakistan that supports early-stage startups through investment, mentorship, and community infrastructure. It operates i2i Ventures, Pakistan's first female-founded institutional VC fund, focusing on technology startups.

How it participates in the startup ecosystem

The current public profile supports funder and community and event host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.

Operational profile

Organization status and context

Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.

Operational status
Active
Organization type
Venture Capital
Founded
Founded in 2011
Approximate age
About 15 years
Structured capabilities
Funder · Community · Event host · Publisher
Last reviewed
April 25, 2026

Official channels

Find Invest2Innovate (i2i) elsewhere

Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.

Capability profile

Invest2Innovate (i2i) as a funder

Investment thesis

Invest2Innovate (i2i) focuses on building resilient entrepreneurship ecosystems in growth markets, particularly in Pakistan. It emphasizes capital mobilization, gender lens investing, and supporting founders addressing large market opportunities.

Focus narrative

i2i invests in and supports pre-seed and seed-stage startups, providing hands-on support to help them grow. The organization emphasizes capital mobilization, gender lens investing, AI and future skills, climate action, and responsible business practices. It aims to strengthen entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem enablers across various sectors.

Value beyond capital

i2i adds value beyond capital by providing fundraising support, strategic guidance through its operator bench, talent sourcing and optimization, and user insights via its research arm, i2i Insights.

Terms and economics

Typical check
$250,000–$500,000

Availability

Currently deploying
Yes

Portfolio and track record

Recorded portfolio count
13

Portfolio context

Notable portfolio companies include: EZ Wage: Provides earned wage access and payroll financing solutions. Sehat Kahani: A telemedicine platform connecting out-of-work women doctors with patients. Hakeem: An Islamic digital nano-financing platform offering Shariah-compliant financial solutions. Other companies include CreditBook, Abhi, Safepay, and Truck It In.

Capability profile

Invest2Innovate (i2i) as a community

Community overview

Invest2Innovate (i2i) is an organization founded in 2011, based in Pakistan. It focuses on building resilient entrepreneurship ecosystems in growth markets, particularly in Pakistan, through initiatives that promote innovation, inclusion, and entrepreneurship. i2i operates as a dual-entity organization, comprising both ecosystem programs and an early-stage venture capital fund, i2i Ventures, which was launched in 2019.

Community focus

i2i invests in and supports pre-seed and seed-stage startups, providing hands-on support to help them grow. The organization emphasizes capital mobilization, gender lens investing, AI and future skills, climate action, and responsible business practices. It aims to strengthen entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem enablers across various sectors.

Member value

Members benefit from various programs including accelerators, coaching for women-led businesses, and investment readiness training. i2i provides access to a network of mentors, partners, and investors, along with insights and reports on the entrepreneurial landscape in Pakistan.

Membership

Pricing models
free

Format and cadence

Modality
online
Schedule
rolling-admissions
Commitment
light

Availability

Membership state
Accepting

Audience and fit

Audience
Founders · Investors · Builders
Benefits
mentorship and network-access
Program types
accelerator and community
Selection criteria
open and application
Stages
Pre-seed · Seed
Regions
Asia

Community activity

Events and activity

i2i organizes various events, including the Innovate Lab, a hands-on workshop for early-stage founders to embed AI into their businesses, and Build Up 2025, an annual conference for founders to reflect, learn, and connect.

Notable members

Notable team members include Kalsoom Lakhani, the founder and co-founder of i2i Ventures, and Misbah Naqvi, co-founder and GP. The organization has been recognized for its pioneering role in gender-lens investing in Pakistan.

Capability profile

Invest2Innovate (i2i) as an event host

Event focus

Invest2Innovate (i2i) focuses on building resilient entrepreneurship ecosystems in growth markets, particularly in Pakistan. The organization promotes innovation, inclusion, and entrepreneurship through various initiatives, investing in and supporting pre-seed and seed-stage startups with hands-on support to help them grow.

Format narrative

i2i organizes various events including workshops and an annual conference aimed at founders and entrepreneurs. These events are designed to foster learning, networking, and growth opportunities within the startup ecosystem.

Participant value

i2i provides significant value to its portfolio companies through fundraising support, strategic guidance, and access to a network of mentors and investors, enhancing their growth potential in the market.

Format and cadence

Event types
workshop and conference
Recurrence
annual
Modality
in-person
Startups can present
Yes

Availability

Registration state
Not currently accepting

Audience and fit

Selection criteria
open
Stages
Pre-seed · Seed
Audience
Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
Regions
Asia · South Asia · Pk

Speakers and past editions

Speakers

Notable speakers include Kalsoom Lakhani, Founder and Co-founder of i2i Ventures, and other prominent figures from the startup and investment community.

Past editions

Past events have included the Innovate Lab workshop for early-stage founders and the Build Up 2025 annual conference, which provided a platform for founders to reflect, learn, and connect.

Capability profile

Invest2Innovate (i2i) as a publisher

Editorial focus

Invest2Innovate (i2i) focuses on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Pakistan. The organization supports pre-seed and seed-stage startups by providing hands-on assistance and capital mobilization. i2i emphasizes gender lens investing, AI and future skills, climate action, and responsible business practices to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Audience value

Invest2Innovate provides significant value to its portfolio companies by offering not just capital, but also strategic support, mentorship, and access to a network of investors and industry experts. This holistic approach helps startups refine their business models and connect with essential resources.

Format and cadence

Content formats
blog and research-report
Primary platform
invest2innovate.com
Cadence
quarterly

Availability

Guest pitch state
Not currently accepting

Audience and focus

Audience
Founders · Investors

Flagship work and coverage

Flagship properties

i2i offers several key programs including i2iScale, a 12-week online accelerator for post-revenue startups, and the WeRaise Program, which coaches women-led businesses to enhance their fundraising readiness. Additionally, i2i publishes Startup Ecosystem Reports and Quarterly Updates that analyze funding trends in Pakistan.

Notable coverage

i2i has been recognized in various media outlets for its pioneering role in gender-lens investing in Pakistan. Notable coverage includes features in MENABytes, PropPakistani, and ImpactAlpha, highlighting its impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.

Common questions

What to know about Invest2Innovate (i2i)

Upseed classifies Invest2Innovate (i2i) under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, community, event host, and publisher capabilities.

Next step

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Source and update disclosure

Know what this page is based on

Source basis

Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.

Last reviewed

April 25, 2026

Known limits

Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.

Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.