“In a context of crisis and doubts, these young entrepreneurs show the way forward with their determination. These prizes are not a temporary reward; it is an encouragement to follow your efforts, to grow your ideas according to your abilities and talents. You are the promoters AND the driving force of our Caribbean continent.” affirmed Alfred Marie-Jeanne the President of the Regional Authority of Martinique who was present during this operation of the project INTERREG Caribbean TEECA. He also praised the work of the laureates. Organised by the Trade and Industry Chamber of Martinique in partnership with the Regional authority of Martinique, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Export Development Agency, as part of the project TEECA, the Caribbean Entrepreneurship Challenge had the ambition to:
- Raise awareness among young Caribbean people about the stakes of the cooperation,
- Encourage them to make good use of their skills and energy at the service of their original territory,
- Promote the entrepreneurial innovation
Since the beginning of the year the students with entrepreneurial streak were able to present their business ideas in one of the following sectors: fashion, agro-transformation, information and communication technologies, environment and/or music. After this launch of files, the jury selected 10 projects that benefitted from marketing coaching, management, creativity and innovation working groups, pitch methodology and the tutoring of the companies of the program TEECA.
The second phase of the selection took place in Saint-Lucia on March 13th and 14th and consists of an oral in front of a Caribbean jury. The 5 more realist projects were selected for the final.
After many selection phases, the young students engaged in the Caribbean Entrepreneurship Challenge of TEECA, approached the last step of the competition by presenting - in front of a jury of professionals – their improved projects thanks to the intervention of their mentors and the coaching working groups of the program TEECA. The participants were judged with more emphasis on their growth strategy and their prototypes.
Caribbean Entrepreneurship Challenge Final #TEECA :
1ere : Sophie KLEIN – JOIE- Ste Lucia
2e : Kenna QUESTELLES GEORGE - Linkup –St Vincent
3e : Leona MELIUS - Lily's Healthy Eats – Ste Lucia
4e Tehillah BANNIS - Herbie Care - Dominica
5e: Miah SCOTT - Shea Miah's – Grenade
About the project TEECA (Trade Enhancement for the Eastern Caribbean)
The project TEECA (Trade Enhancement for the Eastern Caribbean) is co-financed by the program INTERREG Caribbean and promoted by Trade and Industry Chamber of Martinique (leader of the project), in collaboration with the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States), Caribbean Export (Caribbean Export Development Agency), and the Regional authority of Martinique.
Launched in 2018, the project TEECA aims to speed up commercial trade within the member countries of the OECS. Thus, 30 companies selected at the end of the call for projects beneficiate from a tailor-made support program for two years with the goal to get into export business in the Caribbean.
Le project TEECA also aims to promote entrepreneurship to young people from OECS member countries via the TECCA Caribbean Entrepreneurship Challenge. The project teams of the young entrepreneurs selected after the call for applications may win a 10 000 € prize as well as a business development mentor program to start their company.