Innovation and ambition continue to fuel the rapid emergence of startups across the globe. Considering the wealth of talent that resides within the Caribbean, it’s no surprise that the region is keeping pace. Amidst the unprecedented economic disruption brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, many Caribbean entrepreneurs identified unique opportunities to fill gaps, solve problems, and satisfy the needs of their communities. Having achieved significant success in a relatively short period of time, several of these entities have turned to the regional accelerator program, TBR LAB, to help them navigate the next chapter in their growth journey. In this Spotlight on Startups series, we will be shining a light on these Caribbean startups you should definitely keep an eye on in 2022.
Penny Pinch, Saint Lucia
Penny Pinch is currently the Eastern Caribbean’s leading digital wallet provider. According to its founder, Martin Hanna, the mobile app was designed to “solve the large problems of the banked and unbanked.” Through Penny Pinch, retailers can engage with their customers via rewards, cash back, and coupons, while customers in turn are presented with the opportunity to conduct transactions with everyone from merchants, to family and friends. Recently the platform confirmed partnerships with Mastercard, MoneyGram, and Western Union. “We believe that working with leading industry players will only benefit our ability to offer the best ecosystem of financial services products in the Caribbean,” says Hanna.
iTeneri, Jamaica
iTeneri is a social network event management platform that has been revolutionizing the online and onsite event space since the onset of the global pandemic. The company’s founder, George Henry, credits iTeneri's success on its ability to “focus on connecting event attendees while ensuring that everyone has a platform for their voices. The current generation is social and no one has tackled events from this angle before.” Indeed, this unique approach has thus far resulted in several noteworthy engagements, including an agreement with Jamaica Stock Exchange to facilitate the Annual General Meetings (AGMs) of all companies listed on the exchange. iTeneri has also been engaged by Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host the nation’s 60th anniversary celebrations in June 2022. The event is expected to attract an estimated 5,100 virtual and in-person attendees.
oDeliver, Trinidad & Tobago
oDeliver is a B2C delivery service that is introducing a new way for businesses to engage in eCommerce. The app was developed as a direct response to the increasing need for companies to facilitate eCommerce delivery requests at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s fully functioning API allows businesses to generate, manage, and track their orders through a user-friendly portal. oDeliver has a flexible business model that engages on-demand drivers, as opposed to owning its own fleet. According to Founder, Jonathan Clayton, "This is a great advantage as we attempt to scale quickly throughout the Caribbean while still being very efficient and affordable."
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The digital landscape in the Caribbean continues to evolve at an impressive rate and TechBeach aims to consistently recognize and applaud the efforts of the visionary entrepreneurs behind this technological awakening. If you know of a Caribbean startup that is making great strides in their industry, please share their story with us at info@techbeach.net. We'd love to feature them in our Spotlight on Startups series!
