TiE Colombo - Empowering Entrepreneurs

About TiE

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a global non-profit organisation founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals. Over the last 30 years of existence, TiE chapters worldwide have been fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking and education of seasoned and aspiring entrepreneurs alike. There are currently 15,000 members (including over 3000 charter members or mentors) in 61 chapters across 14 countries. The TiE community worldwide has grown to be a vibrant platform for entrepreneurs, professionals, industry leaders and investors to interact with one another and forge long-lasting relationships.

Several members have formed start-ups while at TiE and are now charter members giving back to the community. TiE’s ultimate goal is to foster entrepreneurship, create wealth for both the entrepreneur and the local communities, and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.

About TiE Colombo

TiE Colombo is the Colombo-based chapter of the global non-profit organization, The Indus Entrepreneurs. It connects the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem, from early-stage entrepreneurs and serial entrepreneurs to professionals in leading corporations, venture capitalists, angel investors, and thought leaders. With 30 Charter Members and 15 Associate Members, the chapter addresses the evolving needs of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship as a sector, and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sri Lanka.

TiE Colombo is committed to accessibility and addressing local needs. Through independent initiatives and strategic partnerships, the chapter hosts multiple events every month to inspire, mentor, and educate local entrepreneurs. Many of these initiatives are available in Sinhala and Tamil, allowing outreach to entrepreneurs from smaller towns across Sri Lanka. Using channels such as WhatsApp audio, YouTube videos, and live events, TiE Colombo ensures that knowledge is easily accessible to entrepreneurs at all business stages. The chapter is building on its strong foundation as it continues to move forward.

Mareting

Pillars of TiE Colombo

Mentoring

TiE Colombo is the go-to information sharing platform for everyone interested in starting a business or expanding their current one. We connect individuals with mentors and offer frequent knowledge exchange sessions aimed at answering either sector-specific or early-stage entrepreneurship- related issues.

Educating

TiE Colombo is also very focused on educating, training and empowering people with the fundamental skills they need to start and grow their own business. The following are some of the programs we run:
● TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) works with high school students to provide short-term mentoring and hands-on experience in the fundamentals of launching a business.
● TiE Women's Forum works to empower women entrepreneurs across the chapter's network by addressing and resolving specific pain points and concerns that affect their entrepreneurial journey

Networking

We believe in the value of networking, and it is central to TiE Colombo's ethos. We recognise that the most compelling knowledge sharing occurs in facilitated semi-formal venues that bring together people at all stages of their entrepreneurial careers, and we strive to establish such spaces. TiECON Colombo, the chapter's flagship event, is one such avenue, which sits at the crossroads of formal knowledge-sharing platforms and semi-formal assisted meet-and-greet possibilities.

Incubating

Young businesses frequently seek intervention, handholding, and other forms of assistance. TiE Colombo recognises this need and helps the incubation of young, new companies inside the ecosystem by providing subsidised services and/or other forms of assistance.

Investing

TiE Colombo also facilitates discussions between senior businesses, industry experts, young businesses, and early-stage entrepreneurs. These discussions among Charter Members, Associate Members, angel investors, and others in the ecosystem frequently result in funding and investment for businesses in the growth stage. These networks and relationships have gone on to be critical for not only the growing enterprise’s growth but also for TiE Colombo, since many of these younger entrepreneurs come back to mentor others and strengthen the larger ecosystem.