A World Cup for Entrepreneurs This month is an exciting month not just for sport fans, but even the non-sport fanatic, who gets caught up in the frenzy of the FIFA World Cup. There’s just
something about competition that gets the blood pumping and the heart racing, as you
contents 4 Three To Watch 9 Mentorship Spurs Growth: Joey Issa 10 Delivered to your Door: The New Fast Food 12 Alpha Boys Radio: Using Kickstarter to Launch a New Future 14 Thinking Outside of the Web 16 Information is the New Commodity 18 A Powerful Exchange: Gandys Comes to Jamaica 19 Mentor-Mentee Award Winners 20 Caribbean Entrepreneurs: ‘Likkle but Tallawah’
wait with bated breath to see who will be the final victor. The games are full of triumphs, losses, blunders, strategy and bold plays; just like in business, and the players must calculate their next move, follow some gut reactions and strive to move past their competitors. Players in the FIFA World Cup are jockeying for a world title and the huge career gains they receive from their team’s big win. In the game of business, entrepreneurs are the players, but their game never ends. They must continue to compete and innovate throughout the life of their business,often feeling like their entire livelihood depends on its success. In this issue, we share stories of Branson Centre entrepreneurs with fighting spirits who understand what it means to add value and use their competitive advantage wisely. Our cover story is a unique look into the businesses of two entrepreneurs competing in the same sphere, but each with a specific value proposition. They went through Branson Centre’s training programme together and established a positive relationship that involved collaboration and more. Now they are even better able to define and capitalize on their own competitive advantages. Our ever popular ‘3 to Watch’ section couldn’t highlight a more diverse set of entrepreneurial journeys, including a slightly ‘risqué’ business model that may have some readers blushing. In our own support model, we connect entrepreneurs with mentors – experienced entrepreneurs who can guide them along their businessbuilding journey. One such mentor, Joseph Issa, shares his story of encouragement and strategy-building that has helped his mentee scale production quickly. We also shed some light on how a local entrepreneur managed a KickStarter campaign that successfully raised money for the Alpha Boys School, and delve into how an entrepreneur is using his market research company to make his clients more competitive. Through these stories, we are excited to show how Jamaica, and the Caribbean, can compete effectively in areas outside of the sports arena. Entrepreneurs may just be some of the island’s top “ballers.”
Lisa Lake
Chief Entrepreneurship Officer
www.bransoncentre.co
THREE TO WATCH Three Branson Centre Entrepreneurs Ready to Compete Launching a new venture with a big vision, Melissa Powell, gets ready to create global exchange through her company International Movement Network.Then, Chadwick Hood, whose company Plaisirs is changing relationships for the better, shows how ‘selling sex’ doesn’t have to be dirty. Move from sexy to sweet with Hellen French. Her cocoa farming and cocoa processing business sets a new standard in the Jamaican cocoa industry and provides an array of chocolate products fit for the world stage.
Note: The first 12 weeks with the Branson Centre is known as Launch Pad. This is where the entrepreneurs receive all the technical knowledge needed to run a business. This prepares them for Take Off, where they begin accessing local and international mentors, business coaching, networks, professional services and other resources. Following Take Off they go In Orbit, during which the Centre continues to work collectively and individually with them to strengthen their businesses, and have them ‘pay it forward’ by sharing their knowledge and experience with the new cohorts.
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Melissa Powell
International movement network
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Feeling stuck? Stagnant? In need of a change?
Melissa Powell may have just what you need as she launches the International Movement Network—a company meant to change lives and locales for Jamaicans and people around the world.
From Architecture to International Business, Melissa has a range of degrees under her belt and is no stranger to career changes due to the unpredictability of the working world. Upon relocating to the United States to find job placement several years ago, Melissa found herself faced with the daunting challenge of competing for job opportunities as an international candidate. Many times opportunities were placed on hold or made unavailable, due to her not having the correct visa allowances. For the young and eager Masters degree recipient, the rejection was both disappointing and eye opening. When she returned to Jamaica, Melissa realized that her experiences abroad provided a unique understanding of how to meet an immediate need for international employers and employees. And so, the idea for International Movement Network (IMN) was born. IMN supports international work and hire. Thinking big, Melissa’s aim for the company is twofold: to assist Jamaicans looking for work opportunities abroad, and also to offer its services worldwide to anyone looking for work in any location. Melissa hopes to save others the trouble she experienced regarding legal documentation, so IMN will also assist jobseekers with their paperwork and guide them through the appropriate legal channels. Essentially, IMN wants to take care of all the more tedious aspects of job changes, so that
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job seekers can focus on the real key to scoring that great job: setting themselves apart from the competition. Melissa is excited about starting her own business and setting herself apart amidst the wave of entrepreneurial spirit and startup competition that seems to have taken Jamaica by storm. Her vision is broad, her goals specific, and her plan, quite simple: “In a few months we should have a platform that is just like a job board, but it’s going to be accessible to people from all over the world. So, if a candidate sees a job they like, they don’t have to worry about whether or “...IMN will be the go to site for international movement...”
not they are from Africa and the job is in the UK. They will know that whatever jobs they find on the site, will come from companies that are already aware that they have to sponsor whoever it is that is coming.” Melissa wants to see the International Movement Network become the go-to site for international career movement for global businesses. With the company’s launch date drawing ever nearer and a global talent pool from which to draw from, Melissa’s success seems poised to cross all border lines—no papers needed.
www.imovenetwork.com
Hellen french
Mount Pleasant Farm Chocolatiers
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Move over Switzerland—chocolate is getting the tropical treatment by Mount Pleasant Chocolatiers. Born and raised on Ugandan coffee and cocoa farms; founder, Hellen French, is looking to bring some island flavor to the confectionary business, while helping to boost the burgeoning industry that is Jamaican cocoa farming and production. Together with her husband; native Jamaican, Averell French, Hellen built Mount Pleasant quite literally from the ground up. When the two relocated to Jamaica from the U.K. in 2011, the space that their business now occupies was 150 acres of nonoperational farmland. Fast forward to the present and Mount Pleasant Chocolatiers is hitting its sweet spot, with cocoa grown and produced on 26 acres, as well as a manufacturing unit that churns out upwards of 300 pounds of chocolate per week. Hellen was selected as a Branson Centre entrepreneur for Cohort 5, and dove right in to the experience, which she describes as “an MBA in two months.” She is visibly enthusiastic about her twelve weeks with the Centre, explaining that “by the time you’re finished, you really know what you’re about and what you’re required to do as it relates to your business.” Hellen’s excitement comes as no surprise, since she may be part of the opening up of a renewed market for the island. Last year, cocoa manufacturing in Jamaica received quite a vote of support from the Inter-American Development Bank. That support came in the form of a US$1.7 million grant meant to aid with the development and execution of micro-factories that would produce more chocolate and chocolate products. Mount Pleasant Chocolatiers’ business model falls right in line with the increased attention being paid to the cocoa industry’s earning potential, as the company not only produces chocolate and cocoa, but has also diversified into the cosmetics industry with cocoa-based beauty and spa products. Their organic facial masks have already been supplied to local spas, such as Adam and Eve Day Spa and
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the Strawberry Hill Spa—making your next beauty appointment even sweeter. The company’s more traditional products include chocolate bars in assorted flavours, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, chocolate spread, and classic Jamaican chocolate tea. With cocoa exports currently earning US$1 million annually, and high demand from international companies, such as Hershey’s, Hellen and other Jamaican cocoa farmers are looking to re-establish the nation as a producer of top quality cocoa and cocoa products. She envisions a future where Jamaican cocoa is the prime cocoa of the Caribbean. “There really is beautiful cocoa here,” she insists. Her mission is to build a local and internationally recognized chocolate brand that distributes highquality cocoa products everywhere - grocery stores, boutiques, spas, gift shops and more. For all her hard work, such an achievement seems like Hellen’s just desserts.
“by the time you’re finished you really know what you’re about and what you’re required to do as it relates to your business”
www.coldbushorganics.com
Chadwick Hood Plaisirs
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Sex is everywhere. From international ad campaigns to local party fliers, there is no escaping sexual suggestion and imagery in our daily lives. Businesses, especially those in the culture industry (fashion, art, music, film/television), are constantly trying to one-up each other: pushing the limits of bringing a onceprivate deed into the public sphere, thereby shocking and titillating their target clientele into becoming consumers. Simply put, sex sells. Yet, when it comes to selling sex, those in the industry, like Chadwick Hood, know that discretion is the key to success. Chadwick’s company, Plaisirs, is a sex toy distribution company. He credits his entry into the business to an “adventurous and open mind, and a splash of luck.” While studying in Japan, he made a direct connection to his supplier through a personal contact. There were many naysayers who told him the business wouldn’t work in Jamaica. Chad persevered, knowing that he could fill a gap in the market by selling the goods at affordable prices without compromising on quality. Now Plaisirs not only supplies toys, but works in partnership with sexual health organizations and relationship mediators to offer a one-stop resource for customers to improve their sex lives and relationships on a whole. Clients connect with him on Facebook or through referral, and cannot only place their orders discreetly, but also receive the items in tasteful unmarked packages. The demand is high, and Chad is actively expanding the business. He will soon launch the company’s website, which will enable online product viewing and ordering.
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With so much exposure to sex, Chadwick suggests that perhaps we’ve been desensitized to its importance in our lives and relationships. Using Jamaica as an example, he says that any developing nation intending to cultivate a healthy and strong society must do so through education.
It stands to reason then that perhaps we need to educate ourselves more on this topic - our perception of relationships and family values could very well depend on it. Plaisirs is hardly the first venture of its kind in Jamaica, and most adult toy businesses emphasize discretion as one of their main selling points. Chadwick understands this desire from the customer’s perspective and adheres to it, but he also sets himself and his business apart by refusing to let his products be relegated to something shameful: “We encourage our customers to leave the politics and ignorance behind and embrace reality. Sex is a natural act humans engage in. So truth be told, we don’t really pay the naysayers and the prudes an ounce of attention.” Plaisirs’ aim is relationship sustenance. Through the tried-and-true combination of discretion and professionalism and a sensible approach to sex, Chadwick Hood and his team want to help relationships be the best that they can be - using sex as a healthy means to positive change.
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Discover what’s possible
Spurring Growth Through Mentorship: Joey Issa
Joey Issa is Executive Chairman of Cool Corp, Jamaica’s largest indigenous distributor of petroleum products. A businessman and philanthropist, Joey has been involved with the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean since it was launched by Richard Branson in 2011. He officially became a mentor in 2013. The following is his account of his experience with Dominic McDowell and the Centre’s mentorship initiative.
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After having over 25 years experience in business, one would think I’d be meeting inspired and motivated young people every day. I wish I did—there are few things more gratifying to see than the passion of youth. That’s why, when the Branson Centre presented me with the opportunity to mentor Dominic McDowell, there was nothing to do but accept. Through working with him, I have been given a renewed sense of hope for the future of entrepreneurship in Jamaica. Dominic is an intelligent and self-driven young man, who understands that the key ingredients for success in business are dedication and innovation. D.A.M. Good Brownies is Dominic’s brainchild. It’s a great business idea - a product unique, not only for its ingredients, but also for its target market. They are Jamaica’s only manufacturer of prepackaged and flavored brownies with thirteen different varieties to choose from. They even offer a vegan selection - embracing the latest movements in food culture and opening themselves up to (if not creating) a whole new market. As many young entrepreneurs do, Dominic focused on the areas in his business that he was most passionate about. For him, that was sales and marketing. The first thing I did was open up my business operations to him. I gave him direct access to my key management staff, particularly in accounting and distribution. Successful business people take a hands-on approach to all components of a project, and I encouraged Dominic to learn more about his company’s finances and administration. He took that advice to heart, and spent time with the head of my finance team, getting to know the ins and outs of general administration and management. We guided him in his approach to the market, which hinges on the distinctiveness of his product. After all, there is no other product quite like D.A.M. Good Brownies. We asked him about his cash flow and took some time to analyze his books. It was clear that he needed to increase his cash flow. What we noticed is that his fixed cost was higher than his gross margin, and in situations like this you often have to increase volumes so as to increase gross margins. Many start-ups linger at the same pace for too long and don’t push their production to the next level as quickly as they could. As a result, their operations can actually suffer financially. I didn’t want to see Dominic make this mistake so I encouraged him to rethink his strategy and grow faster, quicker. It is extremely heartening to see Dominic putting into practice so many of the lessons he learned and observed throughout our mentoring relationship. I am pleased to see the real traction and momentum his product has gained over the past year. I know that I am only a piece of Dominic’s master puzzle, but I feel great pride in knowing that I was able to contribute to some of his successes.
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The only advice I have left to give him is not to stop here. I implore him to push on and develop much further, not just his product, but also himself and his brand - the sky really is the limit. Although the official mentorship relationship facilitated through the Branson Centre has ended, Cool Corp’s doors are still open to him and he can call me anytime. He now has a whole team here who want to see him grow, thrive, and become a force to be reckoned with.
Delivered to your door: The New Fast Food
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Competition can be a ‘bad’ word in business. Many entrepreneurs shy away from or celebrating a company milestone for the mere fact that they don’t want their competitors to know what they are up to. It becomes an endless game of hide & seek with each player eager to outsmart the other. In a small market like Jamaica where many entrepreneurs are thinking locally not globally, this behaviour can lead to heavy handedness and even corruption, usually at the expense of the customer and the industry. The truth though, is that competition is good for business. It encourages change and innovation, improves customer service, and allows companies to focus on their core offerings and target market so that they can grow and scale. Healthy competition; including strategic alliances and resource sharing between competitors, leads to positive economic growth. Enter Eat to Live and Real Farm Freshness – two distinct businesses operating in the same industry, but with two very specific strategies. The entrepreneurs behind these businesses, Kerry Ann Parker and Felecia Williams, are two highly driven business owners eager to grow their companies, which both happen to be fresh produce distribution businesses. As luck would have it, they were each admitted into the Branson Centre’s Cohort 6. The Centre had never before had two direct competitors in the same cohort, but their business models were so compelling that the Centre couldn’t turn either one away. This meant twelve weeks of practical business training in the same room at the same time. It ended up being a daunting, yet simultaneously re-assuring, experience for both of them.
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Kerry Ann is the visionary behind Eat to Live, which delivers produce primarily to businesses, such as restaurants and hotels. This gives her the ability to buy in bulk and pass on value to her clients in both the quality and price of the produce. With a deep desire to create positive change in the threatened agriculture industry, eighty-five percent of their goods come from Jamaican farmers. Their strategy is based on scale, as well as efficiency for the customer, and their vision is to improve the livelihoods of their suppliers by using innovative storage methods to even out demand - an approach that would help farmers earn a stable and steady income. Felecia’s lifestyle oriented business; Real Farm Freshness, on the other hand, takes more of a boutique approach. She is a savvy marketer who understands how to build value into the brand experience. She targets individual consumers who are interested in living a healthy lifestyle despite their hectic life and work schedules. She takes a convenient, high-touch and personalized approach that includes handpicking her customers’ produce, which are delivered in colorful eye-catching boxes. She is like a personal produce shopper who even presents food solutions, almost like a stylist would recommend a tailored wardrobe. Both companies are customer driven, but Kerry’s primarily B2B clientele have different ordering needs and scale than Felecia’s B2C base. This is their main point of differentiation. “We both care about customer service, but our strategies are different.” Says Kerry Ann, “You have to differentiate to compete effectively.” Eat to Live delivers fresh grocery goods directly to the customer’s door within 1-2 days of placing an order. Orders are accepted via phone, text, email or directly through the company’s website. Eat to Live offers regular deals on fresh produce, and customers have the option of getting weekly price alerts sent directly to their mobile devices. Accessibility to product is definitely one of the selling points of Eat to Live.
“You have to differentiate to compete effectively.”
Fast food is so named because it is just that - fast. By offering delivery and the ability to place orders from almost anywhere on the island, Eat to Live is making fresh groceries just as readily available as a hamburger and fries. It’s a lot about helping Jamaicans change their lifestyle, and Eat to Live is poised to become a fixture in the move towards better lifestyle choices…but they aren’t the only players on the board. As a working mother, Felecia knew she wasn’t the only one struggling to balance work with food shopping and preparation - and so, Real Farm Freshness was born. As indicated by the name, Real Farm Freshness also makes supporting the local farming community a large part of its mandate. Real Farm has an online presence through their website and Facebook page. Once customers sign up to the mailing list, they get a weekly price list featuring over 120 different produce items. Items are grouped into five targeted standard boxes, including a Bachelor(ette) Box; small, medium or large Family Box, a Bouncing Baby Box, Jamaica Green Smoothie
Box, and a Fruit Only box. Customers also have the option of creating their own customized produce boxes. Fill out the online order form and two days later, all of that gorgeous produce arrives on your doorstep. Real Farm also provides information on the nutritional benefits of featured grocery items, shares links to farming and nutrition events and has even partnered with two guest chefs who offer meal tips and recipes through the company’s Facebook page. Many Jamaicans are affected by health problems tied directly to diet and nutrition. In 2012, the obesity rate was 38% and 13.6% of the population was living with diabetes, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health. Both Kerry Ann and Felecia believe though, that more and more people are embracing healthy eating as a lifetime commitment and not just as a passing trend. So much so, that they are willing to bet their businesses on it. “Jamaicans have always been aware of their health issues, but I believe they now know they can do something about it and they have options,” explains Felecia. So, how did these two entrepreneurs feel about sharing the Branson Centre experience together? “It was awkward,” describes Kerry Ann, “but I realize that it is a big enough market for both of us.” Felecia says she also felt weird in the beginning. “I was a bit guarded at first. However, when we started talking and opening up, we realized that we had different ideas and strategies for growing our businesses. One of the trainers at the Branson Centre also suggested areas for collaboration, which we have been discussing. We are open to the possibilities.” Entrepreneurs may always feel cautious about interacting closely with competitors, and who blames them. An entrepreneur’s biggest fear is failure. Many times they have placed their livelihoods on the line to run their business, and the risk of losing everything feels real. Kerry Ann and Felecia’s experience, however, shows that competitive collaboration can yield positive results. Rather than being a risk to the business, it actually informs the business. Each side is now armed with the information they need to carve out their competitive niche, and rather than walking on eggshells, they can face the market head on. The future is bright for both Eat to Live and Real Farm Freshness, but it is even brighter for Jamaicans - who are being provided with food for thought, and for the dinner table too!
“I was a bit guarded at first. However, when we started talking and opening up, we realized that we had different ideas and strategies for growing our
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businesses....”
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An institution created 134 years ago, the Alpha Boys’ School has not only become a fixture of Jamaican society, but is a notable contributor to one of the most important aspects of our culture – music. The sheer magic of the institution draws you in once you step through the front doors. The overwhelming sense of “Can Do”, “I Believe” or “Upward and Onward” (the school’s motto) that emanates from the very walls is the driving force and foundation, on which the institution has been able to churn out talented, socially conscious and uplifting members of society. It is no wonder that they were able to pull off one of Jamaica’s most notable KickStarter campaigns. KickStarter is a crowdfunding platform used to raise money from the public for creative and educational projects. Organizations and individuals, called project creators, use this more non-traditional approach to attract ‘backers’ - donors who pledge funds to support their projects. Projects must meet their funding goals in order to receive the money, and in return, the ‘backers’ are rewarded with prizes, as well as the knowledge that they helped to make a dream come true. Crowdfunding typically indicates that projects are funded by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people. The website www.kickstarter.com is the leading online sources for making this happen. Alpha Boys School, as with most charitable organizations, depends on the benevolence of others to support their school and vocational programmes. Their model, however, is changing. Spearheaded by Project Manager, Joshua Chamberlain; who works closely with the nuns and other stakeholders, Alpha Boys School is introducing entrepreneurial endeavors that will not only teach its students new skills and attitudes, but also earn revenue for the school’s continued operations. It recently launched an online radio station, Alpha Boys School Radio (www.alphaboysschoolradio.com), which served as the impetus behind the KickStarter campaign. B:Inspired caught up with Joshua to find out more about the crowdfunding experience and the lessons he learned.
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Using Kickstarter to Launch a New Future
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B:Inspired:
How did the radio station serve as the impetus behind the KickStarter campaign?
J.C.:
The radio station was launched in September 2013 with the help of one of our partners in the USA - Gritty (WXGR). It is an over the air community radio station on the east coast, and they set up a non-profit to develop Internet radio stations in communities of need. Based on the success of Alpha Boys School Radio and the international reputation of the Alpha Boys School brand, they felt KickStarter would be a great way to engage our fan base and raise funds.
B:Inspired:
What was your funding target and how will the funds be used?
J.C.:
Our target was U$23,000, and we raised a little over this amount. The funds will be used to develop a radio studio & media lab, including renovating a room in the old Junior Home and buying equipment (recording, editing, etc.) used to create content for radio. The boys will be trained in the technical skills of radio production and broadcasting, as well as basic media literacy.
B:Inspired:
How did you attract donors?
J.C.:
We used online promotional tools, such as social media, but found that our biggest results came from direct outreach. Tapping into our network, reaching out to people, sending emails and making calls to let them know about the campaign drew them in. The radio station has been successful thanks to a lot of word of mouth and push from promoters, especially big name advocates, such as Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Toots and the Maytals. Their endorsement carried over into the campaign. We also created a video featuring the Alpha Boys students talking about the project themselves, and this proved to be the most compelling piece, even more so than the donor prizes.
B:Inspired: J.C.:
Speaking of donor rewards, yours were quite unique. What were some of the most popular offerings? The Alpha Wear JA t-shirts are always a popular item. We also offered specially designed posters by Michael Thompson aka Freestylee: Artist Without Borders, not to mention the smartphone audio samples by dancehall pioneer, and Alpha past student, Yellowman
B:Inspired:
What were the biggest challenges and lessons-learned?
J.C.:
It was really not easy. To run an effective campaign, you have to be on it daily - pushing out information and drawing people in. It takes manpower and effort, and we had to learn a lot through trial and error during the 45-day campaign. We gained a lot of insight into what tools work and what tools didn’t work, and it taught us a lot about balancing our mass appeal with our personal appeal. All of our backers made it happen, but we had some big financial support through a few key ones, such as Rototom Sunsplash, the annual European Reggae Festival held in Spain. They found our personal appeal to be very compelling.
B:Inspired:
So, what do you think was the real key to raising the funds?
J.C.:
The story and the Alpha boys themselves. People seemed less interested in the prizes and more interested in the story. The video featured Alpha students, who are the best spokespersons for the project, and it played a key part in helping people feel connected to what we are doing. It was humbling to see from how far and wide the support came.
www.alphaboysschool.org
g n i k n i h T
f o e d i outs the web
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Long gone are the days when a company’s foundation was the brick-and-mortar of its physical headquarters. In fact, gone are also the days when having a company website meant you were on top of things in the digital age. Now a day, to be current and really connect with web users, you need to integrate multiple digital platforms and user interfaces to deliver different experiences and meet different business objectives. Neil Rhule, the founder of Think Web! - a Jamaica-based provider of online solutions and technologies for clients around the world, get’s it. He no longer sees himself as a web developer, but instead a web connecter – connecting people and things along a human network driven by digital technologies. From startup corporations trying to get their name out there, to high-profile corporations trying to expand their customer reach, to universities and colleges trying to recruit new students—every business needs a web presence to be relevant and competitive. Neil has over 15 years experience developing websites, and he launched his company in 2008. Since the launch of Think Web!, Neil has set himself apart from other developers by building a trusted firm that offers a professional suite of services. He prides himself in keeping up the company’s technological competencies, monitoring trends and ensuring he is able to deliver at international standards. When websites were the tout à fait of a company’s digital marketing strategy, Neil was on top of it. Now, as the ‘Internet of things’ begins to explode, and companies come to rely on apps and virtual platforms to execute on operational and marketing strategies, Neil is once again ready to deliver. “At Think Web! we believe in creating value through human interaction,” Neil says. “The core of our business is how people interact and connect through the web. We use that knowledge to build better interfaces for the solutions we provide.
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Now, when ‘thinking web’ you also have to think outside of the web.” Websites no longer stand on their own. They are communicating with different technologies, taking on new forms, and getting integrated into different applications. “It’s not so much about a website for the web,” explains Neil, “but about where the Internet is going.” Therefore, in addition to providing solid web design services, Neil is also building a niche in eLearning platforms. Schools, corporations and other enterprises use online learning to deliver training and education. Building an eLearning platform means merging different technologies and methodologies that work together to engage the online learner. Not every developer has the expertise and knowhow to deliver an effective solution, so Neil is setting himself apart again by taking on this growing technology. He is also investing time and resources into app development, with a special focus on publishing apps. “We now consider ourselves an Internet company, not just a web company,” says Neil about the direction in which his company is going. To compete effectively in just about any market, businesses need to adopt technology. A website is usually step one in the process, and as the Internet becomes more and more of a fixture and a driver in our daily lives, Neil and Think Web! are committed to staying at the forefront of Jamaica’s move towards technology. “If a business is not intent on establishing an online presence, then it is not ready to do business in this new era. The future is already here.”
www.thinkwebgroup.com
INFORMATION IS THE NEW COMMODITY:
TREVOR THOMPSON Trevor Thompson describes himself as having an affinity for information. From high school right up until his walk across the stage at the University of the West Indies, Thompson remembers always having an inquisitive mind. “I wouldn’t just read things for exams,” says Trevor, “I wanted to know and to understand.” In 2011, Trevor realized a dream when he established Vision Research Caribbean Limited (VRCL). The company is the fruit of many years of hard work, from his BSc in Public Administration and MBA in Finance from UWI, to numerous postgraduate certifications and countless hours spent creating and actualizing his, well, Vision.
Primary research incorporates everything from field-based research using the latest technological advances, to good old-fashioned Internet research. Then comes the process of conducting secondary research, where non-primary source groups, such as the Statistical Institute of Jamaica and other organizations, provide analyses of information. So far, VRCL services mainly local clients, and covers many different types of research requests. His client list includes Supreme Ventures Limited, GTech Foreign Holdings, SMS Communications and Lee’s Fifth Avenue. Trevor’s team is building quite a name for itself, and demand for their expertise is on the rise. “Even though we do a lot of marketing research, we even get requests from international organizations that are not really consumer research companies,” Trevor says of the growing global interest in his company.
All companies are selling something from goods and services to even ideas. It stands to reason then that any company seeking to carve itself a niche in the competitive business world needs to know certain things: its audience, its rivals, where the market is going. The key to that knowledge is research—and as a full service market research company, equipped with the capabilities to manage projects from thought to finish—research is what VRCL is all about.
In his own words, “information is the new commodity. The persons with the most information, the best information, and who can harness that information —are rich.”
VRCL uses various methods to conduct both primary and secondary research. At any given time, the company employs 65 contracted persons, each with a different role.
“The persons with the most information, the best information, and who can harness that information—are rich.” www.visionresearchcaribbean.com
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A POWERFUL EXCHANGE:
GANDYS COMES TO JAMAICA Two British brothers who lost their parents in the 2004 tsunami have created Gandys, a flip flop company that raises funds for orphans all over the world. They are a living example of using ‘business as a force for good.’ Sir Richard Branson, Virgin founder, is one of many from around the globe who have been touched by their personal story of tragedy and triumph. In May, the brothers visited the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean (BCoEC) in Montego Bay, as well as several Branson entrepreneurs at their places of business around the island. During their visit, BCoEC and its lead partner, Virgin Holidays, also held two events to facilitate networking and knowledge sharing between its entrepreneurs and the Centre’s overseas guests. The brothers were accompanied by members of the international press, which brought further exposure to the inspirational stories of entrepreneurship in the Caribbean. It was a powerful exchange that uncovered important insights into growing a global brand, but most importantly, using that brand to make a positive impact in the world and improve livelihoods.
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Mentor-Mentee Award Winners At our March B:Connected Mixer, we had an exciting virtual ‘link up’ between a Branson Centre entrepreneur and his overseas mentor. Jason Patterson (Avenir Energy) and his mentor, Samantha Trinh (based in
New York), were awarded the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship - Caribbean’s (BCoEC) first Mentor and Mentee Award for their 6-month commitment to creating and maintaining an effective and successful relationship aimed at helping Jason achieve key business objectives. Despite the distance between them, the two maintained solid engagement throughout the mentorship period (March – September 2013), worked towards achieving agreed upon objectives, and submitted regular and valuable feedback to the Centre. As winners, they each received a gift certificate for a 4-night complimentary stay for two at The Oasis at Sunset in Montego Bay. A big thank you to Sunset Resorts in support of our, B:Engaged Mentorship platform, one of the cornerstones of BCoEC’s entrepreneurship development programme.
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Caribbean Entrepreneurs:
‘Likkle But Tallawah’ By Melissa von Frankenberg
The Caribbean culture is a strong, confident and dynamic culture. Living in Jamaica, I see everyday the ambitious spirit of, not just entrepreneurs, but people in general. This is a culture that considers itself unique, extraordinary and bigger than its size, or as the locals say ‘likkle, but tallawah.’ Most people are eager to make their mark in the world, whether as an artist, musician, or business owner. Getting there, however, is another story. The World Bank recently came out with a study entitled “Latin American Entrepreneurs: Many Firms but Little Innovation,” which addresses the shortfall in innovation happening in the Latin America & Caribbean Region (LAC). This shortfall, when compared to comparator countries and regions is due to a number of factors, including lower levels of R&D, patent activity, new product launches and newlyintroduced managerial systems. There is no getting around the fact that innovation is suffering in LAC. But, does this mean that the WILL to innovate is lost? Not in our world. At the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean (BCoEC), we have bright stars of innovation who are standing up to the challenge and bringing big ideas to life.
“... a new generation of entrepreneurs is emerging with a new understanding of what is possible.”
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Most often it is the challenges to innovation that hold entrepreneurs back. They start small and too often stay small, which can limit the impact that entrepreneurship can have in boosting the economy and creating jobs. At the BCoEC, we know this all to well. It is one of the biggest hurdles we face when working with brave entrepreneurs who must bootstrap and think creatively, in order to stay a float in a less than enabling business and economic environment. Innovating means investments in time and money. For many business owners, the task of attacking the big ‘international market’ or even expanding within the region seems daunting. The mantras of doubt that can plague 3rd world entrepreneurs begin to set in early sometimes hindering them from reaching their full potential. But, things are changing. The Internet is now more widely available, even in rural areas, and a new generation of entrepreneurs is emerging with a new understanding of what is possible. The spirit of entrepreneurship is thriving and the will to innovate is strong, and at the BCoEC we are in a privileged position to nurture this spirit and help the opportunity-entrepreneur move from self-employment to innovative entrepreneurship. With over 100 entrepreneurs now active in our programme since 2011, we have real examples of innovation drivers and change-makers.
Take for example, Allison Turner of Turner Innovations – a relentless entrepreneur who moonlights as a karaoke entertainer, in order to support her drive to not just innovate, but invent. Allison and her husband have invented the world’s only sorrel harvesting machine – the ODT1. Sorrel is a fruit recognized for its medicinal value that is used in drinks and food products around the world. It is still harvested by hand using archaic methods to strip the Calyces (red fleshy sepals) from the seed boll of the plant. Despite having no formal education in science or engineering, the couple has developed the machine in line with regulations set by The Bureau of Standards, secured a US patent for it and recently secured grant funding to launch the machine on the market. With customers lined up to purchase from their first batch, Allison is about to meet a global need through a truly innovative Jamaican export. Within our group of entrepreneurs, we have inventors, artists, environmentalists, social activists, techies, marketing gurus and more, who are all defining themselves and their businesses through new products and services, but also, and maybe most importantly, through social impact. They feel responsible as leaders to improve livelihoods and create value for others and themselves. Many have left well-paying fulltime jobs to develop and launch their dream. One such example is Carol Lue, a social-entrepreneur who is pioneering biogas solutions to help solve energy deficiencies in the Caribbean. CaribShare Biogas will produce biofuel from organic waste, which will be used to generate sustained electricity. In partnership with a leading Canadian biogas design-engineering firm, CaribShare is currently setting up its first biogas plant in Jamaica with plans to expand throughout the island. Carol is fulfilling her passion to develop a social enterprise that will both mitigate climate change and strengthen rural livelihoods. We also have Gordon Swaby. A young man whose company, Edufocal, is disrupting the flawed education system in a good way. Edufocal offers children an engaging online learning platform using ‘gamification.’ Gordon has brought teachers, schools and parents on board in a big way, and he has become somewhat of a new generation spokesperson for education and entrepreneurship in the country. Like many other Jamaican entrepreneurs in our programme, he displays the kind ‘selfconfidence’ needed to take risks and push through economic, socio-cultural and political boundaries. This ‘self-confidence’ was highlighted by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2011 Jamaica Report as being “a great social asset in the Jamaican population, which can be harnessed to uplift the entrepreneurial pursuits of the country.” These are only a few examples of innovation taking place in Jamaica and the Caribbean, and there are surely many more instances of entrepreneurs with the WILL to innovate who lack the means and know-how to do so. That is why BCoEC exists. We are merely a catalyst for entrepreneurs driven to succeed, but who need a little support along the way.
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The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean
ignites businesses to operate in a sustainable and socially responsible way to improve livelihoods and transform the world.
AS OF MAY 2014...
86
105
ENTREPRENEURS INVITED TO TAKE OFF
ENTREPRENEURS PARTICIPATING IN LAUNCH PAD
195 + 111
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF JOBS SUPPORTED BY BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN TAKE OFF
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF NEW JOBS CREATED BY BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN TAKE OFF
88.9%
AVERAGE REVENUE GROWTH
FUTURE MODEL REGIONAL EXPANSION
400
Entrepreneurs per year
Virtual Platform: Interactive training centre & toolkit, mentorship matching hub, marketplace, social network
+
Local Community Ecosystem: Local partners, events & workshops, peer-to-peer connections, pitch competitions
Exponential Impact
Help support and expand the Branson Centre’s impact in the Caribbean. Contact info@bransoncentre.co
Team
Lisa Lake
Chief Entrepreneurship Officer
Sharon Jarrett Centre Manager
Melissa von Frankenberg Partnerships & Communications Manager
Kerrie-ann Richards Entrepreneur Relationship Manager
Lisandra Rickards
Entrepreneur Programme Manager
Donnelle Christian Relationship Manager
Maria Lunden
Volunteer Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Analyst
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www.bransoncentre.co info@bransoncentre.co
published by
Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship Unit 14, Bogue City Centre Montego Bay, Jamaica 1.876.632.5134 info@bransoncentre.co www.bransoncentre.co
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