{
  "id": 13294305,
  "title": "Dialog & IESL open National Startup Challenge to empower Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/dialog-iesl-open-national-startup-challenge-to-empower-sri-lankas",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-10T00:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/dialog-iesl-open-national-startup-challenge-to-empower-sri-lankas-entrepreneurs/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka's leading connectivity provider, and the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) have joined forces to launch the IESL National Startup Challenge. This initiative aims to empower the country's entrepreneurs by providing a structured pathway for innovative ideas to become commercially viable startups. The challenge, launched on 5 October 2026, invites Engineering Undergraduates, Engineering Practitioners, and participants in the Open Category for Non-Engineers to submit ideas across 12 innovation verticals aligned with national priorities, emerging technology, and market trends. Participants will progress through various stages of development, including idea development, pitching, incubation, prototyping, validation, minimum viable product development, and business scaling. Supported by industry experts, mentors, and ecosystem partners, the programme culminates in a Top 10 selection, with the first-place winner receiving an award of LKR 1 million. Dialog is not only the title sponsor but also contributes technical expertise, mentors, and digital resources to help participating teams develop, validate, and scale their solutions.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}