Disrupt Asia continues to fuel next wave of successful tech startups

While innovation and talent is witnessed in the tech startup landscape in the country, the lack of opportunity for founders to thrive can be problematic. 

The advent of Disrupt Asia, Sri Lanka's premier start-up conference and innovation festival which began in 2016 and annually since then, has provided an invaluable platform for investment and networking opportunities bringing the best of the community together. 

Throughout 2016, 2017 and 2018, successive Disrupt Asia conferences and exhibitions have brought together some of the best in the ecosystem. Participants are immersed in an ideal environment, surrounded by smart, passionate people with the best tools and approaches propelling start-ups to take giant leaps toward creating a business, becoming a founder, and connecting with the right people and resources.

Importantly Disrupt Asia has over the years succeeded in identifying and attracting the right speakers and panelists from overseas, especially individuals who are influential in their eco system. The conferences’ biggest accomplishment has been when a company is able to expand into a different market as a result of meaningful interactions such as meeting an investor, a potential client, or being introduced to a panelist.

IgniterSpace, which takes children on a journey towards innovation helping them become creators of technology for the future, has been a remarkable beneficiary of Disrupt Asia. 

IgniterSpace Co-Founder and CEO Jehan Wijesinghe says: “Disrupt Asia, is the premier startup convention in Sri Lanka and without doubt the best platform for founders to collaborate and open up opportunities. With IgniterSpace, I was able to meet several people who helped us grow into international markets. In 2017, we met a US tech entrepreneur who gave us access to the US Embassy in the country and we now manage all their education related grants in the American Center. Subsequently last year, we met Nirjhor Rahaman, CEO of BD Angels, Bangladesh’s first angel investment network who helped IgniterSpace with their first international foray in to the country. I firmly believe Disrupt Asia will continue to unlock great opportunities for IgniterSpace as well as other tech startups.”

Similarly for visitors to the country, Disrupt Asia offers an ideal platform not only to mentor but ability to network with fellow panelists and speakers whilst mingling with entrepreneurs. 

For Nirjhor Rahman, participating in Disrupt Asia 2018 changed his outlook. He notes: “I was lucky enough to attend the 2018 event and be part of a panel of local and international start-up professionals to discuss how startup entrepreneurs can maximise lessons from failure. Because of DA, I was able to create invaluable linkages with the start-up community in Sri Lanka, and am pursuing multiple avenues for collaboration between Lankan start-ups and entrepreneurs and Bangladesh. For anyone interested in Sri Lanka or working in start-ups regionally, Disrupt Asia is a not-to-be missed flagship event.”

Taking start-ups and innovators to the next level, Disrupt Asia also presents an ideal stage for investors to explore and connect with opportunities in the local tech innovation eco system. 

Techstars India Managing Director Ray Newal, participating in Disrupt Asia 2018 as a speaker on venture investing, says: “Disrupt Asia not only shone a spotlight on unique startups in Sri Lanka but it also introduced Techstars to a talented and growing community of Sri Lankan investors, and corporate supporters. We were extremely fortunate to have connected with oDoc founder Heshan Fernando on a panel at Disrupt Asia, starting a relationship which resulted in a historic first. oDoc is the first Sri Lankan team to be accepted into a Techstars accelerator.”

Through Disrupt Asia and the ensuing meaningful networking and interactions, participants gain access to worldwide investors and the opportunity to grow their global footprint.  oDoc Co-Founder and CEO Heshan Fernando says: “Participating in Disrupt Asia changed the course of our company. At the event, we connected with Ray Newal, the MD of Techstars India. It was this chance encounter that led us to be selected for the Techstars Bangalore Program. The Techstars Program was a perfect gateway to India. It helped us formulate our strategy and provided us with the network required to start and grow our India operation.”

As winners of last year’s battle Start-up Battle at Disrupt Asia, Park and Pay CEO Mariya Kaed notes, “Being crowned the winner was an important milestone in our startup journey. This helped us gain access to some interesting opportunities. In addition to recognition at Sri Lanka’s premier start-up conference, we were also given the opportunity to represent the nation at the Oslo Innovation Week 2018 in Norway.”

On visiting Oslo she added, “Participating at this global platform, we were able to pitch to multiple investors, gain valuable exposure and equally important feedback. We were constantly networking in order to potentially build partnerships, most importantly, to secure funding and accelerate our business. We also met with Europe’s leading smart parking service provider, EasyPark, and exchanged ideas and views on smart parking and what support is required in order to execute a smooth and reliable parking solution in a city like Colombo. We are working on executing what we learnt to focus on improving the process. Park and Pay also received a free valuation of the business from PwC, which has been a useful tool when speaking to investors.”

As organisers of Disrupt Asia, the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) note that the event achieves different layers of success based on the importance of being inspired. While success in monetary terms is also significant the achievements attained through this event is but a plethora of tangible and intangible effects. This year Disrupt Asia 2019 takes stage with discussions about disruptive technologies featuring top international and local experts in entrepreneurship, policy, innovation, and startups.

For further information and details on tickets can be obtained via https://www.facebook.com/disruptasia/ or website https://www.disruptasia.today/.