Business
Visa Accelerator Program 2023 presents opportunity for SL fintech startups to go global
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has announced the Visa Accelerator Program 2023 which gives fintech startups the opportunity to enhance their growth potential through Visa’s extensive network, partnerships and expertise.
Since 2020, Visa Accelerator Program has enabled innovative startups from across Asia Pacific to work with Visa and unlock growth and scale. For the 2023 cohort, it seeks applications from startups with a proven solution, growth stage companies and a focus on Asia Pacific, addressing one of the opportunity areas in – Web 3.0, global money movement, embedded finance, merchant and small business enablers and open banking solutions.
Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Visa said, “We’re excited to invite applications to the third cohort of the Visa Accelerator Program from innovative startups across the country. We have seen some exceptional ideas from the region in the past cohorts and hope to have startups from Sri Lanka too as a part of this initiative. The program will help selected startups to work with Visa and its network, and take enhanced product propositions to markets not just in but beyond Sri Lanka.”
What’s in it for startups
The six-month program is designed for growth-stage companies looking to expand market reach, focusing on product solutioning, technical integration and fast-tracked commercialisation. With the Visa Accelerator Program, startups get to work with Visa’s payments experts, product architects and business development teams. They can rapidly co-develop, test and iterate new solutions while pursuing tangible go-to market opportunities, leveraging Visa’s extensive network of financial institutions, merchants and digital partners.
Application process
Startups can read about the program and apply here, by or before 10 January 2023. The program will run for a duration of six months, culminating in a Demo Day where startups showcase their solutions to Visa’s partners and clients from across Asia Pacific.
Visa Accelerator Program 2022
Among the 5 participants of the previous cohort – Visa Accelerator Program 2022 – from across Asia Pacific, were Perfios of India, a fintech startup that provides automated credit assessment and underwriting solution for small business loans allowing plug and play card programs for instant disbursement of financing on Visa credentials, and TallyKhata of Bangladesh which enables small business financing by leveraging TallyKhata’s merchant platform and data and Visa credentials for supplier payments and business expenses.
With a goal of enabling safe and secure movement of money across the globe, Visa seeks to consistently build positive payment experiences in Sri Lanka, ensuring speed and convenience while reducing payment friction. Startups who can contribute to such a goal would find the program beneficial and can access the scale of Visa’s network, global mentors, dedicated Visa sponsorship and products, access to technical know-how, business development opportunities and funding.
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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