Over 20 promising tech startups graduated from the National Incubation Center (NIC) Peshawar this week as part of its 12th cohort. The graduation coincided with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Investor Summit, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.
The event served as a bridge between innovation and investment. Held at NIC Peshawar’s modern facility, it connected tech startups with angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate executives, and policymakers.
The graduating cohort showcased solutions in healthtech, agritech, edtech, e-commerce, and renewable energy. Their pitches reflected months of structured incubation, including mentorship, business model refinement, and market readiness training.
A major highlight of the summit was investor–startup matchmaking. Founders had the opportunity to pitch directly to potential backers, aiming to secure funding and partnerships for growth.
The panel discussion, “Beyond the Cheque – Demystifying the Journey from Pitch to Partnership,” drew attention. Industry experts including Rohma Labib, Adnan Faisal, Saif Ali, and Nayab Babar shared insights on building long-term investor-founder relationships. They emphasized that collaboration should extend beyond funding to include mentorship, scaling support, and market access.
Shafique ur Rehman, CEO of Rehman Medical Institute and NIC Peshawar council member, praised the graduating entrepreneurs. He also announced the launch of the Makers Lab, a cutting-edge facility to help tech startups prototype, test, and develop products.
Asim Ishaq Khan, Project Director of NIC Peshawar, said the event reflects KP’s thriving startup ecosystem. He noted that each cohort builds not only businesses but also the future of the region.
Delivering the keynote, Ignite’s General Manager Bilal Abbasi reaffirmed government support for startups. He highlighted initiatives such as the Pakistan Startup Fund and BridgeStart, aimed at helping Pakistani entrepreneurs scale globally.
The summit also provided networking opportunities, fostering collaboration and opening new avenues for innovation-driven growth.
In other news read more about: Best Software Engineering Universities In Pakistan
