Top start-ups secure US $ 160,000 in funding at First Capital Startup Nation by Hatch Demo Day

The highly anticipated First Capital Startup Nation by Hatch Demo Day lit up Colombo on October 1, 2025, as Sri Lanka’s brightest founders, investors and ecosystem partners came together for a powerful evening of innovation, vision and opportunity.

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Hosted at Hatch’s flagship space, the event marked a defining milestone in the country’s startup journey, showcasing the depth of local entrepreneurial talent and the collaborative strength of Sri Lanka's innovation community.

The evening began with the unveiling of the First Capital Startup Nation by Hatch, followed by opening remarks from First Capital Holdings PLC Chairman Rajendra Theagarajah. Hatch Co-Founder Jeevan Gnanam set the tone for a night that celebrated both purpose and progress.

Seven exceptional finalists pitched their ideas before a panel of local and international investors, with three startups emerging at the top, eligible for a combined $ 160,000 in funding: TorchLabs - Dhevin De Silva, Seashore Gardens - Shawn Senerath and Shavendra Rajapakse, Docupath Al - Sheran Corera.

Each founder showcased how innovation and resilience continue to define Sri Lanka's new-age entrepreneurs, connecting directly with investors and unlocking opportunities for collaboration and scale.

Reflecting on his experience, Dhevin De Silva of TorchLabs shared, “It was great participating in First Capital Startup Nation by Hatch. I got to meet a lot of founders, network with investors; it was a valuable experience. Everyone should join this programme in the future; it’s a great learning opportunity. To any young founder: get started now. You never know what's on the next horizon”