Salesforce Launches Startup Program in Sri Lanka to Strengthen the Country’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

COLOMBO, 7 January 2026 –  Salesforce, the world’s #1 AI CRM*, today announced the upcoming launch of the Salesforce Startup Program in Sri Lanka to foster growth and innovation for the country’s vibrant startup ecosystem. The program, scheduled to go live by the end of January 2026, will provide Sri Lankan startups access to the vast Salesforce ecosystem. This includes AI-powered products, mentorship programs, joint go-to-market opportunities, and a community designed to help them build, grow, and scale. 

This launch reflects Salesforce’s recognition of Sri Lanka’s rapidly evolving startup landscape and its growing potential for high-growth, innovation-led businesses. Emerging as the second-strongest startup ecosystem in South Asia after India, Sri Lanka is witnessing steady momentum in founder-led innovation, driven largely by software and data startups that now account for nearly 60% of the country’s startup base. As global interest in Sri Lankan innovation continues to rise, the Salesforce Startup Program aims to help founders translate early momentum into sustainable scale by connecting them to global platforms and markets.

Through the Salesforce Startup Program, we are committed to playing a catalytic role in Sri Lanka’s innovation journey, helping startups move beyond early success to global relevance, and building companies that can compete with confidence and create long-term economic impact.

Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, Salesforce – South Asia

Since its launch in India in December 2021, the Salesforce Startup Program has demonstrated measurable impact across markets. The program today supports a community of over 435 startups across India and Singapore, including more than 230 AI-first startups, with success stories spanning companies such as CloudFiles, Xoxoday, Yellow.ai, Locobuzz and Trupeer.ai.

Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, Salesforce – South Asia, said “Sri Lanka has built a strong foundation of technical talent and entrepreneurial ambition that is increasingly visible across South Asia and globally. Through the Salesforce Startup Program, we are committed to playing a catalytic role in Sri Lanka’s innovation journey, helping startups move beyond early success to global relevance, and building companies that can compete with confidence and create long-term economic impact.”

Sri Lanka also continues to be an important growth market for Salesforce, with a growing base of customers driving digital transformation across industries, including leading enterprises such as John Keells Holdings and Cinnamon Hotels. Alongside customer momentum, Salesforce is investing in the country’s long-term digital talent pipeline through its Trailhead ecosystem. In collaboration with local workforce development partners, these initiatives aim to skill nearly 1,000 learners over the coming year through structured training, mentorship, and locally led cohorts.