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ICTA Senior Manager Startup Ecosystem Development Nevindaree Premarathne
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The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) recently announced that it recognises Hatch for emerging as winner of the ‘Best Co-Working Space’ category at the Global Startup Awards 2021. In addition, ICTA Senior Manager Startup Ecosystem Development Nevindaree Premarathne emerged winner of the ‘Ecosystem Hero of the Year’ category and NIFTRON won the ‘Best Newcomer’ category from the SAARC Region.
The Global Startup Awards 2021, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 16-17 November, is the world’s largest independent startup ecosystem competition, recognising the best startups, individuals, VCs, co-working spaces, accelerators, and incubator programs from all over the world. The Global Startup Awards seeks to find, publicly recognise, and connect dynamic startups on different verticals and maturity levels, investors, and influential founders, working closely with hundreds of local partners and connecting the shapers of the future from all around the world.
Hatch, a Sri Lankan co-working space, startup incubator, and accelerator, was awarded the Best Co-Working Space globally. It is the first time a Sri Lankan or a South Asian organisation has secured a win in this category, marking a momentous milestone for Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem.
Premarathne has been instrumental in driving projects such as ‘Spiralation Incubator,’ ‘Disrupt Asia Exhibition and Innovation Festival’ and ‘StartupSL Platform’ to help nurture and develop the startup ecosystem in Sri Lanka. Her passion and dedication to building startups in Sri Lanka has brought great recognition to the organisation, country, and industry. She has contributed immensely to the startup ecosystem of Sri Lanka while driving change to create a better future for entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.
NIFTRON is a thriving startup specialising in providing ‘blockchain as a service’ and is an alumni of the Spiralation Incubator. NIFTRON also emerged winners in the National Finals of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) 2021.
ICTA is the apex ICT institution of the Government mandated to drive digital transformation with a vision to make Sri Lanka a digitally inclusive nation. In line with the Digital Economy Strategy, ICTA develops, supports, and helps nurture the startup ecosystem of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka received this recognition among 20,000 applicants competing globally from 122 countries across 11 regions. This recognition is a timely reflection of South Asia’s startup ecosystem’s evolution, phenomenal growth, and capacity. Furthermore, it showcases the world that the emerging startup ecosystem in Sri Lanka is advanced, powerful and fosters the next generation of startups.
Since 2010, ICTA has supported developing startup ecosystems by creating awareness, instilling entrepreneurship culture, incubation, market access, early-stage seed funding, consulting, and mentoring startups. In addition, initiatives such as removing impediments, credit framework, startupSL platform, government software sourcing from startups are an asset to all the tech startups in the country introduced to encourage more new tech-related businesses emerging in Sri Lanka.
