Opportunities available for local start-ups during Global Entrepreneurship Week

An idea to inspire people everywhere to unleash their ideas and begin their entrepreneurial journey has developed into a global movement, of which St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is part.

From November 13 to 19, through Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) will celebrate its 10th year of making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business.

And, according to local GEN partner Candice Sealey, through Ignite!, SVG will join entities in more than 170 countries in recognizing and celebrating the number of people who at some point in their life considered trying their hand at birthing the new and becoming an entrepreneur.

“I am very excited and passionate about this initiative. The more I interact with businesses, the more I realize that many of them need help, encouragement and guidance. GEN helps to celebrate, support and connect entrepreneurs and those who champion them, therefore, bringing GEW to the local business community is a timely and appropriate venture,” Sealey said.

She stated that the main activity to celebrate the special week in SVG will be the MAKING IT HAPPEN SERIES – FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY. Sealey explained that the series will comprise video interviews with eight successful entrepreneurs across different sectors of SVG. They will highlight their struggles, challenges, success stories and most importantly, how they were able to transmute an idea into a business. The five to eight-minute videos will be posted on the Ignite! Facebook page during the week.

“I will be sharing daily tips on the importance of public relations for businesses, as well as the importance of entrepreneurs building their personal brand,” Sealey said, to Ignite! commitment to local businesses.

“I will also facilitate discussions with a panel of graphic designers, audio production personnel, photographers and videographers on the importance of quality branding materials for businesses. This is also geared towards transferring expertise knowledge from seasoned entrepreneurs to those who aspire to be.”

Sealey said the local activities will also provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with potential collaborators, mentors and even investors.

“The Make It Happen video competition is open to early start-up businesses. Each early start-up must submit a video no more than five minutes, pitching their business/product. Video must be submitted via email to igniteresults@gmail.com.

Videos will be judged by a panel as well as the public (via Ignite! fb page). The top five pitches, as judged by the panel and the public, will then go through to the finale, where they will pitch their ideas to a LIVE panel, as well as members of the public. The winner will receive free logo design and free 10 mins marketing consultation from Ignite! A 10 per cent discount off brand essentials design from Ignite! i.e. 10 per cent off design of business cards, letter head, social media design (profile and cover art) and banners for three months. Exposure to additional funding through Global Domination Capital, a Caribbean fintech start-up based in Trinidad & Tobago and other prizes,” Sealey explained.

She also told SEARCHLIGHT that Ignite! is a local partner for Women Entrepreneurship Day (WED) and is making plans to host a brunch on Sunday, November 19, which will feature three female entrepreneurs as speakers, as well as a PITCH IT session, during which female entrepreneurs will have three minutes to pitch their idea. They will receive feedback from a panel, as well as persons in attendance. They will also receive small tokens.

Kenrick Quashie of the Youth Business Trust SVG also collaborates with Ignite! for the GEW activities.(KJ)