Vincentian entrepreneurs are being encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities being made available to them as part of the Caribbean Innovation Competition (CIC) 2017-2018.
The Caribbean Innovation Competition (CIC) is an international support programme and business start-up accelerator for entrepreneurs in the Caribbean.
Organized by the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), in collaboration with the World Bank Office for Latin America and the Caribbean Region, plus other regional and national partners, the CIC helps transform intellectual ideas into profitable business models through the commercialization of Intellectual Entrepreneurial Assets.
Keisha Phillips, Training Coordinator and Communications Officer at the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc., which is the local partner to the YABT, said the CIC competition can help in addressing the issue of unemployment among the youth.
Ms. Phillips said persons interested in the Caribbean Innovation Competition can check out the website www.ticamericas.net/cic/ or contact the CED. She said the deadline for registering is January 10, 2018.
This year, the Finals will take place in conjunction with the Young Americas Forum of the 8th Summit of the Americas meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Americas in Lima, Peru in April 2018.
Finalists will receive a full scholarship to travel to Peru, plus a booth in the international expo, among many more networking and visibility activities.
Winners in the CIC 2017-2018 will receive US$5,000 seed capital, trophy, recognitions and follow up to access further connection, investment and promotion opportunities.
In 2013, this country’s finalist in the CIC, Kamara Jerome of Emerald Energy, emerged a winner in the Best Environmental Entrepreneur category with his solar and wind powered model boat in Barbados. Then in 2015, Cenus Hinds of Konversi advanced to the finals of the 10th Talent and Innovation Competition of the Americas (TIC Americas) and the Eco-Challenge held in Panama City.
The YABT will announce the finalists in the Caribbean Innovation Competition on February 20, 2018.
