Global Entrepneureship Week concludes on November 18

Nipuna Pathirana

The Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) conducted by the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), which commenced on November 12 at the Peradeniya University premises, would conclude on November 18.

The objective of the Spiralation Hackathon, was to create a platform where tech enthusiasts, designers and promising entrepreneurs and people with varying skills would use their knowledge, creativity and passion to solve problems and build products by using technology which was in demand, both locally and internationally.

The three day event would also be a platform to learn new skills, share views and experiences and develop team building and leadership competencies among participants who would enter the industry.

Keeping to the traditional Hackathon model, idea selection would take place on Friday evening and the product / concept development would be done over the next two days.

The ideas brought forward through the 'Open Mic pitch" session on Friday, will be voted on and the best selected by a majority decision. Over the weekend, teams would focus on validating their ideas, development and building a minimal viable product.

There would be industry experts and mentors assisting the teams with their skills and experiences. On Sunday evening, the teams would demonstrate their prototypes, while receiving valuable feedback from a panel of industry experts. Winners would be announced and awards presented. The day would end with fellowship. The selection and feedback on best products / solutions would be by a panel of experts on Sunday evening.

The initiative of ICT Agency of Sri Lanka is to look at supporting budding entrepreneurs or start-ups with business ideas/concepts to create new products or services that would help in creating new businesses, breech market gaps, assist new ICT related innovations and more.

In another matter of coincidence, the three-day event, Spiralation Hackathon "Code-in-Kandy" ends on the eve of 19th instant as if recalling the epoch-making 19th November 2005 swearing-in.

ICTA has made the necessary arrangements to take selected participants from Colombo via train and back. There would also be other participants joining the Hackathon from Kandy as well as other regions of the country. The University of Peradeniya has made all necessary arrangements for event logistics, including accommodation and intern transport as needed. Food and refreshments are also arranged by the University and the ICTA to ensure all participants remain energised throughout the weekend.

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is the world's largest celebration of the innovators and job creators, who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

Technology start up 'Spiralation', a support initiative of ICTA, comprises a Grant Scheme that promotes innovation in a spirit of collaboration as emphasized by the term 'Spiralation'.

The programme targets new business enterprises or those in the very early stages of development and aims at encouraging entrepreneurs islandwide to launch new technology products and/or services.

Thus the programme promotes the launch of these products and services which are transformations of their new business ideas, while addressing market gaps and assisting new ICT related innovations.