Top start-ups secure $160,000 in funding at First Capital Start-up event
View(s):The highly anticipated First Capital Start-up Nation by Hatch Demo Day lit up Colombo on October 1 as Sri Lanka’s brightest founders, investors, and ecosystem partners came together for a powerful evening of innovation, vision, and opportunity.
Hosted at Hatch’s flagship space, the event marked a defining milestone in the country’s start-up journey, showcasing the depth of local entrepreneurial talent and the collaborative strength of Sri Lanka’s innovation community, according to an official media release.
Winners.
Seven exceptional finalists pitched their ideas before a panel of local and international investors, with three start-ups emerging at the top, eligible for a combined US$ 160,000 in funding: TorchLabs – Dhevin De Silva, Seashore Gardens – Shawn Senerath and Shavendra Rajapakse, Docupath AI – Sheran Corera.
Each founder showcased how innovation and resilience continue to define Sri Lanka’s new-age entrepreneurs, connecting directly with investors and unlocking opportunities for collaboration and scale.
Reflecting on his experience, Dhevin De Silva of TorchLabs said: “It was great participating in First Capital Start-up Nation by Hatch. I got to meet a lot of founders, network with investors, it was a valuable experience. Everyone should join this programme in the future; it’s a great learning opportunity. To any young founder: get started now. You never know what’s on the next horizon.”
Speaking about Hatch’s journey, Jeevan Gnanam, Co-Founder of Hatch, stated, “Great ideas don’t happen in a single moment, they evolve through relentless questioning and refinement. What began in 2018 as a co-working space has become the central nervous system of Sri Lanka’s start-up ecosystem. With $2 million already secured from Draper, existing investors, and GrowValley, and new initiatives like Mesh, HLab, and Hatch Funds, we’re not just building spaces, we’re building an ecosystem that powers a Start-up Nation.”
He added: “Sri Lanka stands as a neutral bridge between East and West, a nimble testbed for South and Southeast Asia. With partners from nine countries here today, we’re proving that purpose and profit can grow together.” Dilshan Wirasekara, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Capital Holdings PLC stated “This initiative represents a significant milestone in strengthening Sri Lanka’s start-up ecosystem. The strong participation of over 100 founders and 50 global investors reflects the growing confidence in the country’s innovation potential. The discussions around policy, technology and investment frameworks will play an important role in shaping the next phase of entrepreneurial growth.”
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