Regional recognition marks an important milestone for the Sri Lankan co-working ecosystem.
Hatch’s mission to define and refine the standards of The Future of Work is well underway, and it’s gathering more momentum than ever. The innovative co-working space and startup incubator has been awarded “The Best Co-Working Space 2020” at the prestigious SAARC Startup Awards. This is the first time a Sri Lankan co-working space has made a mark in the regional competition and it is a milestone that has directed the global spotlight on Hatch’s unique approach to fostering innovation in Sri Lanka.
The SAARC Startup Awards brings hundreds of South Asian startups, entrepreneurs, investors, co-working spaces, and accelerators together every year to provide a platform to showcase trailblazers in the region’s startup world. Hatch was selected ahead of dozens of other regional co-working spaces competing in the awards. The victory means Hatch will be heading to the world’s most prestigious forum for startup culture, the Global Startup Awards.
Sri Lanka is a relative newcomer to the South Asian startup fraternity and it is a remarkable achievement for Hatch to represent the country on the world stage only two and half years after its own beginning in 2018.
CEO and Co-Founder Brindha Selvadurai-Gnanam believes Hatch is redefining how we approach work. “At Hatch, we are determined to provide everything you may need to succeed. Our doors are open to all deep-thinkers, innovators and mischief-makers of all shapes and sizes. Hatch is a place where everyone can inspire each other. We are building a culture of smart, spirited, fun-loving entrepreneurs to come together and take on the world’s biggest challenges because we envision an economy fueled by innovators who will reshape the way we work and live in Sri Lanka and across the world.”
The 60,000 square feet and 7 floors at Hatch are a playground where 500 plus members and 73 plus startups come together every day to give life to new ideas. The working environment is dynamic and is driven by a buzzing communal energy. All the spaces at the premises have been designed to help creativity flourish and allow people to be productive while they bring out their best work. The Hatch calendar is full of community events, professional forums, as well as incubator and accelerator programs that help members gather global insights at the comfort of their own workspace.
Determined individuals are at the heart of startups, and the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how important workspaces are to performing fulfilling work driven by passion. “The collaborative and social experience at the workplace is critical to our physiological fabric, so the need for workspaces is more relevant than ever”, Brindha points out. “Winning this award while the world is going through a pandemic reinforces the fact that Hatch is innovative and leading the way in South Asia in the future of work.”
For Hatch, one of the primary goals is to contribute to the economic development of Sri Lanka by empowering and nurturing sustainability, innovation and growth. “We are thrilled to be recognized as a successful platform for an ecosystem of exciting businesses and entrepreneurs who are working to shape a powerful and prosperous Sri Lanka. Our members make us who we are. We believe in them and we are happy that they believe in us too. Winning this award was a collective accomplishment and only possible thanks to our amazing members, incredible team, and supportive partners”, says Brindha Selvadurai-Gnanam.