TiE Colombo’s exclusive Stanford Seed Spark Programme to empower local entrepreneurs

By Nishel Fernando

The Colombo Chapter of TiE Global, a Silicon Valley-founded organisation also known as The Indus Entrepreneurs, recently unveiled the exclusive Stanford Seed Spark Programme, aimed at empowering the budding start-up founders, to scale their ventures to the next level.

The launch event featured Dinesh Kumar and Anandh Sridhar from the Stanford Seed team, who joined virtually and provided a comprehensive overview of the programme and addressed questions from the TiE Colombo members.

“We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to supporting Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurs through this powerful partnership,” TiE Colombo stated.

The Stanford Seed Spark Programme, an initiative by Stanford University’s Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (Stanford Seed), is designed to bring Silicon Valley’s innovation and entrepreneurial expertise to emerging markets. The programme leverages expert mentors and cutting-edge technology to deliver courses on business and leadership, crafted by the world-renowned Stanford faculty and local business practitioners.

Specifically tailored for South Asia, the programme supports entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking to grow their ventures while creating meaningful social and economic impact in their communities. Participants also gain access to a network of fellow entrepreneurs, industry experts and Stanford faculty, fostering valuable collaborations and insights.

TiE Colombo members Heshan J. Peiris, Mahesh Yogarajan and Chamara Peiris shared their experiences, highlighting how the programme not only equipped them with technical and practical knowledge to transform their start-ups but also unlocked access to critical resources.

The programme culminates in a pitch competition, where participants showcase their growth and innovation. Colombo-based book publishing and e-commerce company KReader emerged as one of the top five finalists, demonstrating the programme’s impact on the local entrepreneurs.

This initiative underscores TiE Colombo’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka, providing a platform for start-ups to thrive in a competitive global landscape.