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Three years ago, my friends
and I set out on a mission FIND YOUR NICHE AND MASTER THE POWER OF COLD OUTREACH
to build a business that was FROM YOUR PRODUCT Cold emails and calls might seem
not only profitable but also One of the biggest challenges in intimidating, but they are invaluable
regenerative and community- starting a business is deciding what tools for building connections. In the
driven. We didn’t have a grand to focus on. For us, it was seaweed. early days, we spent hours crafting
personalized emails to potential clients
plan or any prior experience YOUTUBE TO We saw an opportunity in a product worldwide. Out of hundreds of emails,
in entrepreneurship. In fact, that had growing demand globally but only a few replies came back, but
limited supply in Sri Lanka. Whether
our journey began in the you are starting a business in food, those few were pivotal.
simplest of ways-watching a technology or services, find a niche The lesson here? Persistence pays
YouTube video about seaweed BUILDING A where you can stand out. off. Cold outreach requires thick skin
farming. Little did we know, Once you have identified your product, and resilience, but it’s a skill that every
this moment of curiosity would distinguish yourself by excelling in one entrepreneur should master.
lead us to create one of Sri key area, such as in: quality, quantity,
Lanka’s largest exporters of $400,000 or pricing. For instance, in the seaweed BUILD A STRONG TEAM
dried seaweed and launch industry, we focused on quality and No entrepreneur can succeed alone.
innovative products under our consistency, which set us apart One of the most valuable lessons we
from competitors. Your niche is your
brand, Seashore Garden. SEAWEED foundation, so make sure you build it have learned is the importance of
building and investing in a talented
Today, we work with over strong. team. Identify your own weaknesses
and hire people who excel in those
50 families in the northern As a new business, consider focusing areas.
on B2B (business-to-business)
region of Sri Lanka, supporting COMPANY: clients first. B2B sales provide a For example, none of us had technical
sustainable seaweed farming stable revenue stream and allow you expertise in product development,
practices. Our products, to demonstrate proof of concept so we brought on specialists to help
including all-natural sea moss to potential investors. Early on, we with our R&D. Today, we not only
drinks and gels, are available LESSONS IN secured our first export client after have a strong internal team but also
sending over 600 cold emails. Only
on platforms like Uber Eats one responded, but that client remains collaborate with experts to innovate
and expand our product line.
and in cafes across Colombo a partner to this day. This leads to
and the southern coast. We REGENERATIVE another key point: perseverance. In Your team is your most important
have even established our own entrepreneurship, one successful asset, so take the time to find the
research and development connection can open doors to right people and foster a culture of
countless opportunities. Don’t get
collaboration and growth.
(R&D) lab, helping other BUSINESS AND discouraged by rejection; each “no”
businesses bring their dream gets you closer to a “yes.”
products to life. With our
latest investment round, ENTREPRENEURSHIP
our company is valued at
$400,000. This is our story and By Shawn Senarath
the lessons we have learned
along the way.
73 From Campus to Corporate Leadership l Aug/Sep 2025 l www.bimt.lk From Campus to Corporate Leadership l Aug/Sep 2025 l www.bimt.lk 74
