CE 2025 Annual Results Report web

CATALYSING INVESTMENT:

FROM DISCUSSION TO DEALS

Nurturing the Next Generation of Caribbean Ventures Recognising that future investment pipelines depend on today’s innovators, Caribbean Export, together with long-standing Platinum Partner Republic Bank, launched the Investment Sprint and Business Pitch Competition as a flagship entrepreneurial feature of CIF 2025. While global investor interest in emerging markets is rising, Caribbean SMEs still face barriers to private equity, angel, and venture capital due to gaps in investment readiness, strategy, and investor engagement. The Investment Sprint directly addressed these challenges through a structured, high-impact programme designed to strengthen capacity, build investor confidence, and accelerate deal flow. Working with technical partners Caribbean Dragons and RevUp Caribbean, selected founders received one-on-one investor sessions, tailored feedback, and mentoring on valuation, storytelling, and pitch development.

Key outcomes included:

50+ applications from more than 10 CARIFORUM countries;

24 founders shortlisted and 10 finalists from

US$15,000 in prize funding awarded, with

+ US$10,000 to first-place winners

US$5,000 to second-place winners

Jamaica Saint Lucia Barbados Grenada

The top award went to ChatFlow, an AI-powered customer support platform for Caribbean businesses, while ARTEL’s Earthquake Impact and Recovery Tool secured second place with its AI-driven resilience analytics solution. Through mentoring, valuation clinics and live investor feedback, the sprint helped these ventures sharpen their investment cases and signal the region’s readiness to compete in high-growth, technology-enabled sectors. With the introduction of the Investment Sprint, Caribbean Export is intentionally addressing the full spectrum of enterprises that require external capital to grow. While the CIF Investment Village is designed to connect large scale, transformational projects in priority sectors with institutional and development finance investors, the Investment Sprint creates a parallel pathway for early stage and growth stage startups. It provides founders with the practical tools to refine their fundraising strategies and pitching skills, while opening a credible entry point to catalytic financing from angel investors and venture capital actors who are increasingly active in the region.

CARIBBEAN EXPORT ANNUAL RESULTS REPORT 2025 | 25