This Wednesday marked the grand finale of the John Keells X (JKX) Open Innovation Challenge, a first-of-its-kind initiative by John Keells Holdings PLC to spark innovation and support Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem. After months of rigorous development and mentorship, ten exceptional teams took center stage to pitch their ideas, aiming to secure seed funding and industry recognition.
Quick Summary
- 148 teams applied; 10 finalists were selected
- Teams had 60 days to develop their startups with mentorship
- Final event: November 2
- Winner: Jendo – noninvasive cardiovascular health platform (Rs. 2 million)
- Runner-up: Markify – voice-driven analytics (Rs. 1 million)
- Judges from JKH, Dialog Axiata, and HNB
- Supported by SLASSCOM, ICTA, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and Roar.lk
About the Challenge
The JKX Challenge was designed to empower startups with disruptive business models, offering them mentorship, funding, and industry exposure. The competition drew 148 applicants from Sri Lanka and abroad, of which 10 teams were shortlisted for a 60-day acceleration program.
- Dedicated mentors from the John Keells Group and relevant industries
- Weekly feedback sessions
- Access to subject-matter experts from sectors such as tourism, retail, finance, and tech
The Grand Finale – November 2
The final pitch event, held on November 2, was the culmination of four months of hard work and collaboration. Finalists had:
- 15 minutes for their pitch and product demo
- 5 minutes of Q&A with a prestigious judging panel
The judging panel featured a distinguished lineup including:
- Dr. Hans Wijesuriya – Group CEO, Dialog Axiata PLC
- Jonathan Alles – MD & CEO, Hatton National Bank PLC
- Senior executives from John Keells Holdings PLC including Ajit Gunewardene, Ronnie Peiris, Krishan Balendra, Gihan Cooray, and Ramesh Shanmuganathan
The Finalist Teams & Their Innovations
- Jendo (Winner – Rs. 2 million): A noninvasive cardiovascular health monitoring system using pulse oximetry. Data is stored in the cloud for easy access across clinics and users.
- Markify (Runner-up – Rs. 1 million): A voice-controlled SaaS platform for business analytics, enabling natural language data searches and visualization.
- Inzurely: An online insurance aggregator connecting users with the best insurance quotes submitted by agents.
- NicNac: An AI-powered on-demand “e-butler” service that allows users to request any item and have it delivered via bike couriers.
- Acrux: Travel Sphere – a virtual reality app that lets users explore destinations before visiting, powered by crowdsourced panoramic content.
- Kart: A smart supermarket navigation app that plans efficient shopping routes and provides real-time loyalty options.
- Onsbay: A marketplace to connect homeowners with skilled service professionals for home maintenance and repairs.
- Synergen: A gesture-controlled smart ring for managing devices like computers and phones via Bluetooth.
- BotFactory: AI bots that automatically reply to routine emails using deep learning to fetch relevant information from previous conversations.
- Grubz: A restaurant discovery app offering real-time deals based on a user’s GPS location.
And the Winners Are...
Team Jendo – Grand Prize Winner
Co-founded by Keerthi Kodithuwakku, Isuru Rajakaruna, and Charith Vithanage, Team Jendo took the top prize for their breakthrough in noninvasive health tech. Their research was guided by senior medical professionals, and they walked away with a Rs. 2 million prize and the admiration of the judges.
Team Markify – Runner-up
For their impressive use of speech-to-insight tech in business analytics, Markify won Rs. 1 million and high praise from the judges for their innovation and real-world applicability.
Highlights
The Bigger Picture
“We are encouraged by the pool of young entrepreneurial talent we witnessed during the four-month engagement with John Keells X. We look forward to continuing to support the Sri Lankan startup ecosystem by incentivising and investing in young entrepreneurs.”
— Chairman Susantha Ratnayake
Final Thoughts
The JKX Open Innovation Challenge has proven to be more than just a competition — it’s a launching pad for Sri Lanka’s next generation of tech-driven entrepreneurs. With impressive ideas, professional execution, and real-world relevance, the teams showcased the immense potential in the island nation’s innovation landscape.
Here’s to more bold ideas, better solutions, and a thriving startup ecosystem in Sri Lanka.