99x Powers SLIIT DevQuest 2025 Showcasing Emerging Tech Talent on a Global Stage

To spotlight the next generation of tech innovators, 99x has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing young talent by partnering with SLIIT as the technical and financial sponsor of DevQuest 2025. 99x has long driven this vision across the tech industry, creating opportunities for young developers to test their skills, grow, and take on real-world challenges. This year, that commitment reached new heights as 99x’s partnership helped the competition gain recognition on a global scale.

In its third international edition, DevQuest 2025 reached a new milestone by drawing nearly 300 teams from 14 countries across five continents, making it the most globally diverse edition to date. Organised under the Tertiary category of SLIIT CodeFest, the competition continues to provide a dynamic platform for students and aspiring engineers to address real-world coding challenges. This year’s event featured participants from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Ethiopia, Finland, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe.

99x has long been a strategic partner of DevQuest, powering the competition through its DevGrade platform. DevGrade provides automated, real-time assessments, ensuring that all participants are evaluated fairly and consistently. Through managing the technical assessments, the platform keeps the focus on the creativity, problem-solving skills, and technical abilities of the participants while positioning DevQuest as a showcase of future innovation and an example of how academia and industry can come together to inspire the next generation of changemakers.

Anura Adhikari, Director Technology at 99x, commented on the partnership, “It is truly a privilege to partner with SLIIT as the technical partner for the DevQuest Global Hackathon at CodeFest 2025, together with the DevGrade platform. The competition showcased the remarkable capabilities of young undergraduates, reaffirming that they are ready to take on the challenges of the future.”

Participants were exposed to scenarios beyond the classroom, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical, industry-ready skills. Through this partnership, 99x is helping young engineers gain confidence, experience, and global exposure, while showcasing their abilities alongside peers from around the world.

Prof. Dilshan De Silva, Associate Professor Faculty of Computing, SLIIT, the creator and coordinator of DevQuest, added, “DevQuest was envisioned as a platform to bridge global boundaries and provide young tech enthusiasts with a real-world stage to showcase their skills. The continued collaboration with 99x has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. Their technical expertise and commitment to nurturing talent have elevated the competition to new heights, enabling the creation of a truly global and industry-relevant experience for students.”

Over the past few years, 99x has been committed to nurturing emerging tech leaders through its involvement in DevQuest. Expanding the initiative globally has highlighted the capabilities of local innovators, strengthened connections with international talent, and contributed to building a future-ready tech ecosystem. The collaboration between SLIIT and 99x reflects a shared vision of developing globally competitive talent through real-world challenges.