MTI Consulting

‘idea2fund’ – the year round venture competition powered by MTI Corporate Finance is on the verge of launching its 3rd wave this October. Since its inception in 2016, the mission of idea2fund has been to create a platform for prospective entrepreneurs to present their venture ideas, get linked with potential investors, be challenged and receive constructive feedback from pioneers in the respective fields. The first 2 rounds proved successful, having received over 300 applications from enthusiastic prospective entrepreneurs covering various spheres. In its past two waves, idea2fund proved successful in scouting several great talents including the introduction of the mixed media lifestyle design brand, Bakamuna in 2016. According to MTI CEO, Hilmy Cader, “The role of conventional business models are being radically transformed by disruptive business models, and ‘startups’ will soon become the name of the game. We at MTI believe that this new breed of entrepreneurs will challenge th...

There have been calls to ban Sri Lankan maids from going abroad. Emotionally, this is understandable, but logically and realistically consider the following as well: • We have 1.7 million Sri Lankans working abroad, remitting over $ 6.5 B and there about five million people (25% of our population) who depend on this. Also, it is this inflow that is helping to pay for the imports (the cars we drive in Colombo) and to ‘hold’ our currency at least where it is today. • The $ 6.5 B that these expat Sri Lankans remit is about four times what we earn from tea, 50% higher than what we earn from apparel (with relatively low value addition) • Most of the lower-end blue collar domestic helpers go for such jobs out of economic desperation. If not why would someone leave your family behind for two years and go abroad for job that pays you as little as $ 250 a month? We can all talk of morals and principals but I guess we have no clue of what it is to be in such a desperate state? • Yet, th...