The Youth Observer is ever willing to highlight the bold and innovative ventures of young entrepreneurs.
This week, we bring you the inspiring story of three university students who dared to turn their creative passion into a thriving startup in the event planning industry. On this week’s pages, we bring Supun Harshana, Sakbo Dissanayake, and Maleesh Randunu, the dynamic trio behind Devent.
Despite the challenges of balancing rigorous academic schedules and launching a business during a global pandemic, these enterprising minds transformed their vision into reality.
In the hallowed halls of a university, where dreams are fostered, and friendships are forged, three enterprising minds discovered their true calling. Supun Harshana, Sakbo Dissanayake, and Maleesh Randunu recognized that their penchant for creativity and flair for meticulous organization could be more than just a hobby — it could be their ticket to entrepreneurial success.
Behind row: Prasanna Maduwantha Premathilaka, Savith Rajakaruna,
Maleesh Randunu De Silva, Vidura Madushanka and Surani Weerasekara.
Front row: Sakbo Dissanayake and Supun Harshana (Pix: Chandima Dahanayake)
“At one point in our lives, we choose to pursue higher education in fields like engineering, technology, electronics, management, and so on. But the real soul inside us never lets us move along with the tides; it reminds us that we cannot let go of what is in our DNA.”
Sakbo, Supun, and Maleesh had been active members of AIESEC, an international youth-run and led non-governmental and not-for-profit organization, where they identified their knack for event planning. “While we were in AIESEC, we were planning numerous corporate events, and entrepreneurs were the center of attraction in all those events. AIESEC provided us the opportunity to dip our toes into event planning. While being involved in these events, we thought, ‘We plan events for entrepreneurs, why not become entrepreneurs ourselves?’” Supun Harshana, Director Operations of Devent said with a bold smile.
Challenging period
“We discovered that entrepreneurship and event planning were a part of our DNA. But at the time, we were unsure as to what scale event planning was happening as an industry or a business in our country,” Marketing Director of Devent, Maleesh added.
Sakbo Dissanayake, Director of Finance & Legal for Devent speaking about how they turned a challenging period for the entire globe into an opportunity for their venture to grow, reminded me of the book by Doris Kearns Goodwin, “Leadership in Turbulent Times”.
“By the time we wanted to start this company, the pandemic broke out. None of us were sure when this would come to an end. But we didn’t want to delay our idea, so we thought we should start with virtual events. We leveraged university platforms to conduct virtual events, which gained significant traction. “Never Give up” was our leading phrase where we determined to carry out what we wanted.”
“Balancing everything was tough,” Supun recalls, his voice filled with the memories of late nights and tight schedules. “I was deep into my Energy and Environmental Technology degree. Juggling classes and planning events was no easy feat. But we started a company and we knew that there must be self-discipline. There was no senior member to drive us; we had to be self-motivated and self-disciplined to carry out what we started.”
Sakbo said that he was following two degrees while he was involved in the startup, too. “It felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day. But we knew we had to make it work. We faced a huge challenge with time management. We had to divide our responsibilities and take on every role ourselves, from manual labour to creative planning.
Capital
“We didn’t have any capital either. Our first few events were done free. We relied solely on our personal funds and passion. And with time, we realized that we cannot work ‘in’ our business and ‘on’ our business at the same time. So we took a step back and learned to delegate better and free up our time to improve our business continuously.
“The main advantage that we had was that the three of us were from different academic disciplines. I was into law and criminology, which really has no direct contact with event management. Nevertheless, the analytical and research skills I gained through law helped us significantly. On the other hand, Supun’s academics were connected more towards sustainability, so he managed to lead the organization in a sustainable manner, and Maleesh was able to use what he learned directly: marketing,” he added.
“We taught ourselves everything we needed to know about running a business,” Maleesh adds. “It was a learning experience, but our passion kept us going.”
Speaking about the evolution of their organization, the trio mentioned that through a journey of trial and error, they evolved from handling a wide array of events, including corporate functions, weddings, and birthday parties, to finding a unique niche: surprise proposals.
This niche was relatively untapped in the event planning industry, particularly in Sri Lanka, and they quickly became known for their creativity and meticulous planning in crafting unforgettable romantic moments. Over two years, they have organized over 400 surprise proposals, building a reputation for delivering unique and high-quality experiences.
When asked about what makes Devent stand out from other event-planning organizations, Sakbo mentioned that team dynamics play a crucial role in its success. They capitalize on each member’s strengths, from creative marketing to meticulous planning and legal acumen.
As they grew, they transitioned from doing everything themselves to forming strategic partnerships and eventually building an in-house warehouse for their decorations, which significantly boosted their efficiency and profitability. Sakbo said that it is not the number of employees you have in the team but what you can deliver within a given time based on your partnerships and vendors.
Diverse input
A client’s request can come out of the blue with difficult requests and with minimal time to prepare. You have to be prepared for it all. And we have a varied and versatile group of employees, from engineering to management to law. So, the input is diverse. We also recruit young and creative energy. Now, we not only handle local clients but also foreign clients; we have handled over 50 international clients over the past year alone.
Consistency and adaptability have been our forte, which keeps us ahead in the game. Most importantly, we make any event “a unique experience.” We do not replicate; we always innovate, and every customer deserves a novel experience. We make sure that each client gets a unique experience,” he added.
Maleesh, who pursued his studies in marketing, uses his knowledge to build an authentic brand. “Our marketing strategy is based on authenticity, and we see it working as most of our client base is from word of mouth. This approach has helped us attract a diverse clientele, including international clients, and build a strong, authentic brand,” he added.
Looking ahead, Devent has ambitious expansion plans. They aim to innovate within the event planning industry in Sri Lanka, making it a recognized and respected sector. Their vision includes expanding to the Maldives and Dubai, promoting Sri Lanka as a premier destination for romantic proposals, and integrating with the tourism industry to elevate the country’s global recognition as a romantic destination.
When asked to share advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, the trio emphasized the importance of passion, resilience, and learning. “Passion is the driving force,” Supun said adding, “Without passion, it’s easy to give up when things get tough. You need to love what you do to stay motivated.”
“Don’t be afraid of failure,” Sakbo added. “Each setback is a learning opportunity. We made many mistakes along the way, but each one taught us something valuable.”
Maleesh stressed the importance of continuous learning. “Equip yourself with knowledge. Whether it’s through formal education, online courses, or self-study, always keep learning. And remember, networking is crucial. Build relationships with mentors, peers, and industry professionals who can offer guidance and support.”
