John Keells Group’s Start-UpCycle concludes with Demo Day

Plasticcycle, the social entrepreneurship project of the John Keells Group, concluded its inaugural Start-Up-Cycle initiative, with the Demo Day on 28th November 2023. 'Start-Up-Cycle', is the challenge platform of Plasticcycle, launched in collaboration with John Keells X, the Group's start-up accelerator, and John Keells Research, the Group's R&D and Innovation arm, with the objective of empowering Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and innovators to address the plastic usage and waste challenges through innovative and implementable longterm solutions.

With over 100 applications received by the end of September 2023, an Open Day was facilitated between solution providers and problem statement owners from John Keells Group businesses in Leisure, Consumer Foods, and Retail. The six-week programme, which commenced in October 2023 provided the applicants the opportunity to fine-tune their skills with the John Keells Group team members on essential areas such as Minimum Viable Products (MVP), Intellectual Property (IP), Financial Management, and Legislative processes.

8 applicants were shortlisted to pitch their business plans to the judges - Ajit Gunewardene - Founder & CEO of Bluestone Capital Private Limited, Sarojini Jayasekara – Director, Solid Waste Management of CEA, and

Far left Sarojini Jayasekara – Director, Solid Waste Management of CEA, Ajit Gunewardene - Founder & CEO of Bluestone Capital Private Limited and Sharmini Ratwatte - Non-Executive Director of Ceylon Cold Stores

Sharmini Ratwatte - Non-Executive Director of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, on Demo Day.

The judges selected 3 winners - Tashini Vithanage, Padmashantha Fonseka and Rashmi Mohotti to receive the start-up funding of a collective RS. 10 million to support the further development of their proposed business ideas while working closely with the respective John Keells Group Businesses.

Krishan Balendra - Chairperson of the John Keells Group and Nisreeen Rehmanjee - Head of Corporate Finance, Group Tax & Social Entrepreneurship of the Group recognizing the Selected 3 winners, Top image - Padmashantha Fonseka (product: a compostable alternative for plastic bento box used in the hotel sector), Bottom left - Tashini Vithanage (product: a compostable alternative for plastic cling wrap used in the hotel sector) and Bottom right - Rashmi Mohotti (product: a compostable alternative for plastic take away fruit juice cup used in supermarkets).