Meet the 5 startups shortlisted for Invest2Innovate’s 4th batch of acceleration

Invest2Innovate has announced its 4th batch of startups or its annual i2i Accelerator. Through this forum aspiring entrepreneurs will be groomed under the guidance of the best people in the industry, get valuable advice and guidance that will shape them for future challenges. The accelarator will also connect the selected startups to the resources and support they need to grow their businesses.

The i2i Accelerator is a four-month program that runs from September to January each year in Pakistan. Over the course of four months, selected entrepreneurs receive access to virtual support to grow their businesses, and convene for six in-person weekends in either Karachi or Lahore, with targeted sessions led by mentors on topics ranging from branding to customer acquisition to financials and operations.

Invest2Innovate’s accelerator program is competitive and very difficult to get into. They have an acceptance rate of only 3% and this year only 5 startups were selected from a total of 169 submissions. They include 2 startups from Karachi, 2 from Islamabad and 1 from Peshawar. An interesting fact here: 60% of these startups have been founded or co-founded by women entrepreneurs.

The selected startups include: doctHERs, Emperor’s Bazaar, The Dot and the Line, Ezpz Sehat and Smart Security Solutions. docHERs is a healthcare marketplace that connects female doctors to millions of underserved patients in real-time. Emperor’s Bazaar is a crafts based e-commerce marketplace curating authentic handcrafts from all over Pakistan. The Dot and the Line is an after school academic enrichment company that shifts the focus away from rote learning and the tuition culture in Pakistan whilst providing a safety net for those who fall within the cracks of the traditional schooling system. Ezpz is an online system that aims to bridge the gap between doctors and patients by providing reliable information of doctors practising all over Pakistan. Smart Security Solutions is an internet of things (IOT) company that creates firmware, hardware, and software products designed to maximize car security and safety.

Invest2Innovate was founded in 2011. Headed by Kalsoom Lakhani, the energetic team’s main goal is to support entrepreneurs. They have a huge community of mentors, investors and partners that helps lift new startups from the ground.

Source: Invest2Innovate