March-ing Forward🥁
A shared sense of direction—transforming thoughtful dialogue into collective action as we move deeper into the year
March kept us on our toes in the best way possible. From deep-dive conversations to high-impact meetings, the defining force of the month was our team spirit. Here’s what we did and what’s on the horizon☀️
→ Demo Day arrived 🔊
We officially brought the journey of the first cohort of the Circular Economy in the Food Sector programme to a close, a programme supported by the European Union through the Global Gateway strategy and BMZ.
At the same time, the GLX team welcomed the second cohort of the programme, marking the beginning of a new chapter. The session opened with an engaging introduction for the new founders, offering a deeper understanding of the programme and how it supports the building of resilient, thriving businesses ✨ Say hello to Silk Route Ventures, Clean Tech, Saara Labs, AR Naturals, Navigata, Jaffna Horticulture, Seashore Garden, and Ai Grow 🥭
During the two days, the first cohort took the stage to pitch their ventures, connecting with potential investors and partners during a dynamic showcase, both on stage and stall! Here’s to wishing them and their businesses the very best in their regenerative journeys ~ congratulations AGC Innovate, Nootz Smoothies, Ceylbee International and Terapy Ceylon!
→ Hyacinthesis Accelerator kicked off with an onboarding meeting welcoming the six craft enterprises working with water hyacinth and other natural materials. These shortlisted enterprises were taken through the program plan in depth. Site visits have officially begun, marking the next step of the accelerator. Stay tuned for the participant announcements! 🚀
→ Heat Futures at 78°E project🌡️, in collaboration with Lagori Collective and supported by the British Council’s Climate Futures: South Asia Programme, wrapped up with a final community event. The Colombo cohort came together to dig into heat-related challenges in urban settings with Iromi Perera, the Founder of Colombo Urban Lab, sharing her and her team’s research findings and perspectives.
We also launched The Heat Futures at 78°E Microsite , featuring an overview of the project, the prototypes developed by our cohort and the new podcast between cohort members from both cities. Go check it out! 🔥
→ Seeds for a Circular Future Day, a community event under the Circular Economy in the Food Sector programme ~ brought together university students and the four companies in the cohort: AGC Innovate, Nootz Smoothies, Ceylbee International and Terapy Ceylon for a day of brainstorming and collaboration🌟
Students of engineering, agriculture, technology and Ayurveda from the University of Colombo, Moratuwa, Sri Jayawardenepura and Wayamba pitched innovative solutions to the cohort, gaining real-world insights on what it means to launch and operate a product in the market.
Further, the four companies were able to connect meaningfully with the universities, paving the way for future collaborations and connections beyond the classroom 🌱📝
→ We took the THRIVE Business Model Canvas up north for the WUSC Annual Convening! The masterclass brought together around 40 participants from the government sector, NGOs, and local universities in the Northern Province. The session covered regenerative business thinking, a deep dive into the THRIVE Canvas, and wrapped up with real stories from entrepreneurs on the ground 💫
GLX Alumni wins🪸
→ Owita Organics has launched their first Owita Healthy Kitchen outlet at MAS Intimates - Ratmalana, bringing farm-to-table dining into the workplace with the concept of making healthy, organic meals more accessible within office spaces. This is a significant step in their mission to promote better nutrition and wellness across Sri Lanka 🥗
→ Congratulations to Terapy Ceylon on being listed on Walmart Online in the United States. This is a significant milestone, marking their expansion into global markets and strengthening the presence of Sri Lankan brands on the international stage 🌍
→ Nootz made several key milestones ✨ They showcased their products at major international trade fairs, including Natural Products Expo in the USA and FOODEX Japan, while also expanding into some of Tokyo’s most premium organic retail chains. The momentum continued with an impressive 50% sales growth for the 2025–26 financial year, and they are set to further build their global presence with an upcoming showcase at the International Food & Drink Event (IFE) in the UK 📈
→ Seashore Garden is now offering Research & Development operations through its Seashore Labs! They are currently working with recognised brands, assisting in the ideation of their envisioned product, concept & prototyping, formulation breakdown and final evaluations of the prototype. Reach out at info@seashoregarden.com 🧪
New here? Good Life X designs regenerative solutions for South Asia’s transition from extractive to thriving systems. We work with businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities to build models where profit and purpose grow together through the THRIVE Business Model Canvas— turning crises into opportunities for people, planet, and profit 🌱