From Antigua Observer

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct 29, CMC –Regional mobile entrepreneurs are being given an opportunity to compete for a share of US$75,000 and be recognized as some of the top tech talent in the region under a project aimed at enhancing the mobile app development ecosystem across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

PitchIT Caribbean says applications are now open for entrepreneurs from 14 Caribbean countries to enter their international pitch competition.

It said participants who have recently developed ideas as well as those ventures that have begun to see some traction in the market are invited to compete for one of five prize packages, each valued at over US$15,000.

PitchIT Caribbean is the central operation of the Caribbean Mobile Innovation Project, which is part of the Entrepreneurship Programme for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC), an initiative funded by the Canadian government.

The project is executed by infoDev/World Bank Group, through a three-party Caribbean consortium, led by UWI Consulting Inc., working along with Mona School of Business and Management, and Mona Business Support Services.
The PitchIT Caribbean Startup Challenge is scheduled for December in Trinidad and Tobago, where a field of 25 of the region’s top mobile application startups will have the opportunity to pitch to a panel of regional experts.

The finalists will participate in an intensive two-day pre-challenge bootcamp facilitated by experienced coaches and investors, designed to help them fine-tune their pitches for the competition.

The winners of the challenge will then move into the PitchIT Caribbean’s acceleration phase, which will further develop their startup. Winners will also get access to an online networking platform, a place in one of 4 regional accelerators, hands-on mentoring and coaching, online training, international pitching opportunities and US$5,000 seed funding for business development.

“Last year, we had over 80 applicants to our Startup Challenge from all over the Caribbean. The feedback from our first competition in Montego Bay was very positive and those 25 startups have all seen fantastic growth since. We have been excited to see the milestones reached by our 5 winners and we are very excited to be launching this competition to further help the region’s entrepreneurs,” said PitchIT Caribbean project manager Bianca Welds.

PitchIT Caribbean is a programme aimed at enhancing the mobile app development ecosystem across CARICOM. It is designed to accelerate mobile app entrepreneurs through the start-up life cycle, which runs from ideation to market and from market to maturity.
It currently supports four Hubs in Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad & Tobago.

For more on this story go to: http://antiguaobserver.com/caribbean-mobile-entrepreneurs-urged-to-participate-in-canadian-government-funded-project/