Branson Centre Caribbean welcomed 14 new businesses to join its accelerator programme for the second half of the year. The 6-month programme gives entrepreneurs tools to scale their businesses and connects them to a pipeline to investment involving some of Jamaica’s major sources of venture capital.

New this year is a specialized component of the programme for Blue Economy Entrepreneurs – that is, entrepreneurs using the ocean resources in a sustainable way for the purpose of economic growth job creation and improving livelihoods.

Nearly 200 businesses from across the Caribbean submitted applications. After a rigorous vetting process, the businesses selected to be part of the cohort include: All Tech Biz Solutions, Particular Presence Technologies, Knightfox Apps, Torc Auto World, Back to School, Liquid Light Digital, If Walls Could Talk, 1080 Events, Chocolate Dreams, Ion Communications, Yardie Divers, Cove Restaurant, Native Spirit Scuba, and JA Bioplastics.

Branson Centre has been able to consistently produce results that directly impact the issue of growth in the Caribbean, as well as bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and capital investment. Since its launch in 2011, the Branson Centre has helped entrepreneurs secure more than $1 million USD in investment. Branson Centre has brought to the table a strong group of investors that together represent a majority of the institutional capital available in Jamaica. Its partners include NCB Capital Markets, PROVEN Investments, PanJam Investments, GK Capital, JMMB Group and Norbrook Equity Partners.

The Centre primarily supports businesses in the scale up phase, earning revenue between J$25 Million and J$200 Million and seeking to scale their operations, increase their revenue and break into new markets.

Its accelerator programme incorporates rigorous training through business workshops and investment readiness bootcamps sponsored by NCB, as well as support through advisory boards and monthly CEO meetings with heads of industry.