Business
Hemas partners with Hatch to support Sri Lankan innovation and entrepreneurship
Hemas Group, a diversified corporate with focused interest in Consumer Brands, Healthcare and Mobility, is partnering with Hatch to deliver a corporate innovation program as a part of their 75-year celebrations. This collaboration aligns to Hemas Group’s focus to explore ‘Open Innovation’ as a part of their corporate journey.
Speaking on the partnership, Group CEO of Hemas Holdings, Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson said, “Through this partnership, we see significant potential for Sri Lankan startups, with the business community coming forward to create a new ecosystem by providing access to essential infrastructure, knowledge, and capital. As we mark 75 years of enriching our communities, we are committed to invest in the country’s future through this initiative and reinforce our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower families.”
Speaking more about Hatch’s vision, the Co-Founder and CEO Brindha Selvadurai Gnanam explained, “We believe that entrepreneurs are catalysts for economic development and that collaboration drives innovation. Hatch provides a comprehensive solution for startups through our bespoke programs, extensive mentorship support, and like-minded community”.
As an initial step of the ‘Hemas x Hatch: Slingshot’ program, a call for applications was extended for post-revenue startups operating in selected scalable industries such as Education & EdTech, FMCG, Healthcare, and Logistics. The program kick started with the selection of 25 post-revenue startups who were invited to participate in a two-day intense boot-camp on 26th and 27th of August 2023.
During the programme, entrepreneurs were provided a high-quality immersive learning experience by industry professionals who provided in-depth perspectives into some of the fundamental topics in a startup journey. This included Fine tuning your Value Proposition, Creating a scalable Business Model, Fundraising 101, International Growth Strategies and Navigating the journey of an entrepreneur. This comprehensive approach ensured that startups not only solidified their core business concepts but also gained the essential tools for expansion and growth.
At the end of the Bootcamp, the 25 startups had the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges, out of which 8 have now been selected to advance to the next stage of the ‘Hemas x Hatch Slingshot Accelerator’ Program.
Over the next few months, the corporate accelerator implemented by Hatch, leveraging the extensive domain expertise and resources of the Hemas Group aims to refine the concepts ideas of the startups, broaden their perspectives, and provide them with potentially game-changing opportunities that facilitate their transition from startups to scale up.
Hemas Holdings –
Established in 1948, Hemas stated with a simple intent: to empower families to aspire for a better tomorrow. Guided by this belief, for 75 years Hemas has empowered lives through innovative solutions in our focus areas of Consumer Brands, Healthcare, and Mobility. Woven into the socio-economic fabric of Sri Lanka, Hemas has also expanded regionally with operations in Bangladesh. In our onward journey, we will continue to invest in diverse and passionate teams, create meaningful offerings, cultivate trusted partnerships, and champion a more inclusive world, to create a positive impact for all our stakeholders.
Hatch –
An organization that delivers business incubator and accelerator programs, provides co-working space, and recently created a venture fund in Sri Lanka, was founded in 2018 and is today considered the center of gravity for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the country. Recognized as a leading innovation hub, Hatch has also received multiple international accolades including the prestigious ‘Best Co-Working Space in the World’ at the Global Startup Awards 2021, ‘Best Incubator/Accelerator’ title at the 2022 SAARC Regional Startup Awards and more.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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