Accelerate your exports:
Applications for OECS
youth entrepreneurs
now open!
The Competitive Business Unit
(CBU) of the Organisation of
Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
Commission invites Youth
Entrepreneurs (18 to 29 years old)
in the OECS, who are involved in
or interested in exporting goods
and/or services to participate in
a four-month virtual accelerator
programme.
Fund (EDF). The programme
will provide coaching through a
virtual business accelerator to
young exporters by supporting
them with the tools and skills
to grow their businesses. The
programme will be delivered
through the following framework:
•
Scope of the Programme
Based on consultations with
regional entrepreneurs and
Business Support Organisations
(BSOs) to diagnose key issues
affecting the scalability of start-
ups in the entrepreneurship
ecosystem, a number of
challenges have been identified.
One of the most significant
challenges facing entrepreneurs
is access to experienced coaches
and mentors to guide them
in scaling their operations. In
response to this issue facing
Micro Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs), and in
an effort to further develop
a strong entrepreneurship
ecosystem, the OECS Competitive
Business Unit (OECS-CBU) in
collaboration with the Caribbean
Export Development Agency
(CEDA), developed a “Virtual
Export Accelerator” for youth
entrepreneurs.
The OECS Virtual Export
Accelerator will be a medium for
fostering growth in several niche
sectors where opportunities
exist. Among them are Agri-
business, Creative Industries,
Green Industries and Information
Communication Technology (ICT).
•
•
Business Diagnostics: A
business diagnostic will be
undertaken on each MSME to
determine the main issues and
impediments hindering the
business from exporting or
trading outside its domestic
space.
Export Development
Coaching: The business and
export development coaching
will focus on Business
Strategy Development,
Financial Management,
and Export Planning and
Implementation.
Technical Assistance & Buyer
Engagement: Entrepreneurs
will be guided in the use
of appropriate tools to
address issues in trading and
exporting. This component
will also facilitate virtual B2B
meetings with buyers and
potential partners in targeted
markets.
The programme will seek to
incubate twenty (20) OECS
businesses during the period
September-December 2019 and
will deliver coaching and technical
assistance to increase the export
potential of youth entrepreneurs
in the region.
The “Accelerator” will be
implemented by the OECS-CBU
and CEDA with funding from
the 11th European Development
www.slyoumag.com | September-October 2019
Who should apply?
Interested applicants must submit
a completed application form and
satisfy the following eligibility
criteria:
• Must be a citizen of an OECS
Member State
• Must be between the ages of
18 and 29
• Business must be established
at least 1-3 years
• Business start-ups must
be registered in an OECS
Member State and must
have a copy of a business
registration certificate
• An innovative business idea/
model that falls within one
of the following targeted
sectors:
• Agribusiness & Manufacturing:
e.g. Agriculture (fresh
produce producers/suppliers),
production of high-value
agro-products such as sauces,
spices, teas, confectionary,
condiments, spa, and personal
care products
• Creative Industries: e.g.
Music -- writing, production,
recording and performing
from various genres of
music; Fashion -- design and
production of clothing and
accessories; Film production
and animation -- feature films,
documentaries, television
programmes
• Green Industries: e.g.
Renewable energy,
recycling, waste and water
management, sustainable eco-
projects
• Information Communication
Technology: e.g. Agri-
technology, mobile and web
application development,
software solutions, multimedia
solutions etc.
• Health & Wellness: e.g.
Medical care products,
technology and services,
nutraceuticals.
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