After the 2017 storms, small businesses are still struggling to recover. Mercy Corps, the global humanitarian organization, and Bacardi, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, are launching the Caribbean Innovation Challenge 2019, a competition to award business innovation and strengthen businesses on the islands, entrepreneurs can win up to $5,000.
The challenge will award 25 local entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for products, services or processes that will contribute to the economic development of the territory. Small businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands represent 85 percent of jobs and need tools to recover, grow and become more resilient to future crises.
To participate in the contest, entrepreneurs must have an active business, be of legal age and live in the territory. A group of local judges will select the best ideas and award them with up to $5,000. Participants can visit the Challenge website to submit their application. The contest will be open until Sept. 15.
To strengthen their businesses and increase their chances of winning, entrepreneurs will have access to free mentoring through MicroMentor, a social platform that enables the world’s largest community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs and business mentors to create powerful connections, solve problems and build successful businesses together. MicroMentor’s global community is formed of more than 100,000 users around the world and has created nearly 25,000 jobs in 198 countries.
The Caribbean Innovation Challenge 2019 is one of the many programs that Mercy Corps has launched, thanks to the support of partners like Bacardi, designed to support economic recovery in islands impacted by the 2017 storms.
About Mercy Corps:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, Mercy Corps partners to put bold solutions into action—helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.Visit https://www.mercycorps.org/ or follow us on Twitter @mercycorps, Facebook @mercycorps or Instagram @mercycorps
For MicroMentor visit: www.micromentor.org/caribbean or follow it on @micromentor.org or Instagram @micromentor.org
