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"Softstar Technologies", the very first software development centre in Rambukkana, Kegalle, was launched recently by two pioneering young entrepreneurs. 22-year-old Damith Hettiarachchi and 23-year-old Lakmal Abeyratne decided to take on the challenge of starting their own business after attending a "Bright Ideas" workshop sponsored by Shell LiveWIRE.

In response to how it all started, Lakmal said: "We started individually in our homes and came together as a team about one and half years ago. We both had the necessary 'fever'. At the time, I personally couldn't force my parents to buy me a computer, so I started buying spare parts and putting a computer together for my self." In contrast, his partner Damith bought a second hand computer and took it apart (because often it would not work). "Sometimes I burned and destroyed the parts while trying to dismantle the computer," Damith said. "We had zero knowledge, but had enough determination," they said. In the process of putting together and taking apart the various components, they not only learned how the machine functioned, but also about the multiple defects which made it not work from time to time. A broken down computer was seen by the two youth as an opportunity; "whenever we heard that someone had a defective machine, we'd force them to let us fix it, and we always succeeded," Damith said.

Damith and Lakmal have identified three different market segments for themselves; the domestic household market, small and medium businesses such as retail stores and pharmacies, and larger scale hotels in the region. "Since we provide a range of services from assembling, servicing and repairing desktops, to developing personalised databases, we will be able to satisfy all three segments' needs," they said. LiveWIRE's project manager Piyumi Samaraweera "Softstar Technologies" said the two young men have identified a promising marketing campaign for their products and services. "Lakmal and Damith plan on educating the Rambukkana business community on the various ways in which computer based technology would add value to their businesses: This is not only a smart marketing tactic, but also a healthy one, as it simultaneously gives back to their community," she said. Damith and Lakmal plan to hold an exhibition to educate the local business community as well as the school-going youth on how user-friendly technology can be. A quarterly journal which elaborates on the products and services of Softstar Technologies will also be made available as a marketing-cum-educational tool.

"Though we had a vague idea about how to start a business of our won, the notion was not very well developed until we attended a Shell LiveWIRE 'Bright Ideas' workshop," Lakmal said. "The workshop really gave us the impetus and the push we needed. In fact, everything starting from registering a business to managing one was covered in that workshop. More than anything, it encouraged us to take the plunge." The youth also followed a training program conducted by the Small Enterprise Development Division where they learned about business management and accounting skills. While an initial capital loan was given by the People's Bank to help start-up "Softstar Technologies", another loan to help expand the business is anticipated in June from the Sabaragamuwa Development Bank (SDB) in Kegalle.

SDB project manager and LiveWIRE's local co-ordinator for the Kegalle district, Wasanatha Kumarasiri said: "We associated our clients as friends and family - their success is our success." In fact, the Sabaragamuwa Development Bank, Kegalle, is planning on making easy-payment loans to those interested in purchasing computer systems from Softstar Technologies following their exhibition later this year.

When asked to comment on how they felt about their achievement, the owner-manager of Softstar said; "If you have an aim to do something positive, if you are dedicated to that cause and confident in yourself, then you can go anywhere - not just in Sri Lanka, but anywhere in the world - and achieve anything you want." Commenting further on Shell LiveWIRE's role in developing young entrepreneurs, Lakmal said "the fact the LiveWIRE gives young people an encouraging nudge in the right direction is so valuable to us, because all around us, there are individuals and groups constantly trying to hold or pull us back," he said.

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