Caribbean tech entrepreneurs are about to get an express lane to corporate boardrooms across three continents. Next month, the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) in Montego Bay (July 29-31, 2025) will host the official launch of Catalyst Connect—an accelerator built to fast-track partnerships between proven regional start-ups and companies wrestling with real-world technology gaps in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.
How the programme works
- Corporate “challenge board”
Multinationals and regional heavyweights post specific pain points on a dedicated B2Match hub—anything from logistics optimisation to AI-driven customer engagement. - Solution matchmaking
Start-ups with ready-to-deploy products flag their fit. Once a match surfaces, both sides enter a rapid-validation sprint. - Proof-to-partnership
Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) supplies the toolkit: proof-of-concept funding, IP guidance, market-fit coaching, and—when the tech has broader appeal—expansion strategy. - Capital runway
For ventures needing growth finance, the accelerator lines up investors or polishes the pitch deck for bigger stages.
Why this matters
Previous CIF gatherings were criticised for showcasing big ideas without bankable numbers. Catalyst Connect flips the script by insisting that applicants arrive with functional products, defensible unit economics, and clear ROI paths. The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is already working with a select cohort to sharpen financial projections ahead of the forum, ensuring investors see substance, not sketches.
Digital Connecters Jamaica: first stop
The inaugural roadshow—Digital Connecters Jamaica—lands in Kingston days before CIF. Spanish research powerhouse TechNavia joins Caribbean Export to run deep-dive workshops, live challenge matchmaking, and investor previews. Corporations scouting for innovation are urged to attend; seats at the table mean first crack at region-bred solutions.
The sound-bite
“We’re not speeding up companies—we’re accelerating alliances,” noted Leo Naut, deputy executive director at Caribbean Export, during a recent briefing in Kingston. The message: forget demo-day theatre; this is about contracts, pilots, and revenue.
