Building sustainable skills that enable our graduates to look after themselves and pursue their dreams is why The UWI partnered with the National Entrepreneurship Development Company (NEDCO) and the Entrepreneurial Training Institute & Incubation Centre (ETIIC) to create the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp.
Open to all recent university graduates and final year undergraduates, participants were taken along the road travelled by entrepreneurs and were taught business plan writing skills. On August 19 they presented their plans and were assessed at a ceremony at the UWI Conference Centre.
The four top places went as follows:
1st $50k: Timothy McIntosh – Decouvre
Production of a gourmet line of premium chocolate cupcakes and desserts, synthesizing an optimal blend of locally grown cocoa and internationally sourced ingredients. Timothy was a winner of "Cupcake Wars" on television’s Food Network. He graduated with a first degree in chemical engineering from MIT in 2008. He has been involved in the restaurant and catering business since his return to T&T in 2012.
2nd $30k: Sean Aberdeen – Sport Management Global (latent business)
Management support for young athletes to boost their career through a suite of services including sport marketing for teams and players; contract negotiations; networking; event planning and management; player representation, consultation and advice. Sean completed his BSc in Sport Management at UWI this year. He is a keen sportsman and represented T&T at under-14 and under-19 football.
3rd $20k: Terrance Glenn – Green Living
The company has designed an organic system of production based on aquaponic principles for an integrated aquaculture and agriculture process to produce fish (tilapia and ornamental); seasonings; fresh fruit and other plants. Future development will expand operations to production of seasoned patties; specialty sauces; teas and fresh vegetables. Terrance recently completed his postgraduate studies at UWI. The business has been in operation for the past two years and was formally registered as an incorporated company in 2014.
4th Hamper: Richard Chase – Palmetto Place
This is a start-up web and mobile development company involved in the provision of web-based marketplace and multimedia display advertising services and solutions to small and medium sized firms. Richard has been involved in this activity for the past five years and operates as a registered sole trader.
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