SLYCAN Trust
SLYCAN Trust is a Sri Lanka-based non-profit think tank that conducts climate change research, policy analysis, and capacity-building programs across climate adaptation, biodiversity, and youth and gender empowerment, operating globally through programs like ClimaYouth and the Adaptation and Resilience Knowledge Hub.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersColombo, Sri Lanka
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SLYCAN Trust does
SLYCAN Trust is a non-profit think tank working on climate change, sustainable development, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, animal welfare, and social justice (with emphasis on gender and youth empowerment). The organization is structured as two legally independent but closely collaborating entities: SLYCAN Trust (GTE) Ltd., incorporated in Sri Lanka in 2019, and SLYCAN Trust e.V., a registered association incorporated in Germany in March 2022. Headquartered in Colombo with a German office in Bonn, it employs between 11 and 50 staff and operates at national, regional, and global levels.
Its core offerings are programmatic rather than productized. The Adaptation and Resilience Knowledge Hub serves as a central digital resource containing 600+ publications, technical briefs, and policy papers. Other named programs include ClimaComms (climate communication capacity building), EthicalX Climate & Innovation Hub (entrepreneurship support with Global, Africa, and Asia regional hubs), the Ethical Pitch Accelerator (startup acceleration in food, fashion, tourism, and waste), and ClimaYouth (a global youth engagement platform with a presence in 114+ countries). The underlying technology is conventional: a content portal, standard CRM/web infrastructure, and event-based digital engagement rather than proprietary software.
SLYCAN Trust's revenue model is grant-, donation-, and partnership-driven. Sources include international climate finance (e.g., Global Environment Facility), development agency partnerships (UNDP), government contracts and MoUs with multiple Sri Lankan ministries, and public donations via its website. It does not sell products or services commercially. Go-to-market is relationship-led through government, multilateral, and civil society partnerships, with channel distribution via direct engagement programs, regional hubs, and digital content channels (website, newsletter, social media).
SLYCAN Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SLYCAN Trust
- Legal name
- SLYCAN Trust e. V.
- Website
- https://slycantrust.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SLYCAN Trust is a Sri Lanka-based non-profit think tank that conducts climate change research, policy analysis, and capacity-building programs across climate adaptation, biodiversity, and youth and gender empowerment, operating globally through programs like ClimaYouth and the Adaptation and Resilience Knowledge Hub.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SLYCAN Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Policy Research and Advocacy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
Keywords
Where SLYCAN Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colombo
- HQ country
- Sri Lanka
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
SLYCAN Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: SLYCAN Trust accepts donations through its website to support climate change, sustainable development, and social justice initiatives. The organization operates as a registered non-profit entity in both Germany (e.V. association) and Sri Lanka (Guaranteed Limited Company).
- Project Grants and Funding: The organization receives funding through international climate finance mechanisms and development partnerships. Annual reports are published documenting organizational activities and funding sources.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
SLYCAN Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SLYCAN Trust is a non-profit think tank that conducts policy research, produces evidence-based publications, and delivers capacity-building programs on climate change, sustainable development, biodiversity, and social justice. Its core offerings include the Adaptation and Resilience Knowledge Hub (a research portal), ClimaComms (climate communication initiative), EthicalX (entrepreneurship hub), Ethical Pitch Accelerator (startup support), and ClimaYouth (youth empowerment), serving governments, development agencies, youth, women entrepreneurs, and communities across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.
Product overview
SLYCAN Trust is a non-profit think tank offering a portfolio of climate-focused programs and initiatives rather than a unified software product. Its main offerings include: ClimaComms (climate communication support), EthicalX: Climate & Innovation Hub (entrepreneurship support), the Adaptation and Resilience Knowledge Hub (research portal), Ethical Pitch Accelerator (startup acceleration), and ClimaYouth (youth empowerment). These programs focus on policy research, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and on-the-ground implementation across climate change, sustainable development, biodiversity, and social justice themes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ClimaComms: An initiative of SLYCAN Trust aimed at supporting and empowering communicators in enhancing evidence-driven and science-based communication on climate change through capacity-building, Comms Labs, fellowships, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
- EthicalX Climate & Innovation Hub
- Climayouth
- Meatless Monday
- Adaptation and Resilience Knowledge Hub
Products and services
- ClimaComms Climate communication initiative aimed at supporting and empowering communicators in enhancing evidence-driven and science-based communication on climate change through capacity-building, Comms Labs, fellowships, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
- EthicalX: Climate & Innovation Hub Climate and innovation hub promoting transformative innovation in ethical, sustainable, and climate-friendly entrepreneurship, bringing together researchers, innovators, and creators to develop climate-resilient solutions.
- Adaptation and Resilience Knowledge Hub Central resource for information, research, and insights designed to strengthen climate resilience at local, national, and global levels, supporting informed decision-making and policy development.
- Ethical Pitch Accelerator Acceleration program supporting ethical, sustainable, and climate-friendly entrepreneurship through capacity-building and technical support for startups and SMEs in food systems, fashion, tourism, and waste management.
- ClimaYouth Global youth initiative connecting and empowering youth to engage in policy processes and action on climate change and sustainable development.
- Global Negotiations Support Service providing support for stakeholders engaged in international climate negotiations, including capacity building and policy guidance for participation in UNFCCC processes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Engagement with 1300+ participants from 114 countries at COY13
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SLYCAN Trust
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SLYCAN Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
SLYCAN Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Ministry of Trade (Sri Lanka)coreImplementation partner for the Ethical Pitch Accelerator initiative. The Ministry supports ethical, sustainable, and climate-friendly entrepreneurship through capacity-building and technical support to startups and SMEs in food systems, fashion, tourism, and waste management.
- Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB)corePartner in the Ethical Pitch Accelerator, providing expertise on accreditation, standards, and certification schemes to help entrepreneurs expand from local to international markets.
- Sri Lanka Tourism Development AuthoritycorePartner in promoting sustainable and climate-friendly tourism practices through the Ethical Pitch Accelerator, leveraging Sri Lanka's natural and cultural resources.
- Climate Change Secretariat (Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment)coreCollaboration on national climate communication strategy development and stakeholder workshops for strengthening climate change communication in Sri Lanka.
- United Nations Development Program (UNDP)corePartner in Third National Communication Consortium and climate initiatives, supporting Sri Lanka's climate action and reporting under international frameworks.
- Jetwing HotelssecondaryPartnership for plant-based gastronomy initiative, promoting sustainable food options in the tourism sector and celebrating Sri Lanka's plant-based culinary heritage.
- Environment Ministry (Sri Lanka)coreMoU signed for collaboration on environmental initiatives, climate action, and sustainable development programs at national level.
- CLIMAFUGEsecondaryPartnership launched through EthicalX for climate-related innovation and entrepreneurship support programs.
- UNFCCC (Various Initiatives)coreActive engagement in UNFCCC processes including Resilience Frontiers Initiative, Climate and Technology Centre & Network (CTCN), Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB), and youth constituency activities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SLYCAN Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Practical Action: Practical Action is a non-profit organization working on climate resilience, sustainable development and poverty reduction in the Global South. Comparable to SLYCAN Trust in mission, capacity-building approach, and emphasis on climate adaptation in developing economies.
- Climate Analytics: Climate Analytics is a non-profit climate science and policy institute with offices in Europe and the Global South, producing research and policy analysis on climate change. Directly comparable to SLYCAN Trust as a similarly sized, policy-focused climate think tank engaging with UNFCCC processes.
- E3G: E3G is a European climate think tank with a global network, focused on accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy through policy advice and diplomacy. Comparable to SLYCAN Trust as a non-profit policy think tank engaging governments and multilateral processes on climate.
- Germanwatch: Germanwatch is a Bonn-based environmental and development policy think tank focused on climate, sustainable development and global equity. Highly comparable to SLYCAN Trust given shared Bonn presence, German e.V. legal form, climate-policy focus, and UNFCCC engagement.
Emerging players
- Carbon Brief: Carbon Brief is a UK-based climate communication and policy website. Comparable to SLYCAN Trust's ClimaComms initiative in providing evidence-based climate journalism and communication capacity building, though focused more on media than NGO audiences.
Broad incumbents
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): SEI is an international non-profit research organization focused on environment and development policy. Broader and more established than SLYCAN Trust, but comparable in producing policy research on climate adaptation, biodiversity and sustainable development.
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): IISD is an independent non-profit research organization working on sustainable development policy. Comparable to SLYCAN Trust in producing policy research and capacity-building programs, though IISD is substantially larger and more established globally.
- World Resources Institute (WRI): WRI is a global research organization working on environment and development challenges. Significantly larger and broader than SLYCAN Trust, but comparable in producing climate policy research and engaging governments and multilateral institutions.
- CAN International (Climate Action Network): CAN International is a global network of over 1,500 civil society organizations working on climate policy. Comparable to SLYCAN Trust in non-profit climate advocacy, multi-stakeholder engagement and UNFCCC participation, though far larger and network-structured.
Regional players
- Sri Lanka Conservation Research Network: Various Sri Lankan conservation and climate-focused NGOs (e.g., IUCN Sri Lanka, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society) operate regionally on biodiversity and environment. Comparable as in-country peers sharing Sri Lanka-based operating context and overlapping climate/biodiversity themes.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SLYCAN Trust social profiles
Digital presenceSLYCAN Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SLYCAN Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
SLYCAN Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SLYCAN Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SLYCAN Trust
What does SLYCAN Trust do?
SLYCAN Trust is a non-profit think tank that conducts policy research, produces evidence-based publications, and delivers capacity-building programs on climate change, sustainable development, biodiversity, and social justice. Its core offerings include the Adaptation and Resilience Knowledge Hub (a research portal), ClimaComms (climate communication initiative), EthicalX (entrepreneurship hub), Ethical Pitch Accelerator (startup support), and ClimaYouth (youth empowerment), serving governments, development agencies, youth, women entrepreneurs, and communities across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.
Is SLYCAN Trust a public or private company?
SLYCAN Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SLYCAN Trust founded?
SLYCAN Trust was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SLYCAN Trust based?
SLYCAN Trust is headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in the Asia region.
How does SLYCAN Trust make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are project Grants and Funding.
Who are SLYCAN Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Practical Action, Climate Analytics, E3G and Germanwatch. Carbon Brief is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), World Resources Institute (WRI) and CAN International (Climate Action Network). Sri Lanka Conservation Research Network is listed as a regional player.
Does SLYCAN Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for SLYCAN Trust.
What industry is SLYCAN Trust in?
SLYCAN Trust's product category is Climate Policy Research and Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAO, Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8300.