The Founder Institute, the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Jamaica - Caribbean 2025 program!
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Jamaica's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Jamaica - Caribbean 2025 Founder Institute today.
Since 2009, our highly-structured accelerator programs have helped entrepreneurs at the earliest stages grow quickly, know what to do next, and make connections with the largest community of startup advisors.
It all starts with our renowned ‘FI Core’ accelerator, which pushes founders at the idea and pre-seed stages to reach the milestones needed for investment and sustained growth. Alumni of FI Core then receive free access to our advanced ‘Founder Lab’ accelerators for years to come, and can get matched with prospective investors in the FI Venture Network, a collection of global funds actively investing in the earliest rounds of funding.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free online startup events in Jamaica, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Sonam Velani: 12:00pm, Jul 14, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/374436
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using AI to Increase Productivity: 12:00pm, Jul 16, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/373481
- How to Start a Global Startup from Jamaica: 5:00pm, Jul 17, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/376271
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks: 12:00pm, Jul 23, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/373604
- Best Practices on Building Innovation Hubs for Universities & Colleges: 12:00pm, Jul 24, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/375947
- Responsible AI for Startups: Frameworks You Can Apply from Day One: 12:00pm, Jul 28, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/376102
- Entrepreneurship Education: Lessons from Startup Accelerators: 12:00pm, Aug 07, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/375753
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 12:00pm, Aug 11, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/374592
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 12:00pm, Aug 18, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/374794
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 12:00pm, Aug 25, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/375458
- How to Get Investors to Notice Your Startup: AMA with Marta Marrucco: 12:00pm, Sep 17, 2025 (America/Bogota): https://FI.co/e/373955
The Jamaica program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Gabriela Corbera (Director, Founder Institute Caribbean), John Rodriguez (Director, Founder Institute Caribbean), Rawle Annandsingh (Director, Founder Institute Caribbean).
In addition, some of Jamaica's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating in the program, providing them with expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Jamaica Founder Institute includes:
- Akshansh Deva: Circular Bio-Economy, Wageningen University
- Ali Jamal: GP, First Check Ventures
- Al Karim Rehemtula: Advisor, Business Development & Strategy, Independent
- Almando Cox: Founding CEO, ResolveIT Limited
- Althea West Myers: Founder & Chief Strategist, Growth Partners Ltd.
- Andrea Livingston Prince: Chief Project Manager, Business Works Collective
- Andrea Wray
- Arlene Williams: VP Personal and Business Banking, First Global Bank Limited
- Arvo Hartikainen: Director, Impact47
- Astrid Chedid: Regional Director for LAC and Spain, Annual Investment Meeting
- Barrington Graham
- Ben Camara: Founder & CEO, KLIQ
- Beverly Hinds
- Bianca Welds: Founder, L'Attitude Studios
- Carey Wallace: Executive Director, Tourism Enhancement Fund
- Cavelle Johnston: Proprietor, The Law Office of Cavelle Johnston
- Chad Cunningham: Managing Director, Deal Ventures
- Charu Sharma: Founder I Angel Squad Member I Early-stage Startup Consultant, Hustle Fund
- Cheryll Stewart: Managing Director , GEN Jamaica
- Chloé Lozac’h: Venture Capital Investor, VU Venture Partners
- Christian Flemming: Managing Director, Mustand Engineering
- Christopher Reckord: Chief Executive Officer, tTech Limited
- Christopher Brown: Lead Project Manager, Development Bank of Jamaica
- Collin Turner
- Damani Thomas, Carbon Neutral Initiative
- Dareem Jeffrey: Founder & CEO, EcoWash
- Dave Cameron: Co-Founder & Director , Caribbean Virtual Hospitality Institute
- David Mc Bean: Executive Director, UWI Mona School of Business & Management
- David Mullings: Senior Managing Partner, Blue Mahoe Partners
- David Simpson: Managing Director, Ashalon Capital
- David Walcott
- Demetrie Adams: Partner, Tavares Finson Adams
- Deron Wilson
- Diana Bernal 娜娜: Board Member, HubTropolis
- Dmitri Dawkins: Chief Executive Officer, Graft Ventures
- Don Samoil: Managing Partner, Trusted Scale
- Donnie Bachan: Founder, SixBerries
- Donovan Robertson: Co-Founder, CCSI Group - Community Capital Social Investment Group
- Dr. Aakanksha Shah: Venture Resident, Heinz Ventures
- Dr. Prapthi Bathini: Clinical Pharmacologist, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences & Research
- Dr. Yaniv Proselkov: Chief Strategy Officer, SilkWork
- Elise Crooks: CEO, BlueCode Limited
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-founder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
- Gabriela Corbera: Director, Founder Institute Caribbean
- Garth Thompson
- Gary Mckenzie: Pitch Coach, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean.
- Gauri Deoras: Angel Squad Member, Hustle Fund
- Gordon Foote: Director of Business Development, bSmarte
- Grace Cowan Allen
- Gregory Lawrence: Principal, Banyan Consultants
- Gregory Robinson: CEO, Native Films
- Harold Davis: Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC)
- Heneka Watkis Porter: Author/TV Host/Podcast Coach/Producer, The Entrepreneurial You
- Herbert Hall: Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Capital Partners Limited
- Hon. Edmund Bartlett: Minister of Tourism, Jamaica
- Hopeton Nicholson: Business Development Manager, Exim Bank
- Ian Hemming
- Inalcan Gulec: Senior Investment Associate, Eksim Ventures
- Ishenkumba Kahwa: Professor, University of the West Indies, Mona
- Jamie Lee Williams
- Jane (Evgeniya) Kubryak: Founder, Discover with Jane
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- Janordo Patterson: Business Banking Executive, First Global Bank
- Jason Clarke: CEO, Optimum Trading Limited
- Jason Butcher: Founder & CEO, Orbit Capital
- Javier Grevely: Head of Strategy, XSET
- Jeff Murphy: Founder & Managing Member, Murphy Advisory Solutions
- Jermaine Henry: CEO/Co-Founder, FlowFacto
- Joelle Smith, The Hub Coworking Jamaica
- John Outridge: CEO, T&T International Financial Centre
- John Manuel Rodriguez Cotua: Director, Founder Institute Caribbean
- Jorge Díaz: Founder & CEO, Domäne Capital
- Jose Aguilar: Consultant/Telecom Economist, Independent Consultant
- Joshua Alphonse
- Joshua Errett: CEO, Friends & Family Pet Food Company
- Jule Goike: Director of Research and Development, Nephrodite
- Julian Robinson: Member of Parliament , Government of Jamaica
- Kadeem Smith: CEO, https://vasttrips.com/
- Keith Chong: Senior Partner, Zafar Venture Capital
- Keron Lewis: Managing Director, Code Canvas Consultants Ltd.
- Kerrie-Ann Vassall-Richards: Founder, Business Growth Rocket
- Khary Sharpe: CEO & Founder, BAKARI DIGITAL LABS Limited
- Kiesha Harriot Harvey: Ms, Harriott-Harvey
- Kurtis Rudd: CEO, KReative Branding Solutions
- Kyle Maloney: Co-Founder & Director, Tech Beach Retreat
- Kyle Lewis: Co-Founder, eZeePayments.com
- Larkland Morley: Cloud Infrastructure Strategy, Google
- Lastarda Lee
- Lilyclaire Bellamy: Executive Director, Jamaica Intellectual Property Office
- Manish Balakrishnan: Chief Thinking Officer, DSHG Sonic
- Marcela Sabino, Kinetic Investments
- Marcelle Smart: Manager of Consulting Services, tTech Limited
- Mark Tracey, J.P.: Co-Owner, First In Line Entertainment
- Marlene Street Forrest: Managing Director, Jamaica Stock Exchange
- Matthew Lee, Sea Farmer
- Melissa Powell: Founder & CEO | Co - Founder, COO & Co-host, Pocmi, Inc. | InvestHuman LLC
- Michael Gordon: Chief Innovation Officer, University Of The Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) Lim
- Michael Gordon: CEO, Fintechlab
- Michael Jordan Pilgreen: Venture Partner, Maximus
- Michele Marius: Founder, Project Calls
- Moniphia Hewling: Independent Consultant, eMRock Online
- Monique Powell: Founder/CEO, QuickPlate
- Nadine Campbell: Founder, ACE Entrepreneurs
- Natacha Ralainirina: Clinical Scientist, US San Diego
- Natasha Abdool: General Manager, Security Services Ltd.
- Nicole Pitter Patterson
- Omotoyosi Saint Cyr: Consultant/Manager, Root Cause
- Pablo Sandoval: CEO, Kitmart Solutions
- Paul Chin: Investor Relationships Manager, Development Bank of Jamaica Limited
- Pauline Nelson: Communications Specialist, Development Bank of Jamaica Limited
- Racheal Callaghan: Digital Strategist/Managing Director, Start Social Ltd
- Ragav Yarasi: Founder & CEO, Clikkin
- Raquel Seville: CEO, BI Brainz Caribbean
- Rawle Annandsingh: Director, Founder Institute Caribbean
- Reginald Nugent: Chief Financial Officer, Transcel Inc
- Rezworth Burchenson: Chief Executive Officer, VM Wealth Management
- Rhonda Dookwah
- Richard Kildare: CEO, Graphene Rock Capital
- Richard Thelwell: Chief Executive Officer, Richwell Funding
- Rishika Agarwal: Advisor, Nucleate Switzerland
- Robert Urbina: Director, BanGente
- Robert Paty: Retired Executive, Nestle
- Robert Scarlett: CEO/Advisor, Hunter Scarlett Consulting
- Romario Sterling: Assistant Manager, VM Wealth Management
- Ronald Carter: Investor & Entrepreneur, Independent
- Roxette Miranda: Chief Executive Officer, 305 Works
- Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
- Sasha Sternik: Independent Advisor , SAS Consulting
- Sathara Hendrickson: Chief Executive Officer, Hustle 2 Brand
- Sergy DED
- Shaaf Farooq: Program Manager, HaloHealth VC | Clinic Innovation Hub
- Shani Duncan Falconer: Lead Consultant and CEO STF Consulting , SME Consultant- JMMB
- Sharleen Clarke Curah: Motivational speaker, HR Management DTI
- Shauna Smith: CEO, The Marketing Muse 360
- Shedron Collins: Chief Executive Officer, Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago
- Sheena Taylor
- Sherine Mungal: Co-Founder & Managing Director, Eidetic
- Stacey Ann Wilson: Co-Founder/CEO, JunkSion X Labs
- Stephen Barnes: Cofounder, One on One Educational Services
- Stephen Michael: Founder, Propel Earth
- Stuart Fraser: Co-Founder & Creative Director, Eidetic
- Tabitha Eliza Sophia: CEO, Aleonz Consultancy
- Talisa Taylor
- Taneallea Feddis: Co-Director Jamaica, Founder Institute
- Tanisha Davis
- Tashaine Morrison
- Tennille Howell Hussey: Director, BDCI
- Theo Smith
- Tor Massoni Norheim: COO/Consultant , Luna Maps
- Tyrone Wilson: Founder & CEO, eMedia Interactive Group Limited
- Ugo Ikemba: Founder, Mscale LLC
- Wayne Beecher: Co-Director Jamaica, Founder Institute
- Winston Wilkins: CEO, StartupRobot
- Winston Delahaye
- Yentyl Williams
- Yu Wen Chen: Director, Product & Strategy, Amyris
- Zachary Harding: CEO, Delta Capital Partners
- Zhan Li: Vice President, Jamaica Actus SME Fund (JASMEF, www.jasmef.com)
- And many more to be announced.
Join us in Jamaica to build a great company in 2025.
Apply to the Jamaica - Caribbean 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
