CEI Jamaica Demo Day Recap
CEI Jamaica Proves a Scalable Model for Cross-Border Investment, Igniting Entrepreneurial Growth Across the Island
Kingston, Jamaica – June 17, 2025 – The Catalyst for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) Global has officially concluded its first regional pilot in Jamaica, and the results are in: the model drives results. With eight women-led Jamaican startups completing the accelerator and Demo Day pitch competition, CEI Jamaica has successfully positioned the island as a viable destination for international capital and entrepreneurial scale.
Delivered in partnership with the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), the Jamaica Technology & Digital Alliance (JTDA), and Nobellum, CEI Jamaica was designed to prepare founders for international investment, provide investor readiness training, and create long-term pathways to growth through global capital.
Demo Day Highlights:
On Saturday, June 14, founders pitched their ventures live at the AC Hotel Kingston before a full house of global investors, government partners, and ecosystem leaders.
Winners:
1st Place
$600,000 JMD
Lisa Binns, Stush in the Bush
2nd Place
$400,000 JMD
Thausha Martin, Chef-A-Peel
3rd Place
$200,000 JMD
Jayme Hoyte, SmartTerm Limited
These awards were a portion of the $1.2 million JMD in non-dilutive funding provided, in addition to long-term support and capital matchmaking for all cohort members.
2025 CEI Jamaica Startup Founders
Real-World Results Already Unfolding:
Graduates of the CEI Jamaica program are already making major strides:
Lisa Binns, Stush in the Bush: Soft launching her Kingston location in July, with a formal grand opening set for September.
Thausha Martin, Chef-A-Peel: Secured a $1.5M contract with PepsiCo, unlocking the next level of scale.
Andrea, Valentines Intimate: Finally incorporated her business after two years of uncertainty, crediting the CEI experience for the clarity and momentum to act.
Shevonne, FLX FX: Received an RFP to execute the first-ever drone show at JerkFest, a major national event.
A New Blueprint for Growth:
Beyond individual success stories, CEI Jamaica laid the foundation for a scalable model that can be replicated across the Caribbean and Africa. The approach — combining deep local context with global investor readiness — created meaningful outcomes that surpassed expectations.
What do we mean when we say the model drives results?
CEI Jamaica demonstrated that when the right infrastructure is in place — intensive training, cross-sector partnerships, and investor engagement — regional innovation doesn’t just grow, it thrives. The program led to direct capital investment, secured contracts with multinational companies, and most importantly, validated investor confidence in the market. This is what a successful pilot looks like.
Investor delegates participated in real-time investment discussions with the founders. Their presence alone marked a shift: many were engaging with the Caribbean investment landscape for the first time.
Looking ahead:
With Jamaica as a proven case study, CEI Global is building on this momentum to expand into additional high-potential markets across the Caribbean and Africa.
The vision is clear: to accelerate investment in thriving, underrepresented innovation ecosystems — and to equip founders with the tools, networks, and capital needed to scale globally.
About CEI Jamaica:
CEI Jamaica was created in partnership between the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and the Jamaica Technology & Digital Alliance (JTDA) and Nobellum. The accelerator focused on preparing women-led Jamaican businesses to become investment-ready while creating investor pathways to the Caribbean region.
