EO unveils Sri Lanka chapter to help entrepreneurs find global investors

From left: EO Sri Lanka Learning Chair Nikhil Hirdaramani, EO South Asia Launch Expert Siddhesh Sharma, EO Sri Lanka President Yasendra Amerasinghe. EO South Asia Growth Director Abhay Mehta and EO Guarggon President Marco Gloria
Pic by Samantha Perera 

By Zahara Zuhair
Sri Lanka became the latest member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a top global business network, with the unveiling of EO Sri Lanka chapter recently, through which Lankan entrepreneurs stand a chance of attracting global interest.

EO is a global business community of with over 12,000 leading entrepreneurs in 160 chapters present in 53 countries. EO Sri Lanka is the 20th chapter in the South Asian region and the 170th globally.  
“We are excited to what Sri Lanka has to offer. The country has really stepped up with the recent developments. Entrepreneurs like to be in places where there are opportunities. Sri Lanka is one of those places now,” EO Sri Lanka Learning Chair Nikhil Hirdaramani said. According to him, through this venture, not only the local entrepreneurs will get the opportunity to find new markets through EO’s global presence, but also entrepreneurs from around the world will also be able to find new opportunities in Sri Lanka to invest and do business.

“EO will be able to facilitate, open doors to many entrepreneurs who want to come to Sri Lanka. We want Sri Lankans to network more globally. “We have access to regional and global events in terms of learning, providing opportunities for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. South Asia is growing so fast. 
Sri Lankan entrepreneurs will have the platform to learn and grow and they will have access to more 12,000 members in the world,” Hidramani said.

EO undertakes several initiatives across its chapters to foster learning, development and inclusive growth within the entrepreneur community. 

“We have various types of businesses in our organizations from Artificial Intelligence (AI), research business, medical, farming right up to space technology. If a member joins EO, he/she will find at least 2-3 dozens of opportunities that EO Offers. We have university programmes; we have specific events; all theses towards learning,” EO South Asia Growth Director Abhay Mehta said. He said their portfolio includes huge companies like India’s Bajaj Finance to Amabanis and many more.

“EO will help you to make a better person. EO will help Sri Lanka; it’s not just an entrepreneurial organisation, but an entire eco-system. It starts from student entrepreneurship; then comes accelerator programmes,” EO Sri Lanka Chapter President Yasendra Amerasinghe said. He said that Colombo has the potential to be a rapidly growing city on all fronts, be it industries, infrastructure or education. 

“We are gaining international prominence, and now is the time to nurture entrepreneurial spirits, to grow ourselves both personally and professionally, and this will be instrumental in our country’s economic growth,” he said. 

Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs in Washington DC, EO enables business owners to learn from each other, leading to greater business access. Their mission is to engage leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow.