Leo Naut, deputy executive director, Caribbean Export Development Agency (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Caribbean Investment Forum to launch digital accelerator
A new digital accelerator programme aimed at linking Caribbean tech start-ups with corporations that have real-world technology challenges will be launched at the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) in Montego Bay, St James, next month.
The accelerator will work with established tech start-ups in the region that are building solutions for corporate entities, particularly those in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. Companies looking for solutions upload their challenges to a B2Match platform, and start-ups can indicate if they have a product that addresses the issue.
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“We don’t accelerate companies; we accelerate partnership,” said Leo Naut, deputy executive director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, during a presentation at the Jamaica Observer Business Forum last week.
Once there’s alignment between the corporate and the start-up, the solution is presented. If the company agrees, the partnership is formed and support begins. Caribbean Export helps start-ups provide a proof of concept to show that their solution works, develop the business case, handle IP regulations, offer coaching, and, in cases where the product can solve wider problems, scale the solution. The agency also helps identify investors or prepares the partnership to pitch for funding. Caribbean Export is leading the programming in the region, with support from TechNavia, the largest research centre in Spain.
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“We’re going to be rolling out a targeted programming series called Digital Connecters Jamaica, and we will be hosting an event. The consortium will be here meeting with start-ups, helping them get matched to challenges, as well as promoting the programme so more companies can join,” Naut said.
Corporations looking for solutions are being encouraged to attend and open themselves up to new innovation. The programme is designed for start-ups that already have a product they are looking to scale. The digital accelerator programme comes in response to previous feedback that too many of the projects presented at CIF in previous years were just concepts rather than bankable ventures. CIF organisers have since partnered with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to help a cohort of companies prepare actual projects ahead of the forum.
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“An investor can take a look at all the documentation that is being prepared and make an actual decision off that,” Naut said.
Previous forums featured companies with plans but no projections or return-on-investment details. CIF 2025 is aiming to change that. The Caribbean Investment Forum will be held from July 29-31, 2025.
