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Entrepreneurs Showcase Climate Adaptation Innovations at Demo Day

Ten entrepreneurs who received intensive support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Good Life X (GLX) business accelerator to develop their climate adaptation ideas displayed their results in a Demo Day event on August 2.

This Demo Day marked the end of an eight-month program designed to help early-stage businesses grow into scalable and sustainable enterprises that enhance the climate resilience of agriculture, fisheries, and tourism-associated livelihoods in Sri Lanka. The 10 businesses showcased their innovations before an audience of more than 80 investors, partners, and collaborators.

Climate-smart innovations introduced at the live-streamed event included products to better preserve food, solar charging kits, energy-efficient tea dryers, urban farming models, and seaweed-based organic fertilizers, among others. These businesses were coached by experts in innovation, business, climate change, agriculture, and tourism through a Climate Change Accelerator activity of GLX and USAID’s Climate Change Adaptation project.

“It is inspirational to think that one of the greatest challenges facing our world also presents some of the best business opportunities,” said United States Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas Sonnek, who addressed the event. “I am impressed with the leadership these enterprises have shown in tackling climate change.”

“Climate change, whether we like it or not, is real,” said Randhula de Silva, Founder CEO of GLX. “It is the most urgent threat to food security, biodiversity, and livelihoods; in short, to life on earth. This program was tailored to bring climate adaptation into the hands of entrepreneurs, so that our communities and ecosystems stand resilient and thriving amidst the changes.”

Showcased Businesses and Innovations

• Food Things: Introduced a vacuum sealer machine that increases the shelf-life of food and a solar-powered food dryer.
• Kulumoto: Demonstrated a prototype solar charging kit offering a zero-carbon footprint solution.
• Saruketha Organics: Presented an energy-efficient tea drying machine for their homemade organic forest tea.
• Ceylon Green and Aqua: Showcased an urban farming model combining aquaponics and integrated outdoor farming methods.
• Carbon Blueprint: Expanded value addition for cultivated seaweed to manufacture liquid organic fertilizers for vegetables and ornamental plants.
• Tourmate.lk (Eco Escape - Galle): Highlighted an eco-tourism model using an electric motor-powered boat for near-zero environmental footprint tours.
• Inova: Shared its bio-char production business as a soil conditioner and waste reduction process.
• Therapy Ceylon: Presented its infused tea products using native herbs, spices, and flowers.
• Iluktenne Plant Nursery: Expanded operations to include forest plant seedlings for conservation efforts.
• Raawana Agro Limited: Educated rural farmers on climate-smart technologies like polytunnel greenhouses.

U.S. Embassy Sri Lanka Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas E. Sonnek (center) discusses climate change adaptation ideas at a "Demo Day" event to highlight entrepreneurs developing climate change solutions.

USAID / Nihani Riza