AccelerateHER Program for Sri Lankan Women Entrepreneurs Concludes

Hatch, with the support of the US Department of State, has completed its ground-breaking accelerator program, AccelerateHER, for female entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Seven outstanding female founders completed the three-month program, demonstrating tremendous improvement and company acceleration.

The entrepreneurs gave captivating pitches to an audience of investors, stakeholders, friends, and family during the Demo Day to obtain potential funding and support for their companies.

Ruvanara Tillekeratne, Program Manager for AccelerateHER Hatch, thanked partners and the US Department of State for their assistance. Julie Chung, the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, spoke to the graduates, highlighting the importance of creative entrepreneurs in fuelling the economy and presenting real-life examples of female leadership.

'Lak Nature,' one of the graduating businesses, specializes in preservative-free, all-natural, ready-to-eat food made from excess fruits and vegetables. The initiative's originator, Lakmini Weerakkody, emphasized the initiative's focus on reducing fresh produce waste and empowering women in the workplace.

Another notable participant, 'Star Mushrooms,' intends to fill a void in the Sri Lankan market for vegan meat replacements. Nimesha Perera, a partner, spoke about the company's two-decade experience and future ambitions.

Agro Feed, a social company that converts fish waste into chicken feed, demonstrated an innovative resource usage technique. Arupriya, the founder, stressed the environmental benefits of their approach.

Due to personal challenges with gluten sensitivity, 'INGROW,' a healthy food manufacturing firm providing gluten-free and natural food solutions, addressed the demand for such goods in Sri Lanka.

Inspiring businesses during the Demo Day included Nue Body Basics, Barbet Apparel, and The Makers Global. Hatch intends to expand AccelerateHER in collaboration with the US Department of State, demonstrating its commitment to achieving economic and social transformation in Sri Lanka via female entrepreneurship.