Islamabad: The Investor Connect Event (ICE25), organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, concluded today with resounding success, providing a significant platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals to come together. Held in Islamabad, the event aimed at fostering collaborations, exploring investment opportunities, and propelling the growth of Pakistan’s startup ecosystem.
The event showcased over 50 promising startups and provided them with an opportunity to present their innovative ideas to a diverse panel of investors, industry experts, and policymakers. One of the key highlights of ICE25 was the Investor Pitches, where five high-potential startups had the chance to pitch their groundbreaking solutions, sparking valuable discussions around scalability, market potential, and investment viability.
In his opening address, Dr. Sohail Naqvi, renowned academician and former Executive Director of HEC, emphasized the importance of universities in driving societal progress through innovation. He stated that universities should function as engines of growth and focus on innovation-led technology to address regional needs. Dr. Naqvi further highlighted the importance of applying research findings to real-world problems, ensuring that knowledge contributes to both economic and technological advancements.
Chairman HEC, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, welcomed the distinguished guests and participants, expressing HEC’s ongoing commitment to promoting a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation within Pakistan’s higher education sector. He outlined the vision of HEC in creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that fosters creativity, collaboration, and sustainable growth, with the hope that ICE25 would serve as a pivotal milestone in this transformative shift.
The event also featured insightful remarks by Mr. Najy Benhassine, World Bank’s Country Director for Pakistan, who underscored the need for effective collaboration among stakeholders to fully harness the potential for innovation and long-term economic growth. He pointed out that sustainable growth is not only driven by existing industries but by emerging startups that introduce new ideas and solutions to the market.
Dr. Naveed Ahmed Sherwani, CEO of RapidSilicon, delivered a keynote address on “Pakistan’s Startup Landscape – Opportunities and Challenges,” highlighting key investment trends and comparing Pakistan’s startup ecosystem to global benchmarks. The event further facilitated two engaging panel discussions, one on “Incubators as Catalysts for Startup Success: Beyond Seed Funding” and the other on “Deep Tech and Beyond: Investing in the Next Wave of Disruptive Innovations,” focusing on the role of incubators and deep tech investments.
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A highlight of the day was the Fireside Chat titled “Are You Investable for a VC?”, offering valuable insights from prominent venture capitalists on how startups can make themselves more attractive to investors.
The event concluded with the Investor Connect: One-on-One Office Hours, where startups had direct, personalized discussions with investors, strengthening networking opportunities and potential investment deals.
ICE25 has proved to be a landmark event in connecting innovators with investors, fostering growth in Pakistan’s entrepreneurial landscape, and setting the stage for the country’s continued innovation-driven progress.
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