A self taught founder won a billionaire's backing, delivered, then bought his company back. Meet Surge Global

In 2015, Bhanuka Harischandra, a self taught marketer, founded Surge Global in Colombo. He was 19 when he built his first business, a YouTube network that generated half a billion video views for 600+ creators. When YouTube's policy changes killed it overnight, he pivoted and started Surge.

The Tavistock chapter

Three years later, the Tavistock Group, a multi billion dollar private investment organisation owned by British billionaire Joe Lewis, invested $500,000 in Surge. Tavistock brought Surge into its portfolio to work on some of its most strategic assets, including a multibillion dollar smart city project in Orlando, Florida.

Surge delivered. Then it bought the business back.

Where it stands today

400+ employees, tracking to 600+. Teams across Sri Lanka, India and the United States. Clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies across education, government, retail and tech. Performance marketing, software engineering, AI and machine learning, data analytics, cybersecurity, creative and branding, all delivered from Colombo.

In 2024, Surge won a technology transformation contract with the government of Qatar. Its cybersecurity and engineering teams have deployed as far as Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Harischandra was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for media, marketing and advertising, one of only two Sri Lankans on the list that year.

A multi billion dollar investment group trusted a Sri Lankan company with its most strategic projects. A Gulf state government chose it for digital transformation. All built from Colombo.