Sri Lanka hosts first-ever TiEcon 2026

TiE Global Chairman Murali Bukkapatnam, TiE Colombo President Madu Ratnayake, Business Model Canvas Creator Dr. Alexander Osterwalder, Personal Brand Strategist Kelly Lundberg

Over 600 local and international delegates participate in summit
Theme focused on international market entry strategies
Over 30 international speakers share strategic business insights
Summit highlights emerging trends in global trade and investment
Networking sessions link local startups with mentors from 14 countries

By Safna Malik

TiECON 2026, the flagship annual conference of the global TiE network, was hosted for the first time in Sri Lanka last week at Cinnamon Life.

Organised by TiE Colombo under the theme “Go Global: The Runway to the World,” created a significant platform for local enterprises to engage with the international market. The event attracted 600 participants and 30 international experts to explore pathways for business expansion.

The forum brought together a diverse audience, ranging from individual entrepreneurs with global projects to large companies aiming for international growth. It also drew in intrapreneurs, growth-driven professionals from strategy, marketing, HR, and IT executive teams. Furthermore, the event engaged policymakers and academia to align national goals with global trends, while local and foreign investor groups actively scouted for new opportunities.

Unlike typical conferences, the summit featured a curated network lounge that ran in parallel to the main sessions. This space helped connect entrepreneurs and build the credibility and reach needed to scale as international brands. Supported by HNB PLC as the Platinum Sponsor, the setup included five panel discussions focused on key themes relevant to current global shifts. Sessions included understanding trade shifts and tariffs, managing a “second wave” of expansion through inflexion points, applying practical AI tools, leveraging the global talent base, and building powerful company and personal brands.

The first panel discussion, titled “From Exporter to Brand”, explored the shift from cost-based competition to building global trust and brand equity. Moderated by Stax a Grant Thornton US Company Partner, Ruwindhu Peiris, the session featured Author and Personal Brand Strategist Kelly Lundberg, Crepe Runner CEO and Founder Abdus Salaam, Creedcap Managing Director Vishal Pereira, Social Beat Co-Founder Vikas Chawla, and Dilmah Tea and Dilmah Conservation CEO Dilhan Fernando.

The panel discussed how creating a trusted name is essential for global recognition and premium market value.

The second panel discussion focused on second-wave expansion, moving from regional success to global leadership. nVentures Managing Partner Chalinda Abeykoon moderated a group that included LOLC Holdings PLC Senior Manager of Mergers and Acquisitions Gayathri Ramachandran, and Anita B India Managing Director Shreya Krishnan. They were joined by Startup Steroid and TiE SoCal Angels Fund Co-Founder Anshuman Sinha, Strategyzer Founder and CEO Alex Osterwalder, and Isso Restaurants CEO and Founder Apinash Sivagumaaran. The experts explained how companies can go beyond a single market to achieve multi-continent expansion by identifying the right growth curves.

The third panel discussion addressed the impact of AI and digital disruption on the business landscape. Speakers noted that shifting customer expectations and new competitive models require even established firms to change.

Moderated by Rockland Distilleries Ltd. Group CEO Dilmini Weragama, the panel included Aistra Co-Founder and Managing Partner Eric Selvadurai, CIO Advisor and Mentor Prasad Ramakrishnan, Hunar.AI CTO Shantanu Bhattacharyya, and Ecosystem Group CEO and Founder Amit Gupta. They emphasised that practical AI adoption is a necessity for maintaining relevance today.

The fourth panel discussion, titled “Global Talent and Culture: Building Cohesion Across Borders”, explored the logistics of running international teams. PeoplesHR Chief Strategy Officer Nilendra Weerasinghe moderated this session featuring STEER World Executive Chairman Hari TN, International Tennis Hall of Fame Sports Commentator Vijay Amitraj, and Apex Hospitals and ACE Consultants Director Sheenu Jhawar. The panel highlighted that while technology connects people, a unified culture is what keeps global productivity and values intact.

The final panel discussion focused on creating global recognition and looking beyond mere market entry. Speakers discussed how to turn trade shifts and regulatory uncertainty into a competitive edge. Moderated by HNB PLC Chief Executive Officer Damith Pallewatte and Advocata Chief Executive Officer Dhananath Fernando, the panel included Valuecent Group CEO Dr (CA) Vikas S. Chaturvedi, 99x Technology Sri Lanka Founder and Chairman Mano Sekaram, CSF Economist and Co-founder Anushka Wijesinghe, and Volksy Technologies Founder and CEO Murali Bukkapatnam.

The event also served as a moment of global recognition for partners from various TiE chapters, including TiE-Delhi NCR, TiE-Chennai, TiE- Singapore, TiE- Melbourne, TiE-Toronto, TiE-Bhubaneshwar, TiE-Hyderabad, TiE-Atlanta, and TiE-Southern California.

To honour specific achievements, several awards were presented. The TiEU Excellence Awards were given to ITSELF Automation Pvt LTD Founders, Himal Gunawardhana and Roman Figurado. The Leadership Award for TiE Women was presented to Apex Hospitals Director Sheenu Jhawar and Murthy Law Firm President and Founder Sheela Murthy, while the TiE Women Excellence Award was given to Littoral Intelligence Founder Sarah Dole.

TiECON Sri Lanka 2026 provided a complete roadmap for international growth. The connections made and the strategies shared have equipped local founders to scale confidently beyond national borders. This summit was a catalyst for Sri Lankan innovation, ensuring that local businesses have the preparation and reach needed for lasting success on the world stage.

Despite past setbacks from war and the pandemic to the economic crisis and natural disasters, Sri Lanka has proven its resilience. This summit marks a turning point for the nation. It provides a unique opportunity for local entrepreneurs to connect with global markets and investors. By leveraging these new connections, Sri Lankan businesses can now reach their full potential on the world stage.

- Pix by Lasantha Kumara

Source : DailyFT