Hatch, Sri Lanka’s leading startup ecosystem, has introduced the Startup Nation Initiative, a revolutionary effort to elevate the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to the next level. Building on its rapid growth—from having only 18 startups in 2018 to 700+ startups and 800 seats today—Hatch is growing to 3,000 seats, solidifying its status as the pillar of Sri Lankan entrepreneurship.
The Startup Nation Programme is dedicated to discovering, building, and funding the best startups in the country. Under this scheme, Hatch will be hosting a national startup competition, where the top 100 of 1,000+ applicants will be shortlisted. The competition will feature deep tech solutions, B2B and B2C innovations, enterprise software, and startups solving key national problems with potential for global scaleability. The MPV revenue-generating startup that emerges victorious will be eligible for best efforts to receive a funding opportunity of USD 100,000, with the possibility of follow-on investment.
Under this program, Hatch will target businesses that are MVP revenue-generating.
Hatch has worked towards establishing a robust ecosystem which supports Sri Lankan entrepreneurs since the initial stage. Through plugging the hole between investors and startups, Startup Nation Initiative will fuel innovation and provide sustainable long-term results.
“Our mission is to drive Sri Lankan startup development by creating a system that opens up access to capital and global exposure,” said Hatch Co-Founder Jeevan Gnanam. “Through this initiative, we’re setting Sri Lanka up to become a top-performing contributor to the global startup ecosystem.”.
The program aims to encourage more startups to develop sustainable solutions that not only thrive locally but are scalable worldwide. From agriculture and green energy to new technology and social enterprises, the startups incubated in Hatch’s ecosystem are challenging industries while enabling a more robust and inclusive economy.
Hatch’s credibility as a designer and implementer of startup programs is further supported by its solid partnerships with the world’s premier institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, US State Department, Global Affairs Canada, GIZ (German Development Agency), and major corporates such as Nestlé, IFS Global, Hemas PLC, and Veracity Group.
“Our ability to close and deliver international partnerships demonstrates our commitment to driving meaningful change in the Sri Lankan startup ecosystem,” said Hatch Co-Founder Brindha Selvaduarai Gnanam. “The Startup Nation Initiative is the next chapter in our mission to empower local entrepreneurs and attract more investment into the ecosystem. The foundation of a thriving startup hub is density, both physical and intellectual. We must establish dedicated innovation districts, coworking spaces, and startup incubators that cluster talent, capital, and ideas in one place. Proximity breeds opportunity. High-frequency networking, mentorship, and cross-sector collaboration will fuel company formation and accelerate growth. Corporate-startup partnerships must be actively engineered to ensure the rapid commercialization of innovation.”
The Startup Nation Initiative is not about finding the best startups—it is about shaping Sri Lanka’s economy through the development of innovation, investment, and sustainability. Through the initiative, Hatch is providing Sri Lankan startups in the proof-of-concept stage with mentorship, resources, and access to networks. It is also attracting investors and corporates who are interested in joining the country’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem. It is also placing Sri Lanka as a premier innovation hub, and thus as a desirable destination to invest and teach entrepreneurship-led.
With the Startup Nation Initiative, Hatch anticipates a stronger and more resilient startup ecosystem that contributes in a meaningful way to Sri Lanka’s economic growth. It seeks to build a healthy entrepreneurship ecosystem where international investors see Sri Lanka as an emerging innovation hub. The program aims to build world-class, scalable startups that solve key national and global problems and establish a collaborative space where key stakeholders—startups, investors, policymakers, and corporate partners—come together to build sustainable, high-impact businesses.
Hatch has already begun laying the groundwork. Over the past 12 months, Hatch has engaged investors and partners from Singapore, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Australia, testing an incubator model that integrates investment, market expansion, and patent development. The results are clear: this approach works. Now, it must be scaled. This is not an abstract vision, it is a tested strategy that demands bold execution.
Hatch welcomes entrepreneurs, investors, startup founders, and corporate leaders to be a part of this transformational journey. If you’re a rising entrepreneur seeking direction or an investor seeking high-growth prospects, the time to get involved is now.
ENDS
Photo captions-
Jeevan Gnanam, Co-founder of Hatch
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