NSBM Green University celebrated a landmark occasion in its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship among students with the first-ever NSBM Demo Day. This initiative is a cornerstone of NSBM’s Entrepreneurship Empowerment Strategy, which aimed to inspire students to innovate and develop groundbreaking startup ideas.
The occasion was graced by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. E.A. Weerasinghe; Head of Academic Development and Quality Assurance, Prof. Baratha Dodankotuwa; Deans of the Faculties of Business, Science, Computing, Engineering, and Postgraduate Studies; Heads of the Departments; NSBM staff members; and members of Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem. Spirlation, an initiative of ICTA Sri Lanka, partnered as the national partner for this event, providing further support to the finalists in advancing their startups.
NSBM Demo Day featured compelling pitches from five students representing four faculties, assessed by an expert panel comprising Ms. Thilini De Silva, Dean of the Faculty of Business; Mr. Kanishka Weermunda, Co-Founder of PayMedia; Mr. Thayalan Anton, CEO of Luminary Learning Solutions; Mr. Sandul Perera, Co-Founder of Ray Engineering; and Mr. Chamal Wijesinghe, Senior R&D Chemist at Hemas Consumer Brands.
At the end of the event, winners in three different categories were announced:
- Rishma Rizvi from the Faculty of Science was awarded “The Most Thriving Business of the Year” for her successful startup “Soapstoris,” which has been operating for five years.
- Madilka Fernando from the Faculty of Engineering was named “The Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year” for his product, an automated boat tractor, developed under his startup, Adamas Peak.
- Tirosh M. Silva from the Faculty of Computing received “The Best Entrepreneurial Idea of the Year” for his innovative idea of solar-powered EV charging stations.
NSBM Demo Day followed the highly successful six-week Startup Boot Camp, “Future Biztycoon,” designed to equip students with comprehensive entrepreneurial knowledge through sessions led by industry experts.
This event was orchestrated jointly by NFORCE and the Entrepreneurship Circle, under the guidance of the MIC of the Entrepreneurship Circle, Ms. Shehani Joseph, and the Manager of NSBM for Career and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Mohamed Rushdi Hadhi.
