In this episode of Be Anomalous, I’m joined by Kalsoom Lakhani, founder, ecosystem builder, and GP at i2i Ventures — a trailblazing fund investing in Pakistani founders and the South Asian diaspora. Kalsoom brings warmth, clarity, and honesty to a conversation that spans war zones, work visas, motherhood, and the power of seeing potential where others see risk.
We talk about what it means to build in the in-between, to straddle cultures, pivot paths, and return to yourself again and again. Kalsoom shares her journey from growing up between Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Dubai, to studying politics, to accidentally becoming a founder and later a VC, with a decade of building under her belt before she ever wrote a check.
This episode is about rethinking success, listening to your instincts, and what it means to build a career and a life without a map.
If you’ve ever felt like the only one in the room or wondered whether you're allowed to change paths, this conversation is your reminder that the detours are the path.
🎧 Listen to the episode
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What You’ll Learn
Why Kalsoom believes curiosity and humility are the most underrated founder traits
Her transition from political science to conflict resolution to defense contracting (yes, really)
How her current affairs blog helped reclaim narrative power for Pakistani creators
What it took to build Pakistan’s first startup accelerator
The origin story of i2i Ventures and why she needed a co-founder this time
Fundraising as a first-time, female, solo GP in emerging markets
The brutal truth about rejection, and how she built a thick skin (and kept her heart)
How motherhood unraveled her confidence and how she rebuilt it
Favorite Quote
“Work hard. Be kind. And amazing things will happen.”
— Conan O’Brien
Favorite Book
📖 Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
In This Episode, We Cover:
(00:00) Who is Kalsoom Lakhani at her core?
(04:00) Growing up across Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Dubai
(07:00) Cultural complexity, third-culture identity, and belonging
(09:00) Wanting to study film, pivoting to politics
(11:00) The unexpected pull of conflict resolution
(13:00) Her first job in defense contracting and feeling disillusioned
(15:00) Launching a blog to reclaim Pakistan’s narrative
(18:00) Writing as a form of activism and discovery
(20:00) Starting Invest2Innovate to serve overlooked entrepreneurs
(23:00) Lessons from building Pakistan’s first accelerator
(25:00) Why she co-founded i2i Ventures (and didn’t want to go solo again)
(27:00) Working with her co-founder and building trust
(30:00) What Kalsoom looks for in founders and co-founder dynamics
(32:00) Early-stage VC in emerging markets: the chaos and the potential
(35:00) How she handles rejection and stays resilient
(38:00) Postpartum identity crisis and returning to herself
(41:00) Preserving the self beyond motherhood
(44:00) Advice for women juggling ambition and care
(46:00) What success looks like now
(48:00) Her favorite quote and book
Where to Find Kalsoom Lakhani
Referenced in This Episode
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Traction by Gino Wickman
Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
i2i Ventures
Invest2Innovate
IFC (International Finance Corporation)
Startup accelerators in Pakistan
