CIMA Launch Pad 2016 – A complete launch to market for startups

CIMA Launchpad; an initiative of the CIMA Students’ Society, has grown to be a pivotal platform for aspiring entrepreneurs who are in search of ‘what it takes’ to make their business Start-up become the next successful entrant to hit the market. It provides the candidates an opportunity to reach out to an otherwise near-inaccessible audience of investors and industry veterans who would impart expertise with regards to fine-tuning their business ideas and help bring it to fruition.

CIMA Launchpad has been endorsed by top of the industry professionals and it has been renewing and enhancing its partnerships with them, providing the participant teams the best in terms of experience, exposure and knowledge they’re bound to gain through the platform.

CIMA Launchpad 2016 has partnered with industry heavyweights with the aim of providing increased benefits to the participants. MAS is partnering with CIMA Launchpad for the 2nd consecutive year as the Strategic Partner. MAS Innovation has worked closely with the CIMA Launch Pad team in providing knowledge, resources and mentorship for the shortlisted businesses.

Renewing its partnership as the Knowledge Partner for the 3rdconsecutive year, PwC Sri Lanka will be partnering with CIMA Launch Pad with regards to providing benefits of investor sourcing, performing business valuations and furthermore, providing the chance for the winning team to participate at Slush;a leading start-up conference held inHelsinki, Finland which connects global startups with global investors.

SLASSCOM has been working closely with CIMA Launch Pad as the industry partner for the event and has provided a plethora of opportunity for the shortlisted teams which is adjacent to their objective for the startup eco system in Sri Lanka.

There have been many organizations that are market leaders in their respective fields that have come aboard to work with CIMA Launch Pad in order to provide business startups with the resources required to enter the market and succeed in a competitive market. Hatton National Bank will be providing start-up loans to the top 4 teams subsequent to a risk assessment, which is the first ever start-up loan to be given without collateral to early stage businesses. Nielsen has offered to do an indepth customer research for the winning team. Response Marketing will be working with the winning team in terms of branding and advertising which is an important element for an early stage business that is underestimated.

The participants will also be given insight on areas of improvement, by industry veterans and entrepreneurs comprising who will mentor the teams develop their businesses before they pitch them to the investors.

Having completed the initial stages of the 3-minute pitches, the mentorship program and the simulation program -including a mock investor review-, the grand finale of CIMA Launchpad 2016 is scheduled to be held on the 26th of November at Trace expert city. If you are interested investoror if you would like to exhibit your business startup please do contact Sashini on

0778 681830.