Overview
Last year Entrepreneurs across borders made history as we brought together US based investors, Jamaican Leaders, and Entrepreneurs that resulted in some pretty astounding results. We called this historic event, Beyond the Beach.
We are going to make history again March 21, 22, & 23 at the luxurious Half Moon resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Beyond the Beach 2 promises to be even more impactful.
This intimate, invitation only event will explore the ways that Caribbean Emerging Tech can be accelerated through cross border partnerships. You will find out how your network and experiences can give the Jamaican startup ecosystem the kind of boost it needs to become a world-class innovation leader.
You will learn about how the Caribbean Seed Fund is changing the way that Jamaica invests in seed stage companies. You will meet investible startup entrepreneurs. You will find out how your network and relationships can play a key role in developing nations like Jamaica.
We call it Beyond the Beach because as our partner Ingrid Riley put it:
“Beyond The Beach is both an event as well as an intention. We seek to support the repositioning of Jamaica and the Caribbean, beyond the typical perception of being solely a place where you come to get your groove back and your tan on, towards a Caribbean that is known as a place where Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Excellence lives, Beyond the Beach. It’s also about how we carry out our mission in connecting Caribbean Entrepreneurs and Tech Talent to the opportunities of this Digital Age and to help them take full advantage of it.”
- Ingrid Riley, Founder SiliconCaribe, Kingston Beta & Co-founder Caribbean Seed Fund
Event Agenda
Thu, March 21 - Who's in the Room and Why
Reception Cocktails & Welcome Dinner Location: Eclipse, Royal Pavilion
Who’s in the Room & What’s our reason to be at Beyond the Beach
Beyond the Beach Origin Story & Guiding Philosophy
- Chris Cochran, Founder of Entrepreneurs Across Borders
- Ingrid Riley, Founder Silicon Caribe
- Martin Babinec, Founder of Entrepreneurs Across Borders and TriNet (NYSE: TNET)
Fri, March 22 - Ecosystem Support to Grow Scalable Businesses
Networking Welcome Breakfast
Planters of Seeds
Current Status of Jamaican Startup Ecosystem & a Caribbean Snapshot
A Fireside Chat with Ecosystem builder Ingrid Riley, Founder of SiliconCaribe
Hosted by Melissa Powell, POCMI
The Need for Seed
The Need for Seed: How a fund of active angels is the highest impact capital source for seed stage funding
Ed Reitler: Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt and Founder of ARC Angle Fund NYC
Progress update on launching the Caribbean Seed Fund
Caribbean Seed Fund Leadership
Hosted by Chris Cochran, Ingrid Riley, Sharon Roper
Networking Coffee Break
A Different Lense
What Techstars Saw in Caribbean Entrepreneurs
Melissa Pegus - Managing Director Techstars Atlanta & New Orleans
Lunch
Ecosystem Growth Powered by Partnerships
A Fireside Chat discussing how key partnerships can create opportunities in developing economies crossing both institutional and geographic boundaries.
Tastey Blackman, Head of Jampro's Technology Innovation District
Chris Brown, Head of DBJ's Boosting Innovation Growth & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (BIGEE) Programme
Hosted by Nasir Ali
Done Deal: Stories of Success and Challenges of Venture-Backed Entrepreneurs Panel
A Discussion with Jamaican Tech Entrepreneurs about there Startup and Fundraising Journey
Jermaine Morgan & Rory Richards, Founders of Grocery List Jamaica
Monique Powell, Founder QuickCart
Hosted by Ingrid Riley
Winning Strategies To Grow Revenue Beyond Borders
Peter Dean, Founder of Rendertribe and host of The Founder's Journey Podcast
Break
Where Are They Now?
A Conversation with the Caribbean tech entrepreneurs who pitched at last year's event
- Melissa Powell, CEO of POCMI
- Khary Sharpe, CEO of HeadOffice
- Yekini Wallen-Bryan, CEO of PreeLabs
- Hosted By Chris Cochran
Pitch Platform: A sampling of investable startups selected from EAB’s growing network
Hosted by Ingrid Riley
Break
Reflection & Networking Dinner
Sat, March 23 - Enabling Economic Self Sufficiency Through Entrepreneurship
Networking Breakfast by the Beach
Navigating the Path to Economic Self-Sufficiency: Embracing Challenges and Opportunities
Overview of what’s behind the high rates of poverty, unemployment and societal issues in underdeveloped economies - and initiatives targeted to enable economic self sufficiency.
Susan James-Casserly
Hosted By Chris Cochran
Introducing EAB Connect: Platforms and Process to Build an Entrepreneur Pipeline
A community platform to identify, curate and connect emerging entrepreneurs with the resources they need
Hosted By Nedra Daugherty
Break
Introducing EAB’s Global Impact Network + Plans for Zion Entrepreneurial Village
Martin Babinec - Founder of Entrepreneurs Across Borders, Upstate Venture Connect and TriNet (NYSE: TNET)
Needs and Leads
An opportunity for attendees to make an ask to the group + offer to help others by giving first!
Hosted by Chris Cochran
Closing Luncheon & Keynote speaker
Closing Keynote - Ed Raine, President & CEO, Food For The Poor
Free time/Beach Time
Closing Dinner for participants staying at Half Moon