By Astha Prendergast,John Mark Clayton
Copyright jis
After eight weeks of intensive training designed to help climate-focused entrepreneurs move beyond the start-up phase, three businesses are on the way to scaling up, having been selected as the winners of the Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre (CCIC) ScaleItUp Accelerator.
The winners – Damani Thomas’ Carbon Neutral Initiative; Towerfarms owned by John Mark Clayton and Kerrie-Anne Gray; and Joanna Anderson’s Phinetic – were announced following a ‘Demo Day’ pitch competition held on Wednesday (Sept. 24) at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
The winning entrepreneurs will receive a fully funded trip to the Deep Tech CEE [Central and Eastern Europe] Summit in Poland in October where they will have the opportunity to pitch to investors, industry leaders and other entrepreneurs on the global stage.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CCIC, Carlinton Burrell, said that the CEE Summit “is a world-class platform where innovators connect with investors, corporates and deep tech ecosystems from across Europe and beyond.”
“The exposure to global networks, investment opportunities and advanced technologies will position the entrepreneurs to compete at the highest level of innovation and finance,” he pointed out.
Providing an overview of the ScaleItUp Accelerator programme, the CEO explained that it was designed with the aim of unlocking the potential of Jamaican entrepreneurs, building resilience in the green economy and ensuring that the region is not just adapting to change, but leading it.
He said that in Jamaica and across the Caribbean, innovation is not optional, noting that it is essential to addressing the challenges facing the region.
“Our economies face unique vulnerabilities, but they are also bursting with talent, creativity and untapped opportunities. By equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, network and resources they need to scale, the CCIC is helping to create the next generation of green businesses that will drive sustainable growth, create jobs and strengthen competitiveness in the global market,” the CEO said.
He pointed out that the CCIC’s main goal is to contribute to building a resilient climate smart economy that can withstand global shocks while creating long-term prosperity for citizens.
Mr. Burrell hailed the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and the Scientific Research Council (SRC), for their support on the Accelerator programme.
“Together, the DBJ and SRC have been instrumental in sustaining the CCIC and enabling us to deliver impact not only here in Jamaica but right across the region,” he affirmed.
In her remarks, Executive Director at the SRC, Dr. Charah Watson, encouraged the winning entrepreneurs to represent Jamaica well in Poland.
“There’s a lot of work to be done in three weeks…We’re going on the world stage and we’re coming home with the wins,” she stated.
Fourteen entrepreneurs from diverse industries and sectors completed the eight-week ScaleItUp Accelerator programme. Six were chosen to present pitches at Demo Day, from which the three winners were selected.
The winners were selected by a panel of judges comprising the SRC Executive Director; Technical Officer at the DBJ, Giovanni Maddix; and Business Consultant, Andrea Livingston-Prince.
