A Barbadian startup company is the only Caribbean firm to be selected from 18 concerns in Latin America, the Caribbean and South Florida to participate in a major conference in Miam in October this year.
The Barbadian startup company selected is “Couple Six,” owned by Ariana Green.
The Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) said it is collaborating with Miami Dade College (MDC) in hosting the Demand Solutions Conference on Oct. 19 at MDC’s Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami.
The IDB said the 18 startups in design, fashion, gastronomy, music and multimedia have been selected to participate in “a one-of-a-kind conference that will highlight innovation and entrepreneurship that improves lives.”
The event will bring together some of the world’s most creative minds to discuss, inspire, and share innovative solutions to tackle development challenges, specifically through the creative and cultural industries.
The IDB said this year’s selection includes 13 startups from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as five from South Florida.
A founder from each of the companies will travel to Miami to participate in Demand Solutions’ pitch competition, where they will present their projects to the audience and a judging panel to compete for prizes.
The founders will also participate in two days of activities with innovators, mentors, entrepreneurs and investors, organized by MentorDay, IDB said.
It said a panel of specialists selected participants from a pool of more than 300 applicants from 27 countries who responded to an open call.
“Though it is the fifth time IDB has organized a startups competition, for the first time, most CEOs [chief executive officers] participating will be women, reflecting a rising number of female entrepreneurs and the IDB’s effort to encourage applications from women founders,” the IDB said.
Besides the Barbadian company, other startups selected are from Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador.
Considered by Fortune magazine as the number two United States city for startups in the United States, the IDB said Miami is “the strategic catalyst to position Latin America and the Caribbean as the Creativity Hub and to connect thriving innovation ecosystems.”
The IDB said a startup from Haiti, Anacaona Community, owned by Laure Botinelli, has also been invited to present its work and participate in the mentorship sessions.
