Invest2Innovate (i2i) is proud to launch the Investor Founder Discovery Platform (IFDP) – a first-of-its-kind data intelligence platform designed to bridge the gap between investors and startup founders in Pakistan’s rapidly growing entrepreneurial landscape. As a core component of the i2i Ecosystem, IFDP aims to centralize data by maintaining verified profiles to facilitate meaningful introductions. The i2i Ecosystem, launched in January 2024 with support from Visa Foundation, is committed to addressing critical challenges in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, with a strong focus on boosting women’s entrepreneurship.
IFDP aims to address key barriers facing the startup landscape in Pakistan. Data in the ecosystem remains fragmented and decentralized, making it difficult for investors to discover innovative startups and for founders to secure the necessary capital backing. The absence of a reliable platform to connect these stakeholders further limits deal flow because incomplete and scattered information creates significant gaps. IFDP is designed to solve this problem by offering a centralized and reliable space for discovery, connection, and insight-sharing.
The platform’s verification process ensures that both investors and founders have access to accurate and up-to-date information. By registering and submitting their data, users benefit from a thorough review process that guarantees the quality and reliability of profiles. Verified profiles, marked with a distinctive green tick, enhance trust and credibility, making it easier for both parties to engage with confidence.
During the launch event held at Daftarkhwan | Vanguard in Islamabad, attendees experienced live demo sessions of the platform, alongside interactive testing booths, panel discussions, and keynotes. The event provided valuable insights into the broader i2i Ecosystem, including its other components like i2iScale and i2iCommunity. Stakeholders from Pakistan’s startup ecosystem came together to explore the importance of community building and address the challenges of data fragmentation and lack of access to quality resources.
Amna Masood, Head of Insights at Invest2Innovate, explained the reasoning behind IFDP’s timely introduction to the market, stating, “With IFDP, we are trying to solve the problem of data fragmentation by creating a centralized information hub for the local entrepreneurial ecosystem”.
Sarah Munir, CEO of Invest2Innovate, offered her remarks on the platform’s significance, explaining how it will transform the way investors and founders collaborate within the ecosystem. “The vision for IFDP is informed by a real data scarcity problem that founders and investors in Pakistan are up against – and we aim to solve for that by providing accurate, accessible data points that can systemize and guide capital flow.”
Graham Macmillan, President of Visa Foundation, further emphasized the Foundation’s support for initiatives like IFDP that foster innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging markets, “Strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems is critical to Visa Foundation’s strategy to uplift everyone, everywhere, by promoting inclusive entrepreneurship globally. What i2i is demonstrating through the launch of IFDP is that leveraging the power of data and partnerships can create better enabling environments for startups and investors in Pakistan, ultimately fostering more inclusive economies for all.”
The launch of IFDP marks an important milestone in Pakistan’s entrepreneurial landscape. By centralizing data and facilitating reliable connections between investors and founders, IFDP has the potential to reshape the future of the startup ecosystem. As the platform continues to grow, Invest2Innovate remains committed to supporting the innovation and collaboration necessary for driving meaningful change.
For more information on the Investor Founder Discovery Platform and the i2i Ecosystem, please visit Invest2Innovate’s website: invest2innovate.com.
