The Sri Lanka Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM), national chamber for the IT/BPM industry, under the patronage of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka, is hosting Oslo Innovation Week Accelerate 2020 (OIW Accelerate 2020) – a competition to promote Sri Lankan tech start-ups through cash grants of Rs. 500,000 and international exposure at Oslo Innovation Week 2020 (OIW 2020).
The competition aims to encourage and identify start-ups with innovative products and services that can help fight Covid-19 and address social issues that may arise as a result of the pandemic. The initiative also aims to create awareness about the UN17 Sustainable Development Goals and support tech start-ups to align themselves with these goals.
Director at SLASSCOM, Anura de Alwis said, “The IT/BPM sector in Sri Lanka is brimming with talent and ability but many are held back due to a lack of opportunity and encouragement. OIW Accelerate 2020 will work to identify projects with the best potential and provide support, financially and morally, to help these ideas change the world.”OIW Accelerate 2020 is open to all ICT start-ups who have registered businesses in Sri Lanka within the past five years or those who have been listed as start-ups on the ‘StartupSL’ website.
Six winners will be chosen, based on the merits of their proposed solutions, and each winner will also receive assistance, guidance and mentorship to pitch their product/service at OIW 2020 and assistance to participate in OIW 2020.The Oslo Innovation Week 2020 will be a virtual event this year, increasing accessibility and visibility. Entries close on August 12 and the winners will be announced after August 20.