The Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) has extended its deadline for applications in the Caribbean. Caribbean entrepreneurs will still have a shot at vying for global prizes. The deadline for applications has been extended to July 25th and National Organizers in all the Caribbean islands have redoubled their efforts at promoting the programme throughout their entrepreneurship ecosystem and among pipeline partners.
EWC is a program that helps entrepreneurs at all stages maximize their potential. It combines a broad-reaching pitch competition, aimed at ventures ranging from idea stage to growth stage, with a virtual accelerator program to help all participants launch, strengthen, and scale their enterprises.
In 2021 in the height of the pandemic, GEN partnered with GEN Caribbean powered by COESL and partners to roll out EWC, as added value, to entrepreneurs in the wider Caribbean. 17 countries participated. The top 3 winners were all females, hailing from Martinique, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. First place - Shirley Billot – Kadalys- Martinique; Second place – Elizabeth Terry – UNUH- Jamaica and third place, Peridot Webster – Peri’s Plus – Trinidad & Tobago. https://www.facebook.com/ewccaribbean.
Over the years, the Caribbean has had a number of entrepreneurs who have successfully participated at the national level in EWC and were invited to Saudi Arabia by GEN to participate at the global level. In 2019, 6 entrepreneurs participated and pitched in Saudi Arabia. Melissa Darville – ShiverBahamas; Dale Trotman – Barbados – Med Regis; and Jordan Prince – Jabioplastics -Jamaica, made the top 100. Jordan Prince went on to make the top 40.
EWC Caribbean National Organizers include Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center, ShiverBahamas, Ten Habitat, Inspire Cayman Training Limited, CI Centre for Business Development, Dynamic Youth of Grenada, Spotlight Belize, Reshapers, TAO Curaçao, HMS, Skylights, Beltidizay/LCC, Guyana Entrepreneurial Youth Movement (GEYM), Institute of Law and Economics, IPEOS, Sludtera, Constructive Solutions Inc, and Arthem Consultancy.
Deadline for applications ends on July 25th. National finals will end by August 29th and Regional finals will be held on September 18th.
GEN Caribbean, an entrepreneurship ecosystem community, powered by the Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (COESL) including partners, Red Diamond Inc and Le Grand Solutions, are the Regional Organizers of EWC Caribbean.
Dr. Marcia Brandon is Lead National Organizer for EWC Caribbean 2022. mbrandon@genglobal.org https://www.facebook.com/ewccaribbean. https://www.facebook.com/GENCaribbean.org.