WHAT IS JKX ACCELERATE?
JKX Accelerate is a corporate startup accelerator program where we invest in early stage companies that are building innovative and disruptive solutions for real life problems that have significant scale.
Our goal is to get you through the difficult early phases of building your companies and get you to the point where you have built something interesting enough to raise more funding and get more business partners on board.
The relationships built during our program continue beyond the structured 9 months as we want to build long lasting fruitful partnerships, where we would be in your corner rooting for you as long as you want us to be!
WHY JKX ACCELERATE?
Early Stage
Investment
You get vital early stage investment from a blue-chip investor. Up to 7 teams will receive funding of up to LKR 5 million EACH, for a maximum stake of 10% of their company and follow up rounds of up to Rs. 50 million. Not bad for 9 months work!
Training and
Support
You get training on a curated curriculum, business mentorship from experienced corporate leaders and also get access to our corporate services such as legal and finance. Accelerator participants get customized training focused on Growth and Execution, office space and many other resources.
Connections
and Access
You will have direct access to our Group’s businesses, employees and other connections. You could use our customers, channels, systems and data to test your MVP’s and iterate. Attracting customers, investors, and talent is much easier with Sri Lanka’s top conglomerate in your corner.
HOW IT WORKS
OPEN DAY
Register for an OPEN DAY where we will talk about our Accelerator program in detail and have a fireside chat featuring our alumni along with prominent figures in the startup eco system. We will also take in any questions you have about the program or application process and give you the chance to book a one-on-one meeting with the JKX team prior to filling in the application form. You can use the following link to register as a participant; http://bit.ly/JKXaccelerateApplications Close
15th February (midnight) is the last day to submit your application. We hope to select and announce teams on a weekly basis from the 1st of February so applying early ensures that we have sufficient time to read your application and provide helpful feedback which in turn gives you a better chance at being selected.Announce Pre-Accelerator Teams
Up to 30 teams will be selected for a 4 month Pre-Accelerator program and an opportunity to enter the accelerator program with seed funding.Pre-Accelerator
Don’t get ahead of yourself young Jedi, train up first. We’ll guide you through the latest training and support. Connect with the mentors and business leaders each Tuesday as you prepare for Demo Day. Get hands on training from JKH corporate services on important aspects such as legal, finance, etc. Basically, get investor and pitch ready! If you wish, you may also co-innovate and solve challenges that are listed under JKX Incubate sub-program.DEMO Day
The big day! Pitch your startup to the panel of judges. Up to 7 teams will be selected for a seed round investment of Rs. 5 million each, for 10% of your startup.Accelerator Program
Growth and Execution Training - Get customized training from leading international trainers. You will get comprehensive training on setting up your Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), Customer Development, Products and Road maps, Building and Managing Teams, Growth, Marketing, Sales, Business Model Selection, Unit Economics, Execution and Planning etc. Funded teams get unparalleled access to John Keells customers and channels to hit the ground running. Don’t underestimate how important your first customers are.Ongoing Support and Weekly Reviews
We’ll keep checking in with each company weekly, guiding and preparing them for the next big steps in their journey. You will also have access to our network of mentors during this period.Follow on Investment Pitch
Each team gets a chance to present their companies and vision to the JKH board. There’s the potential to earn up to Rs. 50 million in follow-on investment.
EXPERTS
Vlad Bodi
Growth Consultant / Mentor
Marius Ursache
Founder & MIT Teaching fellow
Vlad Bodi
Growth Consultant / Mentor
Growth Tribe
Europe's first Growth Hacking Academy
Marius Ursache
Founder & MIT Teaching fellow
OUR JUDGES
Dumith
Fernando
Chairman - Asia Securities Holdings
Ramesh Shanmuganathan
Group CIO - John Keells Group
Gihan Cooray
Deputy Chairman & Group Finance Director - Johnn Keells Group
Ajit
Gunewardene
Founder and CEO - Bluestone Capital
Krishan
Balendra
Chairman - John Keells Group
Krishan Balendra was appointed as an Executive Director of JKH in November 2016 and was appointed as Deputy Chairman of JKH on January 1st 2018. He is also the Chairman of Nations Trust Bank PLC. He was previously the President of the Leisure and Retail Sectors at JKH. Mr. Balendra joined JKH in 2002 as Head of Corporate Finance after stints at UBS Warburg, Hong Kong in Investment Banking and Aitken Spence Sri Lanka in Corporate Finance. Mr. Balendra, a former Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, holds a law degree (LLB) from the University of London and an MBA from INSEAD. He is also the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Sri Lanka in addition to being a Member of the Main Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
“Dumith is Chairman of Asia Securities Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a leading independent Investment Bank in Sri Lanka which offers Investment Banking, Research, Stock Broking and Wealth Management services to international and domestic institutions, corporates and high net worth individuals. Dumith has two decades of experience in international Investment Banking based in New York and Hong Kong with JPMorgan Chase & Co. (from 1995 until 2007) and Credit Suisse AG (from 2007 until 2013). Until 2013, he was Managing Director and Group Chief Operating Officer for Credit Suisse Asia Pacific. He has worked in roles across Investment Banking, Equities, Venture Capital and Corporate Strategy. Dumith is a Non-Executive Director of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Union Assurance PLC, and Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC and a member of the Economic Policy Steering Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. He also served as Chairman of Lankan Angel Network (LAN) Sri Lanka’s main angel investor organization. He holds a BA in Physics & Economics from Middlebury College in the U.S. and an MBA from Harvard Business School. “
Ajit Gunewardene is the Founder & CEO of Bluestone Capital Private Limited. He was the Deputy Chairman of John Keells Holdings PLC and has been a member of the Board for over 24 years. In addition to this he was the Chairman of Union Assurance PLC a leading life insurance provider in Sri Lanka. He is the Founder Chairman of Digital Mobility Solutions (PVT) Limited (Pick Me) – the leading ride hailing service provider in the Country. He is a member of the Board of SLINTEC, a company established for the development of nanotechnology in Sri Lanka under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Technology. He has also served as the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange and Nations Trust Bank PLC. Ajit has a degree in Economics and brings over 36 years of management experience.
Ramesh presently leads the Digital and Technology strategy/execution for the John Keells Group, Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerate in the Colombo Stock Exchange, as its Executive Vice President/ Group CIO whilst providing leadership for the Group’s IT Consultancy and Services’ Organization, John Keells IT as its CEO. He is a seasoned Digital cum Business Executive, Leader and Strategist, who has provided effective stewardship for many organizations, including premier, blue-chip, conglomerates, working in some of the most competitive markets in the technology industry. He has over 25 years of experience, with 15+ at the C-level, in Sri Lanka, USA and India with an operational footprint covering territories such as USA, Canada, UK, Nordics, Middle East, Australia and emerging markets. He holds to his credit a PhD (Management) from Keisei University, South Korea, MSc(Computer Science) with Phi Kappa Phi Honours from Rochester Institute of Technology, a MBA(General) from Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka; BSc.Eng.(Electronics & Telecommunications) with First class Honours from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
Gihan Cooray was appointed as an Executive Director of JKH in November 2016 and was appointed as Group Finance Director of JKH on January 1st 2018. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Nations Trust Bank PLC. Mr. Cooray holds an MBA from the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University, Houston, Texas. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK, a Certified Management Accountant of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Australia and has a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK. He serves as a Member of the Sub-Committee on Economic, Fiscal and Policy Planning of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.