‘Uber Springboard’ seen as giving local tech startups clear head start

In a move to fast-track Sri Lanka's entrepreneurial ambitions, global tech giant Uber yesterday concluded the second stage of ‘Uber Springboard’, a pioneering initiative designed to nurture and elevate homegrown startups through mentorship, capacity building and exposure to global innovation ecosystems.

- By Irham Nizam

Partnering with the Ministry of Technology's Department of Digital Economy, Uber aims to bridge the gap between promising Sri Lankan startups and the world stage. Five winning founders were selected through a competitive process and will now embark on an all-expense-paid exposure tour to Hyderabad, India’s tech powerhouse, where they will meet industry leaders, investors and incubators including T-Hub, Microsoft and Google.

“We know what it’s like to be a startup, said Sanjay Gupta, Head of Uber South Asia. “Uber began as a small idea to move people more efficiently. Fifteen years later, we're helping others bring their big ideas to life—this time in Sri Lanka.”

Held at ITC Ratnadipa Colombo, the event drew leading voices from government, tech and the startup community for a thought-provoking panel discussion titled, “From Ideas to Impact: Driving Tech Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Sri Lanka.”