Project to empower entrepreneurs

Indunil HEWAGE

Blue Ocean Ventures and the Indian Angel Network in collaboration with Dialog Axiata and ExpoLanka yesterday launched a special project ‘Venture Engine’ with a view to empowering Sri Lankan budding entrepreneurs.

Aspiring entrepreneurs who are interested in expanding their early stage of business will have the opportunity to submit their business plans to this project and the submission closes on May 7, 2012. Following an evaluation the top selection of plans will be called in for presentations and mentoring workshops where the entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to work directly with leading investors and businessmen in the region.

Speaking at the ‘Venture Engine’ launching ceremony, Prajeeth Balasubramaniam representing Blue Ocean Ventures said that with the advent of peace, Sri Lanka is predicted to achieve over 8% economic growth rate and we see opportunities to build new businesses across many sectors of the economy.

We created Blue Ocean Ventures to provide mentorship, seed funding to entrepreneurs who want to launch and accelerate their business to the next level building companies that are both local and market leaders from Sri Lanka.

‘We are very excited about partnering with the Indian Angel network to launch Venture Engine, an innovative new platform to that will help to turbocharge the startup ecosystem in Sri Lanka,’ he said.