Small markets. Global capital. Big ambition.

WHO'S TALKING

Every side of the table

Barbadian mother, Windrush generation. Raised in a Lancashire mill town.

“Ambition is evenly distributed, whereas access to capital, networks and opportunity isn't.”

FOUNDER

INVESTOR

BANKER

ADVISER

Built a leading B2B mobile business. Co founded Atherton Bikes (2018) and Implement AI (2023).

Investor on BBC Dragons' Den (2013– 15). Built venture capital and corporate-finance businesses.

Non-executive director of the UK

Solicitor at SJ Berwin, then M&A at BZW/Credit Suisse. Six years a Nesta trustee.

government-owned British Business Bank, through £90bn of Covid business loans.

PART 1 · RAISING FINANCE

Raising finance: the honest picture

The asks on stage this week come close to a whole year of the region's venture capital.

And exits are few Mostly trade sales. Investors will ask who buys you before they ask anything else.

That's not a reason to stop It's a reason to be precise about who you ask, for what, and when.

Sources: Caribbean Export (Sep 2026); IDB, Venture Capital in the Caribbean (Nov 2025), citing ECLAC (2021); First Angels Caribbean; IDB/Compete Caribbean (2014).

Small markets. Global capital. Big ambition. · CIF 2026 closing keynote takeaways · Piers Linney MBE

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