Twenty Startups from the OECS region to participate in Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative!

Startup entrepreneurs from the OECS region will be participating in the Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative’s Greenpreneurs Incubator Programme over the next 12 weeks.  This business support programme is aimed at creating green jobs through environmentally and socially driven enterprises and entrepreneurs.

OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules, in his remarks at the orientation session for the first cohort of the Greenpreneurs Incubator Programme challenged the participants to become leaders in the global climate battle.

"As green entrepreneurs, you will certainly become special soldiers, equipped with the skills and training to impact change in your respective communities. I am truly pleased that you are committing your innovation and “sweat equity”, to find solutions for some of the challenges facing the OECS region. You have a major role to play in shifting the behavior of our society towards a more sustainable future."

The Global Green Growth Institute Director General Dr. Frank Rijsberman welcomed the participants and highlighted the continued support of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) for green businesses.  

"Innovation and green employment comes from small and medium enterprises that people like you, set up.  We believe that we can accelerate growth and development of such companies through technical advice and indeed through some mentoring and through some financial support."

During the 12-week course of the Greenpreneurs Incubator Programme, the selected participants will benefit from mentorship, and virtual training from experts across the region to develop their entrepreneurial skills and build their capacity to develop green business models. The participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a pitch competition for USD $10,000 grants to support their business development plans. 

 The programme is being implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in collaboration with the OECS Commission with funding from the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). The programme is also partnering with national business support organisations across the region with the goal of strengthening the regional ecosystem for green entrepreneurship. 

 The Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative will also feature an Accelerator Programme that will be launched in the coming months to target high-potential green enterprises in the growth stage. This programme will offer interest-free loans in amounts up to USD$50,000, as well as provide participants with structured links to investors.

Both programmes will prioritize women entrepreneurs and green job creation for women and youth, and entrepreneurs in both programmes will have the opportunity to be selected to participate in an exchange visit to Qatar to meet and dialogue with Qatari entrepreneurs in the green sector in 2023. Additionally, the programmes will further support in building the capacity of local institutions supporting green entrepreneurship at the national level. This will lay the groundwork for the establishment of a permanent regional innovation center to support entrepreneurship in the region in collaboration with governments and regional organizations. 

2021 Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs Incubator Programme Participants

Profile Photo	Team Lead	Country	Business Name
	Nathaniel Williams	Antigua & Barbuda	West Indies Botanicals
	Ruth Spencer	Antigua & Barbuda	Waste Utilization
	Jennifer Maynard	Antigua & Barbuda	Jay May Acetoria Sprouts Microgeens Greens and Things (JaMASMAT)
	Lien Philogene- Norville	Dominica	NAVYA Jewellery & Décor
	Athalie George	Dominica	Twin Islet Production
	Nadja Thomas	Dominica	Frying Pan Productions
	Efua Akoma	Grenada	Think & Play Ag Tech Centre
	Bevon Charles	Grenada	Akata Farms
	Chrysler Parrocha-Benjamin	Grenada	ReCreate
	Bobbie Garbutt	Grenada	The Organic Grenada Collective
	Jordann Norbert	Saint Lucia	Norbert's Educational Resource Development (N.E.R.D) Enterprises
	Snaliah Mahal	Saint Lucia	7Ks
	Hannah Forde	Saint Lucia	Da Bomb! Naturals
	Anja Fernand	Saint Lucia	Food Harmony Incorporated
	Dawna Hyacinth	Saint Lucia	Eco Creationz
	Jasmine Duncan	Saint Lucia	GEION Group
	Cadell Monrose-Forde	Saint Lucia	Fresh Market
	Jermine Mike	St. Kitts & Nevis	Mother Becky Bush Tea
	Risha Alleyne	St. Vincent & the Grenadines	Earth Gold
	David Collins	St. Vincent & the Grenadines	Palmtre Charcoal

To learn more about this initiative, please visit Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs programmes (oecs.org), follow GGGI Caribbean on Twitter and Facebook, or fill out the form here to join our mailing list.