Hatch, Lankan Angel Network and BOV Capital join forces, with First Capital Holdings PLC committing LKR 300 million as anchor limited partner in a fund built on a commercial investment case.
Starting a business is difficult. Building one that can grow, compete and endure is harder still.
For Sri Lankan founders, the challenge doesn’t end when they prove their idea works. The next stage demands stronger operations, access to new markets and the capital to pursue opportunities that could transform a promising venture into a sustainable business.
A new initiative aims to help more founders take that next step.
Hatch, Lankan Angel Network (LAN) and BOV Capital have launched HLAB, a collective LKR 3 billion fund designed to back early and growth stage regional companies that are incorporated in Sri Lanka. Announced at the final event of First Capital Startup Nation, organised by Hatch, the initiative brings together three established participants in the country’s startup ecosystem around a shared ambition: expanding access to capital for businesses seeking to grow.
Adding institutional participation to the initiative, First Capital Holdings PLC has committed LKR 300 million as the fund’s anchor limited partner, representing 10% of its total size.
From promising startups to enduring businesses
The transition from an early stage venture to a sustainable, growing company is a defining point in a founder’s journey. Businesses must move beyond establishing their models and begin building the operational strength and market reach needed to pursue larger opportunities.