Joint workshop for inventors from Lankan stakeholders
View(s):The Lankan Angel Network, together with its strategic partners, the Sri Lanka Inventors’ Commission and the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, is hosting the inaugural “Future Build” seminar for inventors on March 18 at the BMICH.
The workshop is being held to identify what it takes to turn an idea, or a concept, into a viable company, including giving the prospective audience a sense of what angel investors, or investors in start-up businesses, are looking for.
“Further, it will also familiarise attendees with multiple levels of the funding life cycle available to them, from investments for prototypes to angel funding and even the Initial Public Offering (IPO) to give them a roadmap of the typical funding issues they will encounter in the future. But, most important of all, the workshop also offers valuable, real world guidance, in the form of a mock pitch by an entrepreneur, along with a related question and answer session with potential investors, to give budding entrepreneurs an idea of what it takes to successfully sell an idea,” the organisers said.
Jeevan Gnanam, CEO/ Director, St.Anthony’s Industries Group, said Anton is ‘proud’ to be one of the main sponsors for this workshop. “As one of the pioneers in local industry we look forward to encouraging entrepreneurs as that is the foundation on which our founder A.Y.S Gnanam built the group,” he said.
Eric Wikramanayake, Chairman of the Lankan Angel Network, said “The Lankan Angel Network has seen a very strong and keen interest from angel investors and entrepreneurs alike in Sri Lanka. Unlike in the past, support for the startup ecosystem is growing rapidly in the country and there has never been a better time to start a new venture in Sri Lanka. The Lankan Angel Network offers not just funding but more importantly mentoring and support for entrepreneurs to build a successful venture. We are proud to partner with the Sri Lankan Inventors Commission and the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology to host this event.”
Deepal Sooriyaarachchi, Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission, said that by partnering the Lankan Angel Network, the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission intends to facilitate the introduction of inventors to investors, and help them be better business people.
Harin De S. Wijeyeratne, the Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, noted that this provides an opportunity to unearth young science and engineering talent in the country.