SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – In a packed room filled with nearly 300 attendees, and with the overwhelming support of more than 1,500 voters for the Crowd Favorite award, this year's competition has truly left a mark in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. The competition, which took place on November 19 at Aleeze Convention Center, witnessed seven school teams from across the nation pitch their groundbreaking ideas. The stakes were high, with the grand prize of ANG 10,000 and the chance to represent their vision on an international stage in Atlanta in 2024.
After intense deliberation by our panel of esteemed international jury members, we are thrilled to announce this year's grand prize winner and crowd favorite: Cari-Be-Green Ethanol Solutions from St. Dominic High. Not only did Cari-Be-Green win the grand prize of ANG 10 000 and an entrepreneurial exchange in the summer of 2024. Princess Vaswani, Natasha Vaswani, Goldie Pohuja, and Xiaowen Yang, an all-female team also won ANG 2500 for crowd favorite. This second prize is voted for by the viewing audience, which garnered 1884 votes.
The competition was fierce, with each team delivering outstanding presentations showcasing their innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. The local and international jury faced a challenging task in determining the ultimate winner, while the audience was engaged and enthusiastic, making their voices heard for the various teams. Streamed on social media and aired on TV 15 the competition became a highlight for Global Entrepreneurship Week SXM.
The National Youth Pitch Competition has once again proved to be a platform for nurturing young talent and celebrating the potential of our youth. The event's success was evident in the remarkable turnout, with close to 300 people in attendance, and the astounding support of more than 1,800 votes for the Crowd Favorite award.
This year's competition was not just about winning prizes; it was about fostering innovation, encouraging young talent, and inspiring the next generation of leaders. The winners of last year’s competition, Upcycl, shared their insights on the experience and encouraged the participants to be themselves.
Burunda Prince, COO of Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), the largest incubator for black businesses in the US and keynote speaker shared the work that the importance of building international relationships to accelerate business growth. The jury included, Alain Roper, Managing Partner of Computech, Valya Pantophlet, Head of Economic Affairs Department, Aly Merritt, Managing Director of Atlanta Tech Village, the 4th largest hub in the US, and Charles Robinson, founder turned venture capitalist, Managing Partner of 1888 Ventures. Guests also included the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, who said a few words, and Consul Kristin Lundberg and Sady El Hage, from the U.S. Consulate to the Dutch Caribbean.
The entire event was a testament to the creativity, ambition, and determination of these young minds that were fostered over a 7-week period during the accelerator program. This competition also showcased two key points that youth are focused on: sustainability and mental health.
We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who made this event a resounding success, from the participating teams and the dedicated jury members to the enthusiastic audience who voted for their favourite project. A special thank you to the official partners, Ministry of Finance, Bureau for Intellectual Property of Sint Maarten, TelEm Group and Global Entrepreneurship Week SXM.
Join us in celebrating the achievements of these young innovators and stay tuned for more updates on the National Youth Pitch Competition's journey towards shaping the future of entrepreneurship. For more information or media inquiries, please contact us at hello@islandpreneur.co
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