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Create the future

one idea at a time

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Make your concepts

a reality

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Disrupt

our businesses

WHAT IS SLINGSHOT?

bring your ideas to life

Slingshot | What is Hemas Slingshot

 

Our startup incubator/seed accelerator support program

  • Hemas Group developed Slingshot a Sri Lanka based startup incubator / seed accelerator program to provide talented individuals a chance to commercialise their prototypes and products
  • A platform to provide you with a chance to commercialise your inventions, prototypes, projects or even to accelerate your existing business
  • Slingshot is suited for projects which have a strategic fit with Hemas businesses
  • The program is governed by a diverse advisory board comprising of both internal and external personnel with experience in entrepreneurship, mentoring, innovation, business start-up and domain expertise
  • In the instance that your project is selected, you would have access to the Group’s resources and would be funded to take your project to the next level!

HOW IT WORKS?

Slingshot Framework

Hemas Slinghsot Process
Apply

If you have a product/project/service/invention that is beyond the initial idea stage (which is partially developed or at a prototype level) and is relevant to the businesses that we operate in, we would like to hear from you, please apply!

Slingshot Pitch

If your application fits our criteria, we shall invite you to a 'Slingshot Day' where you can present to our advisory board. We shall provide you valuable feedback and insights which is a great learning experience and is a key step on the way to getting funds/support from us We shall guide you on how to develop your presentation so that when it comes to the actual 'Slingshot Day' you would already be an expert at presenting!

Business Plan

If your presentation is recommended for further evaluation, we shall guide you in developing a detailed business plan using all relevant tools

Funding & Support

Your business plan will be evaluated by an internal committee and if it makes the cut, you are in Slingshot and we shall provide you with the required funding and support to take you to the next level :)

Please remember that even if you are not successful, it is a valuable learning experience for a passionate and driven person like yourself. You can always take the feedback we provide you, re-develop or improve your invention/product and apply to us again. Remember that we are here to support in your success, so don't give up!

ABOUT HEMAS

One of Sri Lanka’s premier conglomerates

Hemas Holdings PLC - Logo

Hemas Holdings PLC

H

emas Group is one of Sri Lanka’s premier conglomerates – a widely diversified, public quoted company with a strong presence in several key sectors of the economy. The Hemas offering consists of affordable, practical and high quality products and services in the Healthcare, FMCG, Transportation and Leisure sectors.

Through its history Hemas has built a solid reputation as a partner for high profile businesses and brands around the world, building synergistic relationships that have changed the paradigms of the Sri Lankan economy. more

OUR BUSINESSES

A diverse set of businesses for you to innovate and disrupt!

Hemas Hospitals

Hospitals

 Hemas hospitals are clean, efficient, affordable and accessible. Accredited for international standards by the Australian Council for Healthcare Standards, Hemas Hospitals offers you excellent patient care via hospitals at Wattala, Thalawathugoda and Galle, provide the best in safety, quality and care in surgery, internal medicine and diagnostics. more
Hemas Consumer - FMCG

FMCG

Hemas FMCG strives to enrich your lifestyle via innovative, trusted and exceptional products that offer greater satisfaction in everyday use. A leader in the personal care sector, Hemas brands encompass a range of products for babies and adults in hair care, skin care, toiletries, fragrances and oral care. more
Hemas Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals

Hemas Pharmaceuticals and Hemas Surgicals & Diagnostics are fully owned subsidiaries of Hemas Holdings PLC. We are the largest distributor of Pharmaceutical, Surgical and Diagnostic products in Sri Lanka with an extensive and widest reach and penetration throughout the country. Our strong sales network provides timely delivery of world renowned high quality brands. more
Hemas Hotels

Hotels

Serendib Leisure Hotel chain consists of five medium-class to up-market hotels in key tourist locations around the island, offering high quality personalized services. The hotels are managed by Serendib Leisure Management (Pvt) Ltd., whose vision is to ‘provide unique holiday experiences that are worth writing home about’ more

Travels

One of Sri Lanka's largest award winning travel agencies, IATA accredited Hemas Travels has consolidator status from most of the large global airlines operating to Sri Lanka. Our corporate travel service is a network partner of HRG which offers global travel services and hotel reservations. Hemas Travels offers both packaged and customised vacations to both popular and exotic locations more

Aviation

Hemas offers complete passenger and cargo solutions in Airline Representation and travel related services through an experienced team, excellent infrastructure & world class Aviation and Travel product and service partners. In ‘Outbound Travel’ we specialise in Corporate and Leisure Travel. We provide full service globally, via partnership with international travel major HRG, and our expertise in leisure & incentive travel more
Hemas Diethlem Travel

Diethlem Travels

Diethelm Travel is Sri Lanka's premier Destination Management Company, focused on providing quality driven, customized Sri Lankan travel experiences for individual travelers, groups, private and corporate travelers, Meeting Incentives Conventions Exhibitions (MICE) requirements, as well as tailor made holidays in the Maldives via Diethelm Travel The Maldives (DTTM) more
Hemas Diethlem Travel

Logistics

Hemas Logistics provides an integrated portfolio of solutions encompassing container haulage, container yard operations, warehousing, automotive logistics and transportation of project and over-dimensional cargo more
Hemas Diethlem Travel

Maritime

Hemas Maritime sector acts as a shipping agent providing agency services for our feeder operator and being involved in maritime related services to casual callers more

FAQ

Frequently asked Questions

How far along do you need to be before you can apply?

We accept applications at two levels — if you have a prototype developed (basically your product should have gone beyond the idea stage) or if you already have a company and is looking to accelerate its growth. - New Ventures: Slingshot invests at the early stage of a company’s lifecycle — “seed level” as the first institutional capital — this helps you validate and iterate your product and ultimately achieve product-market fit. - Acceleration: We also help existing businesses revamp their strategies, increase their addressable market opportunities, and focus on accelerating revenue growth to become a high-growth, venture-funded business.

What do you look for when evaluating applications?

One of the most important elements is your team. In the team, we look at the business-side founder. Ideally the best business side founders exhibit the traits of being able to sell a vision convincingly to customers, VCs, employees and the ability to know the things that need to be done to drive the business forward. Another key member is the technical founder who should have some traits such as: strong technical knowledge, tenacity, ability to explain complicated things clearly, judgment in making good tradeoffs, good product. We also place importance on the potential market size for your product. Our focus is on markets that are large enough to warrant investment. Prior experience in business is not required. Although if you have prior experience that provides an advantage to your new venture, which is a good thing.

Who are the backers of Slingshot?

The backers of Slingshot is Hemas Holdings PLC. One of Sri Lanka’s premier conglomerates – a widely diversified, public quoted company with a strong presence in several key sectors of the economy. The Hemas offering consists of affordable, practical and high quality products and services in the Healthcare, FMCG, Transportation and Leisure sectors. We also place importance on the potential market size for your product. Our focus is on markets that are large enough to warrant investment. Prior experience in business is not required. Although if you have prior experience that provides an advantage to your new venture, which is a good thing.

Why apply to Slingshot?

We are here to support you to develop market leading disruptive products. Since we are in a diverse set of businesses, we hope that we provide you ample opportunity to innovate and disrupt! Prior experience in business is not required. Although if you have prior experience that provides an advantage to your new venture, which is a good thing.

How does Slingshot work?

We have kept it as simple as possible. To understand the process please click here.

When and where is the program?

The program is operated through Hemas Holdings PLC office and is run throughout the year. So please apply if you fit our criteria!

How much funding would I receive?

Our funding will vary according to your investment requirements, but it will be upward of USD 10,000. The purpose is to give you enough funds to develop your prototype and make it go-to-market ready and of course to cover all start-up related expenses. In exchange for funding, we would take approximately 15-20% common stock, although the equity stake depends on capital needs and state of your business. Existing business owners can also expect funding as per your requirements and in this case we would fund you to take your business to the next level.

Why do you take equity?

We feel that the value of the support provided by us, business insights and mentoring provided by Slingshot is of great value to a startup or a business like yourself. The program will provide you with a focus and enhance your chances for success and business sustainability. Once you’re in the Slingshot program and we have invested in you, we’re motivated to help you succeed by introducing you to domain experts, assisting you with business strategy and execution, sourcing next level funding and helping you along your entrepreneurial journey.

What kind of startup or businesses do you fund?

We aim to fund any startup or business which has a strategic fit with the sectors that we operate in. For more details on our businesses click here. We believe we can add significant value to you since we are experts in the sectors we operate in and we can provide you with the required resources to help take your prototype to market.

I’m worried that if I apply, you won’t protect my intellectual property rights?

We’re not in the business of stealing ideas, and we treat application data as confidential information. Our application does not ask you to disclose anything you’re not comfortable doing so. We hope that our reputation as one of the premier conglomerates in Sri Lanka speaks for itself.

When will I be notified if I am moving forward in the process after submitting my application?

You will be contacted within two weeks if you have advanced to the interview stage. The interview will be in-person at our office where we would expect you to present what you have currently achieved with your product. Post interview, we will inform you whether the product is applicable for our Slingshot program.

Things you can do to strengthen your application

• Round out your team with business, technical, and other necessary skills. • Make progress on your prototype or product and reference it in the application. • Show us you’ve really thought about your business • Demonstrate early traction or provide data points to validate your core assumptions.

Do I need to send in a business plan?

No. Just fill out the online application – that’s all that’s required. Business plan requirements are in the later stage of the Slingshot program.

Do you fund companies that are competing with each other?

We avoid funding competing companies into the program.

What do I get if I get into Slingshot?

Please refer to the ‘Advantage’ section of our website.

What if I have more questions I need answered before I apply?

Let us know what they are -- they are welcomed. Email us at info@slingshot.com

Can I stop by your office?

We do welcome you to get in touch with us and drop by our office on a convenient date/time.

Questions that you should think about when applying to us

• Who’s on the team? What are their qualifications? Do they have any startup experience? • Does the business model seem logical? • How do you make money? • How large is your market? • What does the competition look like?

Do I need to be a registered business to apply?

You most certainly do not need to be a registered business. If we like your product/prototype we can support you to get your product market ready. Business registration can come later and we can help you with this as well. Registered businesses are also applicable and we can help accelerate your existing business.

ADVANTAGE

What do you get?

  • Access to a network of mentors, industry experts, investors and staff who will guide you when you need it the most.

  • You get access to a variety of experts focused on business modeling, sales & marketing, startup accounting, IP protection, legal, product design, mobile technologies and much more.

  • We’ll work together on your investor pitches, business and product strategy, growth and metrics even before you are a part of our program.

  • Thanks to our network, you can build relationships and partnerships that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

  • We will validate your business, and help you to meet and pitch to people who will give you a chance at $$$.

MEET THE BOARD

Our panel of experts

Steven Enderby

Executive Director / CEO  (Hemas Holdings PLC)

Malinga Arsakularatne

Executive Director/ MD - Leisure, Travel, Aviation Group (Hemas Holdings PLC)

Chandima Cooray

Chief Process Officer (Hemas Holdings PLC)  

Himesh Fernando

Director- Innovation (Hemas Holdings PLC)  

Deepal Sooriyaarachchi

Former Commissioner/Chairman - Sri Lanka Inventors Commission

Harsha Purasinghe

Founder / CEO – Microimage

Prof. Ajith de Alwis

Professor - Dept of Chemical and Process Eng - Uni of Moratuwa | Director – COSTI

Manju Gunawardana

Director – Hybrid Technologies | Consultant - Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC)

Chanaka Wickramasuriya

Managing Partner - Ironwood Capital Partners

APPLY

Slingshot Application

Please fill the application and send to us.

 

 

CHALLENGES

Develop solutions for real-world challenges

Welcome to the Challenge Center!

We at Hemas believe that there is always a solution to a problem that a business might be facing. We feel that to solve these problems we can harness the best and brightest minds out there.

If you feel you are a solution seeker and motivated to working on real-world problems then check out our set of challenges.

The best thing about the Challenge program is if you win, you could be selected for our Slingshot program and receive the required funding, mentorship, and support to help develop and commercialize your solution.

Please note that you don’t need to be enrolled in our Slingshot program to work on our Challenges, so go ahead and take the plunge!

To find out more about any of these challenges, you can reach us at info.slingshot@hemas.com

RESOURCES

Keep track of latest news and updates

Slingshot Startup Series Ep 1: Healthcare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-9Pfa7tmOk&feature=youtu.be ...

Slingshot Startup Series : Healthcare

The startup scene in Sri Lanka is bigger than ever right now. With things moving so fast, we’d like to slow things down and get some perspec ...

CONTACT US

We look forward to hearing from you