First Capital and Hatch partner to launch ‘First Capital Startup Nation’

First Capital Holdings PLC Managing Director and CEO Dilshan Wirasekara

Hatch Co-founder Jeevan Gnanam

• A catalyst for Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurial future

First Capital Holdings PLC, a subsidiary of JXG (Janashakthi Group) has stepped forward as the title sponsor of First Capital Startup Nation by Hatch, a transformative program that connects investors with Sri Lanka’s most promising startups.

First Capital and Hatch share a common vision for Sri Lanka’s future. Both organisations believe that true progress comes from empowering bold ideas and supporting entrepreneurs with the courage to build innovative solutions for the country and beyond. For Hatch, the initiative marks a natural next step. Over the years, it has been the first home for Sri Lanka’s startup dreamers, providing a safe space where ideas grow into ventures and ventures evolve into stories of impact. Hatch has walked alongside founders, helping them secure funding, access markets and imagine a future beyond borders. For First Capital, the partnership represents an extension of its legacy. With more than four decades of building trust, creating access and fuelling progress in Sri Lanka’s financial markets, the company now brings that spirit of investment to a more human level, backing the innovators who will shape the next chapter of the nation’s story.

First Capital Startup Nation by Hatch is designed to identify the top 10 startups in Sri Lanka from a competitive pool of more than 183 applications. The selected ventures will gain access to best-effort support to secure $100,000 in funding, as well as follow-on funding opportunities. Beyond capital, the program provides exposure, mentorship, and access to global investor networks. With a focus on solutions that address pressing local challenges, fast-growing early-stage startups with post-revenue traction, and B2C models with global expansion potential, the initiative seeks to position Sri Lankan startups on the international stage while contributing to economic growth at home. The program schedule includes startup onboarding, workshops and competitions from 16 to 25 September, investor networking, policy dialogues and roundtables on 29 and 30 September, and a grand showcase event, investor demo day and closing celebrations on 1 October.

First Capital Holdings PLC Managing Director and CEO Dilshan Wirasekara said, “At First Capital, innovation and entrepreneurship are central to who we are. For more than 40 years we have opened doors in Sri Lanka’s financial markets by building trust and creating access. Partnering with Hatch on First Capital Startup Nation allows us to bring that legacy into the startup ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs with bold ideas who can make a real impact on our economy and society. We are committed not only to sponsoring, but also to exploring opportunities to invest in these startups and walk with them as they grow. This is about continuing our founder C.T.A. Schaffter’s vision of purposeful progress and building the next chapter of Sri Lanka’s innovation story.”

Hatch Co-founder Jeevan Gnanam added, “First Capital Startup Nation is designed to address persistent gaps in funding and market access, providing startups with the resources, mentorship and global exposure they need to grow. For Hatch, this program is a natural continuation of what we have always done, being the first home for Sri Lanka’s founders, helping them raise capital, find markets and dream beyond borders. Partnering with First Capital is the obvious next step. Their financial expertise, networks and decades of trust make them the ideal ally in taking Sri Lankan startups to the global stage. Together we are not just running a program, we are shaping an ecosystem where Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurs can thrive and compete internationally.”