SLT-MOBITEL, the National ICT Solutions Provider, hosted ‘Demo Day’ for the first cohort of its pioneering initiative, Entrepreneurship Studio 2021-2022 recently. The event celebrated the culmination of the rigorous mentoring and coaching programme which is nurturing start-ups to build and grow their ideas.

20 entrepreneurs had been shortlisted as finalists for the Entrepreneurship Studio 2021-2022 first cohort and concluded stages of mentoring sessions with access to experts supporting them through all stages of growth and development. Having undergone 14-weeks of coaching, the “Demo Day” demonstrated their journeys and products to a distinguished panel. 12 numbers of winners will receive up to LKR one million worth of start-up package to build their business.

SLT-MOBITEL, as the tech leader of the nation focused on developing digital infrastructure, established the Entrepreneurship Studio to serve as the focal point for the local start-up ecosystem. The ongoing programme is SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to bolster and motivate tech start-ups and entrepreneurs across key sectors towards innovative technology and digital transformation.

The programme launched in May, attracted 200 applications. The selected 20 entrepreneurs have participated in comprehensive seminar sessions, workshops and boot-camps, and received mentorship and coaching, all aimed at helping these young entrepreneurs to materialize their ideas.

During the sessions, the participants were provided valuable insights on a broad range of topics including marketing, infrastructure and technology, strategy, legal, prospects on local and global markets etc to convey the necessary entrepreneurial knowledge necessary. The expertise of SLT-MOBITEL and external personnel contributed as resource panellists offering mentoring support.

The ‘Entrepreneurship Studio’ programme is spearheaded by ‘The Embryo’, SLT Group’s new pioneering Research and Development initiative which seeks to be the epicenter of the country’s evolving tech scene, giving local talent valuable exposure and driving a multi-channel innovation pipeline to build cutting-edge digital solutions.

With the success of the first Entrepreneurship Studio start-up programme, SLT-MOBITEL has set in motion plans to organise the event for another cohort next year too. Interested start-ups are advised to await details on applying for the programme.