The OECS Secretariat
Sunday, December 10, 2023
Eight tech entrepreneurs from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have successfully completed a five-week accelerator Hero Program at the Draper University Campus in San Mateo, California, from October 23 to November 25, 2023.
This cohort marks the second group of OECS startups to participate in the program, with the Regional Council of Guadeloupe also supporting ten entrepreneurs from Guadeloupe in May 2023 as a pilot phase. The OECS Global Startup Hub, consisting of a Virtual Accelerator Program and the Draper University Hero Program, aims to nurture and propel promising startups in the region onto the global stage.
Components of the OECS Global Startup Hub:
- Virtual Accelerator Program (September 2023):
- Involved 47 OECS entrepreneurs.
- Offered opportunities for learning, networking, and engagement with Silicon Valley mentors.
- Covered the Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship through online lectures and live group activities.
- Draper University Hero Program (October 23 – November 25, 2023):
- Five-week, in-person accelerator training at Silicon Valley.
- Eight entrepreneurs from the Virtual Accelerator Program progressed to the Hero Program.
- Provided networking, mentoring, and access to the Draper University Ventures pre-seed fund.
The Hero Program concluded with a demo day pitch event, where OECS entrepreneur Stephen Felix, founder of Medial Health, emerged as the overall competition winner. Medial Health specializes in providing digital solutions to challenges in the global healthcare industry.
The OECS Commission facilitated various engagements for the entrepreneurs, including a mentorship session with JetBlue Ventures in San Francisco, a major sponsor of the OECS Global Startup Hub. Additionally, the entrepreneurs had the opportunity to meet Dr. Earl Nicholas Brathwaite, a Grenadian technologist and entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley, gaining insights and guidance for their ventures.
OECS Entrepreneurs in the Hero Program:
- Elijah James (Antigua and Barbuda) – The Local App Inc.
- Javier Galloway (Saint Kitts and Nevis) – Nuwaay
- Kimron Corion (Grenada) – Corion and Co Ltd
- Sophia Searles (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) – Searles Agro Products
- Maricia Wilson (Saint Lucia) – Yes Urban Herbs Nursery
- Annesta Fergus (Montserrat) – Phannestic Consulting/Montserrat Creative Nexus
- Shianna Edgings (Saint Kitts and Nevis) – Sculpt By Stush/Stush Online Beauty Academy
- Stephen Felix (Saint Lucia) – Medial Health
The OECS Commission, in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank and JetBlue Ventures, supported the OECS Tech Hub’s participation in the Draper University Fall Hero Program. Plans for the 2024 OECS Global Startup Hub, supporting up to 150 entrepreneurs, are already underway, reinforcing the commitment to fostering tech innovation in the region.
