It’s Getting Beta: Young Tech Entrepreneurs in Jamaica

The world of Information Technology is a “borderless world,” a sphere of endless and as yet unimagined possibilities. No horizons.

Perhaps for this reason, and despite my advancing years, I have had a fascination with technology for some time now – ever since I started using a computer. So I found myself last Friday ensconced at a Kingston hotel, with a diverse and passionate crowd of Jamaicans, for an event called “Caribbean Beta.”  The theme of the conference was “The Business of the Internet: Mobile, Social, Consumer Driven.”  The organizers of the event, ConnectiMass, assembled a strong group of sponsors – including the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the World Bank’s InfoDev and Keystone Augusta, a Florida-based investment firm headed by Kingston-born entrepreneur David Mullings. David writes an interesting column in the Sunday Observer, by the way. The government’s investment arm JAMPRO was in support. So was Digicel Jamaica, taking the opportunity to market its new 4G tablets and giving away some tremendous prizes.

You could not miss the Digicel booth at Caribbean Beta.

Caribbean Beta is the second annual event; Kingston Beta events take place bimonthly, bringing together the Jamaican tech community. In only four years, Kingston Beta has staged over 40 events, 2500 attendees and over 70 startup “pitches.”

And who are ConnectiMass? Well, you can read much more in the links below, but its founder is Ingrid Riley – a highly focused, down-to-earth Jamaican who describes herself on her LinkedIn profile as an “entrepreneur, digital marketing strategist, tech evangelist, tech blogger, and a Seth Godin, Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey fan girl.” She also edits SiliconCaribe, a very informative website/blog,(http://www.siliconcaribe.com). What can I say about Ingrid? She loves what she does, and it shows. And she is serious; she is highly motivated.

The day flew past. There was so much to say – and not only say, but do. The first panel discussion on the interface between government and technology was moderated by a young Jamaican currently working at the World Bank in Washington, DC, Matthew McNaughton (also a graduate of the wonderful College of Wooster in Ohio, in the same class as our son). Lorna Green is eighteen years an entrepreneur and the first and only woman to found and head an ICT firm in Jamaica, Digital Transtec. (My major concern, which grew as the day went on, was what appeared to be a dearth of young women entering the field). As chair of the Jamaican government’s e-government board, Ms. Green believes that Jamaican tech entrepreneurs must not hold their cards too close to their chest, living in virtual “silos.” Develop a strong lobby group, she urged; don’t allow government to stifle or over-regulate you; and avoid that territorial instinct that has historically been a feature of the IT sector (and government ministries).

So…Tech entrepreneurs, unite! In response to a question from Northern Caribbean University‘s (NCU) “Magic” team, Ms. Green pointed out that the government’s legal framework is moving too slowly – patent legislation, for example, is “antiquated”  – while entrepreneurs are forging ahead. It’s like a two-speed highway.

Jamaican IT pioneer Lorna Green (Photo: JIS)

Ms. Green also gave sound, practical advice to those seeking government partnerships. Head of the Fiscal Services Division of the Ministry of Finance Leroy Cooke pointed to the huge amount of data that the government sits on – much of it only available, it appeared, to those who requested it under the Access to Information Act. And Director of the Mona Geo-Informatics Unit Dr. Parris Lyew-Ayee talked about Singapore – a country the size of the parish of St. James in Jamaica – and its clear focus on the “high end effect” – Industrial Light and Magic has recently set up shop there. But then, Singapore’s government invested heavily in education. There is, of course, much more to be said about this – quite a lot has been said already. Note: Singapore is second after Switzerland in the 2012-13 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report. Jamaica is ninety-seventh (but it has moved up ten places from last year, which is indeed hopeful).

Singapore is tiny – the size of the parish of St. James in Jamaica – but is huge in terms of Information Technology and the second most competitive country in the world…

Mobile, as we are all aware, is huge. Mobile penetration in the Caribbean is now at 120 per cent. There are over 243 million smartphone users in the United States alone. There are many opportunities here – and the afternoon “PitchFest” reflected that. The World Bank’s Toni Eliasz (InfoDev) pointed to startup communities that InfoDev has helped to develop in Kenya, South Africa and Pakistan at a very local level, using the wondrous mobile. In many communities globally, more people have access to mobile technology than to electricity or water. CEO of SMS Communications Stephen Spence noted that messaging is a growing market and that entrepreneurs could grab that opportunity. “Do what you love,” InfoDev’s Eliasz told entrepreneurs, “Whatever rocks your boat…”

“The only thing we have in Jamaica is our creative exports,” said a member of the vibrant panel on technology and the creative industries. It is now Jamaica’s “second largest profit industry,” it was asserted. Once again, panelists urged the government to move faster to facilitate entrepreneurs in the field; but there are different solutions for different areas of the arts. Film, for example, is complex and needs government support. Head of the Creative Industries Unit and Film Commissioner at JAMPRO (the Jamaican government’s investment arm) Kim-Marie Spence is fully aware of this; but one got the distinct impression that funds were very small. JAMPRO’s role might best be described as “facilitating” and fostering partnerships, rather than financial support; but that is useful, too.

JAMPRO Film Commissioner Kim-Marie Spence at the Calabash International Literary Festival earlier this year.

Founder of ReggaeTop40.com Lloyd Laing did not mince his words. The older generation won’t let go, he said. There is a bureaucratic paralysis; it’s a “generational, transitional issue.” His words resonated. Just create the right environment in which entrepreneurship can flourish, reduce the ridiculous amount of red tape, and let the entrepreneurs get on with it – to prosper or fail or break even. Many young Jamaicans who have qualified overseas return to their home country full of ideas and eager to make a contribution – only to be told, “This can’t work… No, you can’t do it this way.”  Oh yes. I have seen and heard of many examples of this. Quite often these bright young Jamaicans will pack their bags, sadly, and leave again, discouraged by their own countrymen/women. This should not be happening!

Lloyd Laing speaks at a Kingston Beta event.

Now, the money part. A private sector panel discussed the question, “Is Jamaica a startup ghetto?”  A California-based Jamaican, head of the startup accelerator firm Acceler8, said, “I want to work with people who don’t see limits.” Well fine, said Mark Croskery, CEO of Jamaica’s Stocks and Securities Limited; but the startup must have a business plan, working capital and good cash flow too. So, what must a small IT firm do to get serious, and attract investment? Have a strong management team (Jamaicans are not the best at teamwork, someone noted). Be relevant: have a great product that is needed. Be prepared to make sacrifices to build your business (and that doesn’t mean running a fancy office and car as soon as you have funds coming in – keep your budget low, and stay lean). Don’t spend a fortune on marketing but do get plenty of customer feedback.

Phew. All that happened in the morning, with many questions from the audience and mini-discussions on the side. “So Much Things to Say.” But definitely not talk for talk’s sake.

And then, after lunch, the young tech entrepreneurs gathered nervously, writing last-minute notes, tapping their toes, and waiting their turn. Eighteen groups competed in the “PitchFest” – and the air of expectation was palpable. Many of the projects put forward (they had just three minutes to make their pitch!) were mobile-related, and there was an extraordinary variety. One team, Unite, presented their translation and interpretation service for mobile phones. Another, Jam Commute, pitched their project to reduce customers’ waiting time on public transport. PPS2 offered an ambitious pothole locator and repair project, which created a lot of amusement (potholes are a feature of life in Jamaica). Inventive Learner has developed some great educational software. JustKat (the only woman entrepreneur participating) has a social media empowerment program to offer. Portal Orbits offers online marketing solutions for local businesses. And Ajure (based on Mandeville’s “Silicon Mountain,” as Northern Caribbean University likes to call itself) offers a mobile application for 3D photographs, which we all loved. The Negril-based Claja.com, headed by Donald Porter, kicked off the proceedings; they have a great Jamaica Classifieds app for mobile phones. And the winner was… The University of Technology’s (UTech) Team Hybrid, for its “Trivial” Jamaica History and Heritage Trivia Game, designed with Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary in mind. Congratulations to all those who participated – it takes some nerve to stand up on stage in front of a panel of judges and an audience of 200 or so and sell something that is you – that you have developed from scratch, your “baby” if you will…

Competitors from the University of the West Indies look just slightly nervous…

Donald Porter of Claja.com works on his presentation.

I greatly admired all these young people (I should say young men, as women were almost non-existent. I found this worrying, and don’t recall anyone commenting on it?) But then, there was the BootCamp, which took place on Saturday and Sunday and really put the budding IT entrepreneurs through their paces. This was the serious business. Thirty-five attendees from Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados attended, and sweated it out, with the aim of “moving faster, further…along their startup journey.” A terrific idea, and one that will surely bear fruit.

So there you have it. It was an invigorating day with already established IT businesspeople, creatives and bloggers like myself, students from the University of the West Indies (UWI) as well as UTech and NCU (and not forgetting a lively and enthusiastic group from Excelsior Community College), and many others.

As Ingrid Riley noted at the beginning of the day, being an entrepreneur is like being on a roller coaster ride. One screams at times when going into apparent free fall; one laughs with relief; but there are “more positives than negatives.”  And of course, not everyone can be an entrepreneur; many people are, simply, workers. But there is so much more potential in Jamaica. I really feel it. And the government has to play its part in supporting entrepreneurs of all kinds, in every way that they can. While the bureaucrats drag their feet, our young IT entrepreneurs are already running – speeding up, in fact. They are budding Usain Bolts and Yohan Blakes and (hopefully) Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryces, too…

Come on, now! Not a moment to lose!

P.S. Talking of entrepreneurs, the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica is holding a two-day expo at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston tomorrow and Thursday (21st and 22nd November) from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free. Do go down and see what’s going on!

Young Entrepreneurs Association Expo 2012

Another P.S. A couple of things irritated me (as they always do, at such events): The event started soon after its scheduled time of 9:00 a.m. Registration was from 8:30 a.m., so one aims for that time, doesn’t one? Not for many. Large groups of people started turning up from 9:30 a.m. onwards. They talked loudly at the registration desk while those who arrived on time tried to focus on the opening remarks by Minister Julian Robinson (who did arrive early and prepared). And, of course, there was the usual talking through other people’s presentations. OK, if you want to share a thought with a neighbor, why not whisper? And if your conversation is more interesting than what the presenter is trying to tell you, why don’t you go outside and talk? No fault of the organizers, and an all-too-common feature of Jamaican public life. It’s called bad manners, and most disrespectful to whomever is speaking at the time.  OK, there’s my rant out of the way… Looking forward to your feedback, dear readers!

Julian Robinson, Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining

Ingrid Riley, founder and CEO of ConnectiMass and Kingston Beta – a woman with a vision, and plenty of drive.

Related articles and websites:

http://caribbeanbeta.com (Caribbean Beta website)

http://connectimass.com (ConnectiMass website)

http://www.keystoneaugusta.com (Keystone Augusta website)

http://www.infodev.org/en/Article.952.html (Jamaica Startup BootCamp opens support track to fledgling startups: World Bank/InfoDev)

http://caribbeanbeta.com/2012/11/17/caribbean-beta-pitchfest-2012-winners/ (Caribbean Beta 2012 PitchFest winners)

http://www.digitaltranstec.com (Digital Transtec website)

Sunday Whatever, November 18, 2012 (petchary.wordpress.com)

New Canadian initiatives to help promote Caribbean economic growth (caribbean360.com)

London to share its expertise with poorer nations (kaieteurnewsonline.com)

http://www.ict-pulse.com/2011/10/who-is-a-tech-entrepreneur-any-in-the-caribbean/ (Who is a tech entrepreneur? Any in the Caribbean? ict-pulse.com)

http://www.jamaicatradeandinvest.org/index.php?action=news&readnews=881 (Jamaica’s local film industry earns from America’s Top Model: JAMPRO)

http://www.infodev.org//en/Article.953.html (New study maps mobile tech use among Kenya’s poorest: InfoDev/World Bank)

http://www.jis.gov.jm/component/content/article/111-energy-mining/29672-paulwell-pledges-to-advance-ict (Paulwell pledges to advance ICT: Jamaica Information Service)

http://www.jis.gov.jm/component/content/article/111-energy-mining/32250-jamaica-4th-in-region-in-internet-use (Jamaica fourth in region in Internet use: Jamaica Information Service)

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/CSI/2012-13/GCR_Rankings_2012-13.pdf (World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index, 2012-13)