Celebrating Innovation: Jendo Wins the John Keells Open Innovation Challenge 2016
How a John Keells X winning idea — chosen from 148 applications — became a biomedical company focused on non-invasive cardiovascular monitoring.
The John Keells Open Innovation Challenge
The John Keells Open Innovation Challenge is one of Sri Lanka's premier platforms for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. It aims to recognize and reward projects that offer novel solutions to pressing challenges in various sectors, including healthcare, technology, and social impact.
Winning this challenge placed Jendo among the top innovators in the region — demonstrating the company's ability to develop practical solutions with far-reaching impacts on healthcare and wellness. The winning team, co-founded by Keerthi Kodithuwakku, Isuru Rajakaruna, and Charith Vithanage, received Rs 2 million for their groundbreaking non-invasive cardiovascular health monitoring technology.
A dual-pronged initiative
The JKX Challenge was the first iteration of an initiative by John Keells Holdings to create a conducive ecosystem for young entrepreneurs to create and build bold new ideas. The concept, headed by Chairman Susantha Ratnayake, aimed at both growing entrepreneurship and encouraging businesses at JKH itself to innovate. The JKX Challenge partnered with SLASSCOM, ICTA, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and Roar.lk as its digital media partner.
Out of 148 applications from Sri Lanka and overseas, 10 finalists were shortlisted and given 60 days to develop their ideas, with mentorship from JKH leadership.
"I would like to congratulate the winners and finalists of the inaugural John Keells X Open Innovation Challenge, and I thank all 148 teams that applied from Sri Lanka and overseas for their enthusiastic participation in the programme. The JKH leadership is also encouraged by the pool of young entrepreneurial talent we witnessed during the four-month engagement with John Keells X." — Susantha Ratnayake, Chairman, JKH
Team Markify came in as the runner-up, winning Rs 1 million for their voice-controlled SaaS analytics platform.
From challenge to company
That early win seeded a longer journey: patents in the US and Japan, product development, international pilots in Bahrain and beyond, and a lasting commitment to preventive healthcare. The JKX story remains a cornerstone of how Jendo began — ambitious science meeting entrepreneurial execution.
