Don Sanjeewa Alwis has participated as a mentor in Derana STARTUP and served on the executive judging panel at CodeSprint 8. These records connect his technology background with aspiring founders and student entrepreneurs.
Start with the customer’s problem
Describe who experiences the problem, how they solve it now and why an alternative would matter. Separate what the team has observed from what it still assumes. A compelling pitch should make those distinctions clear.
For AI startups, test the need for AI
Explain why an AI system is appropriate for the task. Consider access to suitable data, the cost of checking outputs and what happens when the system fails. A prototype should help test a specific assumption rather than stand in for evidence of demand.
Make the next experiment small enough to learn from
Choose a question the team can investigate with potential users. Define what would support the idea, what would challenge it and which decision the result will inform. The aim is to improve the quality of the next decision.