Pitch60 2026 Grand Finale to Take Place at Commercial Credit Academy, Bolgoda

The Entrepreneurship Club of APIIT Colombo is set to host the Grand Finale of Pitch60 2026 at the prestigious Commercial Credit Academy, Bolgoda,on 26^th of February 2026, bringing together Sri Lanka’s most promising young entrepreneurs for a high-impact 1-Minute Business Pitching Competition.

Pitch60 has rapidly grown into one of Sri Lanka’s most dynamic inter-university entrepreneurship platforms, challenging students to present compelling, investor-ready business ideas in just sixty seconds.

About APIIT Colombo

Founded in 1999, APIIT Sri Lanka is a leading higher education institution in collaboration with the University of Staffordshire, UK. With over 3,000 students enrolled and an annual intake exceeding 1,200, APIIT is the largest provider of transnational education (TNE) in Sri Lanka. The institution remains committed to academic excellence, innovation, and industry-driven learning.

Pitch60 reflects APIIT’s dedication to fostering entrepreneurial thinking beyond the classroom.

What is Pitch60?

Pitch60 is an inter-university 1-minute pitching competition where students are evaluated on:

• Innovation
• Feasibility
• Scalability
• Practicality
• Delivery and clarity under time pressure

The 2026 edition included a structured workshop conducted by Hatch, followed by a Preliminary Round that shortlisted the nation’s top student innovators for the Grand Finale.

Universities Represented at the Grand Finale

This year’s finalists represent leading higher education institutions across Sri Lanka, including:

SLIIT
University of Kelaniya
Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT)
NSBM Green University
Curtin University Colombo
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
University of Ruhuna
ICBT
UoC School of Computing
Horizon Campus
UCL
APIIT Colombo
University of Colombo
University of Moratuwa

Esteemed Panel of Judges – Pitch60 2026

The Grand Finale will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of industry leaders and entrepreneurs:

Asel Gunawardana – CEO, Lankan Angel Network
Niresh Ratnagopal – Program Manager (Strategy and Operations), Hatch Works
Vera Wickramasinghe – Owner / Managing Director, Worldlink Shipping Colombo (Pvt) Limited
Dhanushka Fernando – CEO, Finez
Nishshanka De Silva – Founder, ZeroPlastic Movement
Chathum Henegama – CTO at Davton / CEO of XpressJobs

Their combined expertise across investment, strategy, sustainability, technology, and business leadership ensures a rigorous and impactful evaluation process.

Organised by the Entrepreneurship Club of APIIT

Pitch60 2026 is spearheaded by the Entrepreneurship Club of APIIT Colombo under the leadership of:

President – Methuli Perera
Chairperson – Kassie Mendis
Co- Chairpersons – Devon Bastiansz, Minodya Ranwala

The organising committee has worked extensively across sponsorship acquisition, partnerships, digital marketing, and operations to deliver a national-level platform for student founders.

Sponsors & Strategic Partnerships

Pitch60 2026 is proudly supported by its valued partners, including our Knowledge Partner, Hatch; our Banner Sponsor, HNB; our Silver Sponsor, Commercial Bank; our Recruitment Partner, XpressJobs; and our Gift Sponsor, Corks & Boards. The event offers extensive digital and on-ground brand visibility, strengthening corporate engagement with emerging talent.

A Platform for the Next Generation of Founders

As the Grand Finale approaches at Commercial Credit Academy, Bolgoda, Pitch60 2026 promises an energetic showcase of innovation, clarity, and courage. More than a competition, it is a launchpad for future founders, connecting university students with investors, mentors, and industry leaders.

With increasing inter-university participation and strong industry backing, Pitch60 continues to position APIIT Colombo as a leading hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Sri Lanka.