Entrepreneurs urged to register for CIC 2016

Young entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in St Vincent and the Grenadines are being encouraged to take advantage of an opportunity to participate in the Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) 2016.

Organizers of the competition, the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), has announced an extension on the deadline for registration to today, Friday, January 15. The CIC is an international support programme and business start-up accelerator for entrepreneurs in the Caribbean. Organized by the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), in collaboration with REACH* regional and national partners, the CIC helps transform intellectual ideas into profitable business models, through the commercialization of Intellectual Entrepreneurial Assets (IEAs). The CIC will connect entrepreneurs with mentors, additional resources and online training throughout the process.

CIC 2016 will award projects in the Creative Industries & Technology Commercialization categories.

The Centre for Enterprise Development Inc (CED) is the YABT local partner and its training and education coordinator, Keisha Phillips, is calling on Vincentians to ensure that they register for the CIC.

“As a result to the positive response, interest and participation of entrepreneurs throughout the region, the YABT has extended the competition deadline from December 15th, 2015 to January 15th, 2016 and the deliverables will be due on February 1st, 2016. To date there has been nine registrations from St Vincent and the Grenadines, and we would like to see more persons registering and possibly advancing to the finals of the completion,” Phillips says.

“We therefore invite you to participate in the Caribbean Innovation Competition (CIC) 2016. Take advantage of the extended deadline for registering. This is an opportunity for young people to develop and improve their business ideas and plans; and this is why we encourage our local entrepreneurs to register their ideas and take the challenge.

The First Edition of the CIC 2012 -2013 was originally developed as part of the Youth-IN program, sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and implemented by the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT).

The CIC is part of the of the Talent and Innovation Competition of the Americas – TIC Americas, the most recognized Hemispheric Competition for Young Entrepreneurs in the Americas. The CIC and TIC Americas go beyond traditional competitions as they incorporate training and mentoring as a “before” stage and follow-up, investment linkages and promotion opportunities as an “after” stage.

Vincentian Karama Jerome of Emerald Energy emerged as one of six winners in the first edition of the CIC Finals in 2013, with his wind and solar powered model boat, and received the Best Environmental Award for developing an innovative project or idea that contributes to solving environmental challenges. He also went on to the hemispheric round of the competition, the Talent and Innovation of the Americas (TIC).

Persons wishing to register for the CIC 2016 can log on to http://www.reachcompetition.net/ and submit their business idea before the deadline, or visit CED Office.