Colombo, Sri Lanka: Disrupt Asia 2025, the island nation’s premier startup festival and innovation conference, will be hosted in Colombo from September 17–20, 2025, bringing together regional and global leaders to position Sri Lanka as South Asia’s emerging innovation hub.
Organized by the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), with support from international partners, the event will connect entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and changemakers.
Disrupt Asia 2025 to Accelerate Digital Transformation and Startup Growth
Building on successful editions between 2016 and 2019, Disrupt Asia 2025 will focus on driving digital transformation and fostering cross-border collaborations.
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The four-day event will feature curated discussions, networking sessions, and public showcases. Key initiatives include the launch of a USD 50 million Fund of Funds to support mission-driven startups, the creation of a Virtual Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to attract global tech firms, and new policy frameworks to enable deeper private sector engagement.
India’s Central Role in Disrupt Asia 2025
India is expected to play a significant role in shaping this year’s edition. Earlier in 2025, Disrupt Asia collaborated with Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi, where a dedicated Sri Lankan pavilion showcased 10 high-potential startups across MedTech, FinTech, EdTech, AI, and Blockchain.
The event also witnessed the signing of a landmark MoU between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Digital Economy and India’s Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), aimed at strengthening innovation diplomacy, enabling joint policies, and fostering cross-border technology exchanges.
Global and Regional Startup Leaders to Participate
The event will feature notable voices from India’s startup ecosystem, including:
- Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder & CEO, Paytm (Keynote Address)
- Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners and Surge (Panel on South Asia’s Investment Landscape)
- Kiran Chandra Kalluri, Partner, Dallas Venture Capital
- Vineet Rai, Co-Founder, Intellecap
They will be joined by international leaders such as Prashant Gulati (TiE Dubai), Nathan Griffith (Australia), James Tan (Quest Ventures, Singapore), and Carl R Hartlein (UK).
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Showcasing Sri Lanka’s Top 50 Startups
The conference will also highlight 50 of Sri Lanka’s most promising startups, including Utech Technologies, Permia Sensing Lanka, SimpleBook, Nanosoft Global, MAGICBITS, PayMedia, Aahayani, Blue Lotus 360, Agent Zappy, and Emojot. These companies represent diverse sectors spanning health tech, fintech, AI, sustainability, and enterprise solutions.
Strengthening Regional Innovation Ecosystem
According to H.E. Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, the event reflects the growing innovation and technology partnership between the two countries. He emphasized the role of Disrupt Asia in supporting Sri Lankan talent to connect with India’s vibrant tech ecosystem.
Built on the five pillars of partnerships, pathways, people, policies, and prosperity, Disrupt Asia 2025 is more than just a startup platform—it is a regional movement to shape the future of entrepreneurship, technology, and cross-border innovation in South Asia.
Tickets for Disrupt Asia 2025 are now open.
For details, visit: https://disruptasia.today
