Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uva Startup Hub, a non-profit foundation renowned for its commitment to facilitate technological development in the Uva region.
The MoU was signed between immediate past Chairman of SLASSCOM Channa Manoharan and Uva Startup Hub Chairman Kalinga Gunawardhana, further cementing the existing mutual collaborations and relationship between SLASSCOM and the UVA Start-Up Hub.
Through the collaboration instilled by this MoU, Uva Start-up Hub will extend entrepreneurial, startups, SME, capacity and skills building, technology diffusion, and gender specific initiatives of SLASSCOM in Uva Region across the IT/BPM companies, tech startups, higher education institutes as well as schools.
These initiatives will enable access to foreign markets, internationally organised competitions and exchange programmes, access to investor funding, mentorships for startups and scaleup, support for women led tech startups and businesses, and skills and capacity building through workshops and industry university collaborations.
Chairperson for SLASSCOM Sandra De Zoysa outlining the future plans with the Uva Startup Hub stated that both parties will place priority in helping other regions emulate the model of Uva Province in order to launch similar chambers across the country. “SLASSCOM is focused on expanding regional reach in order to develop the IT-BPM sector across Sri Lanka, therefore having regional benchmark chambers such as Uva Startup Hub is an inspiration and a great example of what can be achieved with close collaboration.”
SLASSCOM has been working with Uva Startup Hub for around 2-3 years and they have been a great strength,” added Haridhu Abeygoonaratne who initiated this MoU, citing that this MoU will lead the next level of regional focus for the industry.
Immediate Past Chairman of SLASSCOM Channa Manoharan said, “Uva Startup Hub has been a trailblazer in the region in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship and is an excellent example and yardstick for others to follow. SLASSCOM looks forward to supporting Uva Startup Hub to integrate its member companies more closely with all activities of SLASSCOM, including all our forums, policy influencing programmes and up-skilling initiatives to accelerate their growth trajectory.”
Launched in 2016, Uva Startup Hub comprises a community of entrepreneurs, investors, professionals and freelancers jointly working towards bringing foreign currency to the Uva province through startup investments in IT and technology.
Founder and CEO of Ceydigital and Lecturer at Sabaragamuwa University Kalinga Gunawardhana stated, “We have worked closely with SLASSCOM for the last couple of years and with this collaboration, we can expect more formal initiatives to enhance the capacity and startup culture in the island.”
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