This panel on building startups in Sri Lanka covers funding gaps, investor expectations, and ecosystem support, featuring a founder, investor, and ecosystem builder sharing complementary views on scaling globally.
Niresh Ratnagopal of Hatch Works has watched the startup ecosystem grow rapidly, but he says startups need to think about strategic partners and global scope early on. That was, ecosystem players can work together instead of running separate, overlapping efforts.
Deshani Ratnayake of First Capital Holdings says investors want real traction, unit economics, and governance, not just ideas; success requires matching investor risk appetite and building exit track records.
Kalana Muthumuni of Scouts says founders must think big for global investors, embrace pivots, and push through regulatory friction; Sri Lanka needs more product companies, not just services.
An Echelon brand partnership with Hatch Works