Technopreneur

Competition Description

The Technopreneur Challenge is a premier digital entrepreneurial competition for undergraduates, introduced as part of SLIIT CODEFEST. Designed to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization, this competition provides young entrepreneurs with a platform to pitch, develop, and launch tech-driven startups while receiving mentorship, funding, and industry exposure.

Objective

The Technopreneur Challenge aims to identify and nurture Sri Lanka’s next generation of digital entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills, resources, and network to transform innovative digital ideas into scalable businesses.

🔆 Key Features & Benefits

o Access to Expert Mentorship – Guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and IT professionals.

o Real Investment & Funding – Potential for angel investment, startup grants, and sponsorships.

o Incubation & Acceleration Support – Winning teams receive access to SLIIT’s Innovation & Incubation Center.

o Industry Collaboration – Partnerships with leading tech firms, accelerators, and government agencies.

o Hands-on Entrepreneurial Experience – Participants gain practical knowledge in startup management, business strategy, and product development.

✨ Impact & Expected Outcomes

o Empowers undergraduates with real-world entrepreneurial skills.

o Strengthens Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem by fostering tech-driven enterprises.

o Encourages academic-industry collaboration to drive digital innovation.

o Positions SLIIT as a leader in promoting technopreneurship and innovation.

Competition Structure

Phase 1: The Open Call – Idea Submission & Shortlisting

🔺 Open to undergraduates from universities and higher education institutes.

🔺 Teams (3-4 members) submit their tech-driven business idea with a problem statement, solution approach, market analysis, and revenue model.

🔺 A panel of experts shortlists the top 20 teams based on innovation, feasibility, scalability, and impact.

Phase 2: Incubation & Mentorship Bootcamp

Selected teams enter a four-week bootcamp, featuring:

🔺Weekly workshops (online or on campus) on business model development, funding strategies, UX/UI, marketing, and investor pitching.

🔺 Hands-on mentorship from startup founders, venture capitalists, and tech leaders.

🔺 Market analytics and customer validation support.

🔺All members need to participate in all activities and fulfill the requirements of this phase to be eligible for the grand pitch.

Each team refines their pitch and prepares a working prototype or MVP (Minimum Viable Product).

Phase 3: The Grand Pitch – Investor Showdown

The top 10 teams present their startup ideas in a Shark Tank-style live pitch to a jury of industry experts and investors. Judges assess teams based on innovation, viability, scalability, financial projections, and presentation skills.

Winning teams receive:

🏆 Funding from investors or grants from corporate sponsors.

🚀 Entry into an accelerator or incubation program.
🤝 Mentorship and networking opportunities with successful entrepreneurs.

Team size

  • Open to undergraduates from universities and higher education institutes.
  • Teams (3-4 members) submit their tech-driven business idea with a problem statement, solution approach, market analysis, and revenue model.

Eligibility

  • Open to undergraduates of university/ higher education institutes.
  • Teams must consist of 3-4 members.
  • Each participant can only be part of one team.

Technologies / Syllabus

  • No restriction

Rules and regulations

  1. Registration & Submission

🔴 Teams must register by deadline specified by the organizing committee through CODEFEST 2025 platform.

🔴Submissions must include a business plan.

🔴 All work must be original and comply with ethical standards.

  1. Competition Stages

✅ Phase 1: Idea Submission & Shortlisting

✅Phase 2: Mentorship & Prototype Development

✅Phase 3: Final Pitch & Judging

  1. Judging Criteria

Teams will be evaluated based on:

🔶 Innovation & Creativity (20%)

🔶Market Viability (20%)

🔶Technical Feasibility (20%)

🔶Business Model & Scalability (20%)

🔶Pitch Quality & Presentation (20%)

  1. Intellectual Property & Ethics

🔷 Teams retain ownership of their ideas but must grant organizers the right to showcase them.

🔷 No plagiarism or use of pre-existing projects allowed.

  1. Awards & Prizes

🟡Winning teams will receive cash prizes, mentorship, incubator access, etc.

🟡 Special category awards (e.g., Best Social Impact Idea).

  1. Code of Conduct

🟪 Participants must maintain professionalism and respect all competitors, judges, and mentors.

🟪Any misconduct, including cheating, will result in disqualification.

Number of rounds

Registration: The Open Call – Idea Submission & Shortlisting

Round 1: Incubation & Mentorship Bootcamp

Round 2: The Grand Pitch – Investor Showdown

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