ARTECULATE
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Premium
  • Features
    How iMotorbike is Ensuring Peace of Mind in Used Motorcycle Purchases in Southeast Asia

    How iMotorbike is Ensuring Peace of Mind in Used Motorcycle Purchases in Southeast Asia

    Enstack | Small Business | Superapp | SME

    How Enstack’s Superapp is Helping Small Businesses in Southeast Asia to Grow

    Smartryde

    Elevate Your Travel Experience in Asia with SmartRyde’s Prebooked Airport Transfers

    MillenniumIT ESP | Internet of Things | Digital Transformation | Industry 4.0

    How MillenniumIT ESP is Enabling Manufacturers to Embrace Industry 4.0 with Data and IoT

    MAS Holdings Partners With PickMe To Support Official Transportation Requirements

    MAS Holdings Partners With PickMe To Support Official Transportation Requirements

    Fortude-Team

    Fortude at 10&Beyond: How a Unique Culture is Driving its Global Expansion

    Equitably Workplaces | DCLK | Diversity | Inclusion

    Building More Equitable Workplaces: Expert Insights from Diversity Collective Lanka

    How LEARN Empowers Scholars – A Conversation with Prof. Pradeepa Bandaranayake

    How LEARN Empowers Scholars – A Conversation with Prof. Pradeepa Bandaranayake

    Breaking Down Barriers: How Zetl is Making Finance More Accessible to Business Across Asia

    Breaking Down Barriers: How Zetl is Making Finance More Accessible to Business Across Asia

    Unlocking the Power of Data: How Zone24x7 is Driving Business Growth Across Industries

    Unlocking the Power of Data: How Zone24x7 is Driving Business Growth Across Industries

  • Startups
  • Events
  • Hotpicks
  • Community
    Unlock The Secrets of Startup Funding with Founders Institute Sri Lanka

    Unlock The Secrets of Startup Funding with Founders Institute Sri Lanka

    The RiskSense Story: Building a Cyber Security Product

    The RiskSense Story: Building a Cyber Security Product

    Negotiating to Thrive – Lessons from a Hostage Negotiator

    Negotiating to Thrive – Lessons from a Hostage Negotiator

    First wildlife travel-based management lessons book by Sarath Perera to be launched

    First wildlife travel-based management lessons book by Sarath Perera to be launched

    Hack:bit 2020 is bringing the ideas of students and undergraduates to life

    Hack:bit 2020 is bringing the ideas of students and undergraduates to life

    ESCaPe 2020: University of Peradeniya’s Engineering Students Conference

    ESCaPe 2020: University of Peradeniya’s Engineering Students Conference

    Trending Tags

    • Contributor
    • Billboard
    SUBSCRIBE
    • News
    • Premium
    • Features
      How iMotorbike is Ensuring Peace of Mind in Used Motorcycle Purchases in Southeast Asia

      How iMotorbike is Ensuring Peace of Mind in Used Motorcycle Purchases in Southeast Asia

      Enstack | Small Business | Superapp | SME

      How Enstack’s Superapp is Helping Small Businesses in Southeast Asia to Grow

      Smartryde

      Elevate Your Travel Experience in Asia with SmartRyde’s Prebooked Airport Transfers

      MillenniumIT ESP | Internet of Things | Digital Transformation | Industry 4.0

      How MillenniumIT ESP is Enabling Manufacturers to Embrace Industry 4.0 with Data and IoT

      MAS Holdings Partners With PickMe To Support Official Transportation Requirements

      MAS Holdings Partners With PickMe To Support Official Transportation Requirements

      Fortude-Team

      Fortude at 10&Beyond: How a Unique Culture is Driving its Global Expansion

      Equitably Workplaces | DCLK | Diversity | Inclusion

      Building More Equitable Workplaces: Expert Insights from Diversity Collective Lanka

      How LEARN Empowers Scholars – A Conversation with Prof. Pradeepa Bandaranayake

      How LEARN Empowers Scholars – A Conversation with Prof. Pradeepa Bandaranayake

      Breaking Down Barriers: How Zetl is Making Finance More Accessible to Business Across Asia

      Breaking Down Barriers: How Zetl is Making Finance More Accessible to Business Across Asia

      Unlocking the Power of Data: How Zone24x7 is Driving Business Growth Across Industries

      Unlocking the Power of Data: How Zone24x7 is Driving Business Growth Across Industries

    • Startups
    • Events
    • Hotpicks
    • Community
      Unlock The Secrets of Startup Funding with Founders Institute Sri Lanka

      Unlock The Secrets of Startup Funding with Founders Institute Sri Lanka

      The RiskSense Story: Building a Cyber Security Product

      The RiskSense Story: Building a Cyber Security Product

      Negotiating to Thrive – Lessons from a Hostage Negotiator

      Negotiating to Thrive – Lessons from a Hostage Negotiator

      First wildlife travel-based management lessons book by Sarath Perera to be launched

      First wildlife travel-based management lessons book by Sarath Perera to be launched

      Hack:bit 2020 is bringing the ideas of students and undergraduates to life

      Hack:bit 2020 is bringing the ideas of students and undergraduates to life

      ESCaPe 2020: University of Peradeniya’s Engineering Students Conference

      ESCaPe 2020: University of Peradeniya’s Engineering Students Conference

      Trending Tags

      • Contributor
      • Billboard
      No Result
      View All Result
      ARTECULATE
      No Result
      View All Result

      PickMe CEO Drives Crucial Conversations with regional Startup Personalities

      Arteculate Arteculate
      April 30, 2021
      · 5 mins read
      PickMe CEO Drives Crucial Conversations with regional Startup Personalities
      Share on Facebook Share on LinkedinShare on Whatsapp

      Over the past decade, the Sri Lankan startup ecosystem has grown steadily. But as we look across the region, we see that we still have much to learn. Just an hour-long flight away, our neighbour India is home to the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. Already, India has produced 10 unicorns in 2021 – 6 of them just last week. Some of these like Byjus, Flipkart, and Ola are even giving global giants a run for their money in the growing subcontinent market. 

      You may also like

      Saison Capital

      Saison Capital Reveals its Asia-Forward Footprint Across Web3 Ecosystem and Token Fund

      April 11, 2023
      Gapstars | TukTuk

      Tech for Sustainable Tourism: Gapstars as the Technology Partner for Tuk Tuk Tournament 2022

      November 30, 2022
      GEW - Global Entrepreneurship Week

      Global Entrepreneurship Week Sri Lanka 2022 Has Begun!

      November 16, 2022
      PickMe Pass

      PickMe Launches PickMe Pass: Enjoy Unlimited FREE Delivery on all your Orders!

      November 16, 2022

      With very similar cultures to our neighbours, Sri Lanka is uniquely positioned to learn from this success and follow in their footsteps. In line with the 1st Sri Lanka Internet Day 2021, the CEO of PickMe, Jiffry Zulfer hosted a conversation with the Founder and CEO of YourStory, Shradha Sharma. The conversation between the two explored how entrepreneurs could succeed, in turn, helping the wider ecosystem grow.

      Lessons on success for entrepreneurs  

      PickMe | Startup
      At the inaugural Sri Lanka Internet Day, CEO of PickMe, Jiffry Zulfer and Founder & CEO of YourStory, Shradha Sharma had a detailed conversation on how Sri Lankan startups can succeed

      The conversation between Zulfer and Shradha explored many facets of entrepreneurship. Among them, a great taboo in South Asia culture called “failure”. Something that’s very much part and parcel of entrepreneurship. Remembering his early days, Zulfer shared that when he told his parents he’d be starting his own company, the response he faced was, “Son, you better not fail.”

      Alas, there’s no foolproof manual that guarantees success for a startup, although it’s possible to take steps to reduce the odds of failure. A crucial one being that entrepreneurs shouldn’t be blindly passionate about their startup ideas. In a worst-case scenario, they risk failure by shrugging off critical feedback from people willing to help. Hence, another step for avoiding failure is to invest in building a credible personal network. It’s also crucial that an entrepreneur knows when to let go of their startup to grow beyond them. 

      PickMe | Startup
      A recent discussion from F’up Fridays, a monthly meetup encouraging entrepreneurs to share about failures, with two prominent Sri Lankan personalities, Dhanika Perera – Founder & CEO of Bhasha and Selyna Peiris – Director Business Development of Selyn

      Ultimately, failure at any point is inevitable. Even if a startup raises millions after an IPO to gain unicorn status, it can still fail and shut down. Taking this example, Shradha added, “When such a startup raises millions, they’re praised as a success but when they shut down, they’re written off as a failure without a second thought. So who decides what success and failure are?” There’s no supreme authority to do so. For entrepreneurs, failure is merely a stepping stone to more significant learning for the next time. 

      Diving in further, the conversation between Zulfer and Shradha explored what lessons the Sri Lankan startup ecosystem could learn from India. A crucial one the duo identified was the importance of entrepreneurs looking beyond simply generating revenue. Their vision should be impact-driven, where they ask, “How can I improve the lives of others? What technologies can I use to remove barriers for others?” Such thinking is a necessity to build long-term sustainable businesses. 

      In retrospect, another aspect the duo discussed at Sri Lanka Internet Day was how entrepreneurs should prepare for fundraising. Typically, investors seek founders that have big ideas, who are entrepreneurial, can communicate with clarity, and have a proof of concept or minimum viable product. Shradha particularly stressed the importance of clarity. It’s a trait prized by investors as they dig into the details like the target market of a startup.

      How PickMe empowers Sri Lankan entrepreneurs

      PickMe | Startup
      Much like how PickMe started off with a vision of improving the transportation industry by removing its barriers, Shradha emphasized the importance of entrepreneurs having an impact-driven vision (Image credits: IFC)

      Over the past year, particularly during lockdowns, PickMe has become a vital tool that allows several small businesses to continue operations. This was driven largely by the introduction of new services like PickMe Market (MarketPlace) and PickMe Flash. Such services have allowed pharmacy chains to deliver medicines and even smaller home bakers to deliver food to your doorstep. The company is expanding its logistics arms to continue these efforts, being mindful of helping small businesses grow.

      Taking a step further, PickMe has also focused careful efforts on diversity and inclusion, building a strong record of empowering female entrepreneurs. PickMe’s ride-hailing platform has eliminated many barriers that previously prevented women from entering the transportation industry. The platform has seen a steady growth in female drivers, many of them driving tuks and delivering goods on motorbikes. Likewise, there’s also strong demand for female drivers. According to a study by the IFC, 90% of female riders prefer female drivers. As more women join the platform as drivers, PickMe has continued to expand its efforts to remove any remaining barriers that hold women back in the transportation sector.

      Looking beyond the pandemic

      PickMe | Startup
      With the expansion of its logistics arm, PickMe has expanded its support for small businesses in Sri Lanka (Image credits: PickMe)

      In closing, the conversation between Zulfer and Shradha returned to remind entrepreneurs about the importance of an impact-driven vision. Particularly, after a challenging year like 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s still possible for entrepreneurs to overcome these challenges and create a large positive impact on the world. As Shradha puts in her own words, “Go and create your own stories, create a very powerful story and create impact.”

      Tags: PickMeSponsored
      ShareShareSend
      Previous Post

      Spiralation Series: MagicBit Makes Innovation Simple for Young Minds

      Next Post

      Spiralation Series: Days of Dreading Exams are over with ExamHub

      Arteculate

      Arteculate

      Arteculate is your guide to the Asian tech industry. We give you unparalleled insights, accurate, local tech news, thoughtful features and sometimes scathing opinions on where things are headed. Stay tuned for the best of Asia!

      Recommended Stories

      Saison Capital
      News

      Saison Capital Reveals its Asia-Forward Footprint Across Web3 Ecosystem and Token Fund

      April 11, 2023
      Gapstars | TukTuk
      News

      Tech for Sustainable Tourism: Gapstars as the Technology Partner for Tuk Tuk Tournament 2022

      November 30, 2022
      GEW - Global Entrepreneurship Week
      News

      Global Entrepreneurship Week Sri Lanka 2022 Has Begun!

      November 16, 2022
      PickMe Pass
      News

      PickMe Launches PickMe Pass: Enjoy Unlimited FREE Delivery on all your Orders!

      November 16, 2022
      Gapstars | Great Place to Work | Technology | Culture
      News

      Gapstars Continues To Break Records: Among the Top 100 Workplaces in Asia

      November 10, 2022
      She Loves Tech
      Startup News

      The Winning Women-Led Startups of She Loves Tech Sri Lanka 2022

      October 12, 2022
      Leave Comment

      Recommended Stories

      How iMotorbike is Ensuring Peace of Mind in Used Motorcycle Purchases in Southeast Asia

      How iMotorbike is Ensuring Peace of Mind in Used Motorcycle Purchases in Southeast Asia

      May 31, 2023
      Enstack | Small Business | Superapp | SME

      How Enstack’s Superapp is Helping Small Businesses in Southeast Asia to Grow

      May 24, 2023
      Smartryde

      Elevate Your Travel Experience in Asia with SmartRyde’s Prebooked Airport Transfers

      May 17, 2023
      MillenniumIT ESP | Internet of Things | Digital Transformation | Industry 4.0

      How MillenniumIT ESP is Enabling Manufacturers to Embrace Industry 4.0 with Data and IoT

      May 15, 2023
      MAS Holdings Partners With PickMe To Support Official Transportation Requirements

      MAS Holdings Partners With PickMe To Support Official Transportation Requirements

      May 12, 2023
      Fortude-Team

      Fortude at 10&Beyond: How a Unique Culture is Driving its Global Expansion

      May 10, 2023

      Popular Stories

      • Coca Cola and Avocado: A Partnership Rewarding Food Experiences

        Coca Cola and Avocado: A Partnership Rewarding Food Experiences

        0 shares
        Share 0 Tweet 0
      • Rhoda: The all-electric Sri Lankan Roadster

        0 shares
        Share 0 Tweet 0
      • Spotify Expands Into Sri Lanka: Exploring What It Has To Offer

        0 shares
        Share 0 Tweet 0
      • Leveraging the Power of AI: How EBI is Building a Digitally Inclusive Sri Lanka

        0 shares
        Share 0 Tweet 0
      • The DirectPay Story: Building a Virtual Bank One Digital Brick at a Time

        0 shares
        Share 0 Tweet 0
      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
      • Premium
      • Features
      • Startups
      • Events
      • Hotpicks
      • Community
      • Contributor
      • Billboard

      © 2020 Arteculate™ All Rights Reserved.

      Are you sure want to unlock this post?
      Unlock left : 0
      Are you sure want to cancel subscription?