GREAT BAY--St. Maarten has secured third place in the inaugural Kingdom Startup Program, with University of St. Martin student team DRS Solutions earning recognition for an innovative concept that would transform sargassum seaweed into building blocks.
The entrepreneurship competition brought together university students and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the Dutch Kingdom to develop business ideas focused on innovation, sustainability and practical solutions to regional challenges.
DRS Solutions developed a concept aimed at putting sargassum, which regularly washes ashore in large quantities across the Caribbean, to productive use by processing the seaweed into material for building blocks. The concept addresses both the environmental challenge created by recurring sargassum influxes and the demand for alternative building materials.
Six University of St. Martin students represented St. Maarten during the program in Aruba, competing as two teams of three. The students were selected to take part alongside participants from Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius and the Netherlands.
Throughout the program, participants received mentorship, attended interactive workshops, built connections with entrepreneurs and industry professionals, and worked to further develop and refine their business concepts.
During the opening activities, the USM delegation also had an opportunity to meet State Secretary Eric van der Burg as participants explored the role entrepreneurship and innovation can play in strengthening cooperation across the Kingdom.
First place in the competition went to Waste2Wall of Curaçao, representing the University of Curaçao. Waste2Wall developed a concept to process plastic waste into sustainable building material.
KIMA of Aruba placed second with a concept that reuses coffee grounds and coconut shells to produce charcoal.
The third-place finish by DRS Solutions represents a strong showing for USM and St. Maarten, particularly in a competition centered on finding business opportunities within environmental and social challenges facing the region.
The Kingdom Startup Program was made possible in part through the Representation of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Organizations involved also included the Aruba Tourism Authority, Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association, Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten.
Organizers have announced that a second edition of the Kingdom Startup Program will be held in 2027.
