Website Project: Platform for Sri Lankan Startups & Investors

This project presents a comprehensive plan for a website designed to facilitate connections between Sri Lankan startups and potential investors. The report includes an executive summary highlighting the platform's objectives, target market (Sri Lankan entrepreneurs), and revenue model (commissions, advertisements, and promotions). It delves into the value proposition, emphasizing the platform's role in supporting startups, especially in securing investments, given the current market gap in Sri Lanka. A detailed business model outlines key components like account management, website development, marketing, and customer support. The commercial viability section assesses the service's ability to compete and generate profit, while the market analysis identifies the target audience and segmentation. The revenue model, demand analysis (based on the Start-up Sri Lanka Report 2016), and implications of technologies used are also covered. The project aims to provide a vital platform for Sri Lankan startups seeking funding and investors looking for promising ventures.

Executive Summary
• Overview of the innovation
Startup is one of the trending topics discussed among Sri Lanka these days. So our team decided
to implement a website to create a platform for startups where they can connect to investors, and
investors has the opportunity to Invest on the business.
• Key business objectives
Main objective is to encourage Sri Lankan startups and developing a platform for startups.
• Target market
Our target market would be Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs with initial startups and running startups.
• Revenue model
When considering a business revenue is the key point. We planned to get revenue through
commissions, advertisements and promotions.
• Positioning
We are planning to deliver a high quality service. To both entrepreneur and the investor.
• Overview of the competition
At present no local website are available in the market.

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CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Value proposition
3. Business model
4. Commercial viability
5. Market analysis
6. Revenue model
7. Demand analysis
8. Used technologies
9. References

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1. Introduction
1.1. Overview
Our website is a platform for Srilankan startups. They can publish their startup. In order to publish they
have to register through the site. For that they have to pay Commission. After registering they can publish
their startup.
Our website management system will have investors database and investors can create their own account
and manage. If an investor is interested in a project they can contact the startup through our site and
invest. If an investor is selecting a project from our website investor will pay us the commission.
Also our website will be a social engagement platform. Notifications about the startup competitions,
seminars, workshops, meetups will be posted on our website.
Currently in Sri Lanka, startups are one of the trending topics discussed. In order to start a business,
entrepreneurs should have a revenue. In order to get a revenue most of the startups are seeking for an
investor. But in Sri Lanka there are no similar website as a platform. So there is a gap in the market, so in
order to fill that gap we selected this idea. So startups can market their idea and easily find investments.
Investors also can find several startups in different fields. (SLASSCOM, n.d.)

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2. Value Proposition
On the off chance that Sri Lanka anticipates supporting and maybe expanding its dimension of monetary
development, startups could give an opening into an exceedingly aggressive and to a great extent
impervious employment advertise, lessening joblessness by enlisting bunches of youthful, qualified
people over a scope of enterprises. In addition, innovative progression and expanded rivalry between
private companies, require startups to build up their items all the more rapidly, effectively, and
inexpensively, while battling full scale monetary issues, for example, rising rates of expansion.
Now in Sri Lanka startup is a new famous concept. Especially in the university level. There are several
competitions happening based on startups. Even students taking part in those competitions but they are
not able to make it as a business because of the difficulties in finding investment. And many startups are
seeking for financial support. But they don’t have ways to find those support. It is a gap in the market.
Our website is common platform for startups to find good investment and financial support. Startup have
to pay a small amount of money to get registered. But there are so many chances to get investment and
financial support. Because they can market their startup to different type of investors easily and
professionally.
Even startup itself don’t need to go and search for the investment, through our website investors will
contact startup. Startups can advertise their startups in our website and find international investors.
In Sri Lanka there are no similar website like us. There are some similar concept websites internationally
like Discova, Allstartups.info but we have our value because it is only for Sri Lankan startups. And currently
startup is a famous trending topics. So startups will like to publish their ideas on the websites.
(DISCOVA.CO., 2018) (All Startups, 2015)

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3. Business Model
Investors
Startup companies
Grow the platform
Website development
Marketing the website
Promotion
Customer support
Customer validation
Identify the needs of
the customer
Enhance technology
-Contacting investors
-Update the
website/maintaining the
site
-Managing the financial
status
Common
Platform for startups
Adaptability
Customer service
They can make money
through platform
Easy access
Investors
They can find good startups
to invest
Startups
They can find suitable
investors
Account Management
Research
Information gathering
Professional consultants
Technical
Website
Web domain
Making website
Marketing
Promotion
Advertising
Legal
License
Insurance
Commission from startups
Commission from investors
Advertisements
Promotions
Permit
Taxes
Marketing
Promotion
Operational expenses
Employee salaries & wages
-Investor
details
-Web
developers
-Web domain
-Startup
contacts
Network

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4. Commercial Viability
The Business Viability Model is framework that would assist an entrepreneur in identifying individual
tasks/decisions in validating the business concept. The model also aligns the findings with functional
processes of an enterprise which an audience can easily understand.
Here the Business Viability Model will not show the weight of overall viability of the business idea but this
will show the dimensions of business viability model and its validation according to the Business idea.
Here the commercial viability is the ability of the service to compete effectively and to make a profit.
(Thompson, 2005)
Dimension Of
Viability
Measure of Viability Validation
Market Viability ● Market Environment
● Competitors
● Similar Products
● Pricing
● Packaging
● Distribution to markets
● Promotion/advertising
The service’s viability in market will be strong. That is
because we will be implementing the website within
Sri Lanka where we cannot find any platforms for the
local startups to publicize their startup product or
service in order to seek investors.
Technical
Viability
● Capacity
● Availability and quality of resources
● Supply chain implications
● Manufacturing process
● Ability to apply IP
The website of the platform we are creating for all the
startups in Sri Lanka.
Business Model
Viability
● Uniqueness of model in terms of
competitive advantage
● Ability of competitor to duplicate
● Ability to create value through
priority knowledge & process
● Ability to create wealth
● Ability to duplicate and delegate
This business is only within Sri Lanka, and only for the
Sri lankan startup ideas/ companies who are seeking
for investments.

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Management
model Viability
● Application of knowledge & skills
● Training
● Employee management and
recruitment
● Management of intellectual
property
● Management of risk
● Ability to delegate to staff
● Suitable organization structure
● Suitability of management and
quality protocols
● Ability to measure business process
The business will be managed with very less human
effort because it is an online based startup.
Economic and
Financial
viability
● Startup Costs
● Working Capital
● Operating costs
● Raw material Costs
● Overall Return on Investment
● Overall Profitability
● Break Even point
● Sustainability of market versus
projected revenue
● Ability to generate economic value
Either an investment or our own capital can be put to
the business startup idea.

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5. Market Analysis
A market analysis is a documented investigation of a market that is utilized to advise an association's
arranging activities, especially around choices of stock, purchase, workforce expansion/contraction, office
extension, purchase of capital hardware, limited time exercises, and numerous different parts of an
organization.
There are two ways a market analysis is conducted through
1. Primary research: It is through interviews and surveys from experts, inventors and customers.
(public who are interested to bring up a startup)
2. Secondary research: It is through internet and printed documents
The market analysis for our startup have been done through secondary research and talking to people
who are interested in building up a startup in Sri Lanka. (Eric, 2018)
Market Segmentation
Market segmentation is the reason for a differentiated market analysis. Differentiation is essential. One
primary reason is the immersion of utilization, which exists because of the expanding rivalry in offered
items. Customers request more individual items and benefits and are better educated about the scope of
items than previously. As a result, Market segmentation is necessary. Market segmentation is a critical
method to discover upper hand with its separation in market analysis. Market segmentation focuses on
market vitality and capacity to increase upper hand. It is the process of dividing a market of potential
customers into groups, or segments, based on different characteristics.
Our target markets are the initial startup, that is a group/individual of people who are interested in
building up a startup and the running startups, where they actually have an idea but unable to seek
investment.
The expectation of the above target audience is to have a common platform to expose their startup idea/
business and to seek investment. (CONNECTION, 2014)

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4 P's in our business
Product:
Our business is an intangible product. Where our product is the website as the common platform to
exhibit their startups.
Price:
Once a concrete understanding and sustainability of the business is established we can start making the
price decisions. As this is just an online source of startup the revenues are expected only through
Commission from startups, Commission from investors, Advertisements and Promotions of the startups.
Promotion:
Promotions of our startup will be through social media and advertising.
Place:
It is a work space done through a website.
(Branded, 2018)

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Create Customer Value
Marketing
Selling
• Satisfying the existing expectations
• Creating and Satisfying the new needs.
• Solution for all startups to exhibit and
expose their business.
• Online website
6. Revenue Model
A revenue model is a system for creating incomes. It distinguishes which income source to seek after,
what incentive to offer, how to value the esteem, and who pays for the value. It is a key segment of an
organization's business model. (Parr, 2015)
INCOME
Commission through startups
Commission through investor
Advertisements and promotions
EXPENSE
Website development
Website hosting
Website maintenance
Operational Activities
Marketing

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7. Demand Analysis
Demand Analysis is a research done to estimate or discover the customer interest for a product or service
in a specific market. (SLASSCOM, n.d.) (Anon., 2008)
Start-up Sri Lanka Report 2016
This above survey from Startup Srilanka Report 2016 shows that there are 100+ entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka,
so there is definitely a demand for such an online platform for all these entrepreneurs to exhibit their
ideas.
8. Implications of Technologies used
Browsers
HTML
CSS
Programming Languages
Frameworks
Databases
Protocols
Web hosts
Web server
Internet connections

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9. References
All Startups, 2015. ALL STARTUPS INFO. [Online]
Available at: http://www.allstartups.info/
[Accessed 30 11 2018].
Anon., 2008. MBAKool. [Online]
Available at: https://www.mbaskool.com/business-concepts/marketing-and-strategy-terms/10953-
demand-analysis.html
[Accessed 1 12 2018].
Branded, P., 2018. The Four Ps of Marketing. [Online]
Available at: https://www.purelybranded.com/insights/the-four-ps-of-marketing/
[Accessed 1 12 2018].
CONNECTION, B., 2014. Market Analysis, Bay Area: s.n.
DISCOVA.CO., 2018. DISCOVA. [Online]
Available at: http://discova.co/#
[Accessed 1 12 2018].
Eric, 2018. Growth eveywhere. [Online]
Available at: https://growtheverywhere.com/marketing/9-marketing-mistakes-dont-realize-youre-making/
[Accessed 1 12 2018].
Flynn, C., n.d. Differential. [Online]
Available at: https://differential.com/insights/14-technologies-every-web-developer-should-be-able-to-
explain/
[Accessed 1 12 2018].
Parr, R., 2015. executionists. [Online]
Available at: https://www.executionists.com/the-cost-of-website-maintenance/
[Accessed 1 12 2018].
SLASSCOM, n.d. THE START-UP ECOSYSTEM IN SRI LANKA. [Online]
Available at: https://slasscom.lk/sites/default/files/Startup%20Sri-
Lanka%20Report%202016%20%281%29.pdf
[Accessed 30 11 2018].
Thompson, A., 2005. dimensions of business viability. [Online]
Available at:
http://bestentrepreneur.murdoch.edu.au/Understanding_Dimensions_of_Business_Viability.pdf
[Accessed 30 11 2018].