Invest2Innovate (i2i) hosted the inaugural Build Up 2025, a one-day founder conference aimed at addressing the operational, financial, and mental challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Pakistan. The event gathered founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem experts to provide actionable insights for navigating the country’s complex business environment.
Pakistan’s startup ecosystem operates under significant economic uncertainty, limited access to capital, and operational constraints. Entrepreneurs frequently face financial pressure, bottlenecks in scaling operations, and personal burnout, highlighting the need for practical guidance beyond conventional networking events. Build Up 2025 sought to address these gaps through focused sessions on capital raising, operational systems, and founder mental wellbeing.
Financial sessions explored fundraising strategies, alternative funding options, and investor readiness. Operational workshops covered process optimization, leadership development, team alignment, and automation. Mental wellness sessions emphasized resilience, stress management, and techniques for maintaining focus in high-pressure environments.
Notable discussions included a fireside chat with Asif Makhani, Co-Founder of Infino AI, and Sarah Munir, CEO of i2i, who shared insights on scaling businesses in challenging markets. The financial panel, The Art of Selling, offered strategies for pitching to customers, partners, and investors. Investors from Fatima Gobi Ventures, i2i Ventures, YouPitchLive, Sturgeon Capital, Endeavor Pakistan, and several angel investors conducted office hours, providing targeted advice to founders.
Over 25 speakers contributed to the program, sharing real-world strategies for sustaining and growing startups. Participants highlighted the value of structured guidance on financial planning, operational efficiency, and mental health, areas often overlooked in traditional startup events.
Following positive feedback, i2i announced plans to expand Build Up into an annual conference across multiple cities, with the objective of creating safe and structured learning spaces for founders nationwide.