Hatch receives Princess Anne; announce expansion to UK

Hatch, recognised as a leading organisation in Sri Lanka’s innovation and entrepreneurship domain, welcomed Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal to their co-working space during her official visit to Sri Lanka.

 The tour of Hatch offered her an immersive experience into the dynamic entrepreneurial spirit of Sri Lankan startups. In conjunction with the Royal visit, Hatch unveiled its ambitious plans for expansion into the United Kingdom.

The Princess Royal had a firsthand look at the potential and resilience of Sri Lanka›s entrepreneurs as she met a selection of Hatch›s community startups. 

Notable presentations included Shivani Tyronne of Miris, an alumna of “AccelerateHer” - a program for female entrepreneurs, showcasing her artisanal Sri Lankan hot sauce, exported to the UK. EdTech startup founders Nevindaree Premarathne of The Makers and Migara Amithodana of MagicBit - who are creating STEM Education kits with a mission to make the next generation better prepared for the 4th Industrial Revolution.

SpectrifyAi co-founder Lakshan De Silva demonstrated their cutting-edge product which uses spectral technology and machine learning to enhance quality control in the agriculture sector and uplift the lives of over 1 million farmers. These startups offer a glimpse into the diverse and innovative offerings emerging from Sri Lanka.

Hatch CEO and Co-founder Brindha Selvadurai said: «It was truly an honour to welcome The Princess Royal to Hatch, where innovation knows no bounds. We take great pride in showcasing the high-calibre talent emerging from our country, especially from within the Hatch community. We envision a future where startups from various regions not only succeed but also make meaningful contributions to the global innovation ecosystem. The highlight for us was being able to share our ambitious plans to propel Sri Lanka onto the world stage through Hatch›s global expansions, including the UK.»

Hatch said its expansion into the UK is a strategic move to create a bridge between the innovation ecosystems of Sri Lanka and the UK, facilitating collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint ventures.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this week, Hatch›s co-working space in Colombo, housed in a restored historic building dating back to 1910, has been a beacon for startups and innovators.

Regarded as the «centre of gravity» for entrepreneurship, Hatch secured the prestigious «Best Co-working Space» award at the 2021 Global Startup Awards. With a thriving community of over 1000 co-working members and over 700 startups within its network, Hatch›s commitment goes beyond physical space, as evidenced by 18 successful Innovation and Business Incubator/Accelerator programs implemented in the past years.