SLASSCOM Startup Report 2019

The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) launched the “Sri Lanka Startup Report 2019” to understand the current startup ecosystem in Sri Lanka, identify the challenges faced by ecosystem players and strategize the way forward.

The report draws its findings on Sri Lankan startups from a survey sent out to the startups currently registered with SLASSCOM. Most of these startups have been in operation for at least one year. The profiles of featured startups have been put together following interviews with the founders. The challenges faced by the ecosystem at present and the way forward have been compiled based on research and discussions with key ecosystem players.

One of the unique selling points of Sri Lanka is that a startup based in Sri lanka can enter into the other South Asian markets of Pakistan, India & Bangladesh without being subjected to any geopolitical issues. International startups such as Oyo, Ikman and international startup brands like Startup Weekend by TechStars, Seedstars, AngelHack venturing into Sri Lanka are positive indicators of our ecosystem’s potential.

Report Contents

• Economic Background
• Doing Business in Sri Lanka
• Sri Lankan Startup Ecosystem
• Startup Founder Backgrounds
• Challenges Faced by Startups
• Factors Enabling Success
• Why Startups Fail
• Ecosystem Issues
• Way Forward