News Americas, Kingston, Jamaica, Weds. Nov. 2, 2011: The Caribbean already known for being a vacationer’s sweet spot is fast becoming a hotspot for startups and Caribbean Beta.
The first of its kind one day Tech Entrepreneurship Conference is set for Friday November 25th, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston Jamaica. It is billed by organizers as the event where the smartest Caribbean minds in technology around the world, come to show and tell what they’re doing to change the world, to learn from global experts, be inspired and get connected to talent, funding and opportunities. It is another initiative focused on driving startup businesses, jobs and innovation in Jamaica and across the Caribbean that was started by ConnectiMass, a digital communications company headed by Ingrid Riley who also launched its predecessor Kingston BETA four years ago.
The inaugural tech entrepreneurship conference became the natural outgrowth of Kingston BETA, the 4-year-old networking and startup pitch event, will bring Silicon Valley to the Caribbean via keynote speaker Michelle Messina, VP of Guidewire Group, A Silicon Valley-based company which provides startups, their supporters, and those who do business with them with the tools, data, networks and programs they need to discover, monitor, benchmark, compare, and promote early-stage companies.
“It doesn’t matter where you are there are great entrepreneurs and ideas everywhere,” Messina said.
It will also host super successful tech entrepreneur Marc Canter, co-founder of the billion dollar company Macromedia, creator of the Flash Player and currently CEO of Digital City Mechanics. “We’re going to be focusing on helping Caribbean entrepreneurs engage and provide value to their communities and markets to create jobs, tech is where the future is and we’re going to be talking about growing a Caribbean Digital economy and ecosystem,” Canter explained about this role in coming to Caribbean BETA.
Messina and Canter are the two keynote speakers and they’ll be in the company of a host of aspiring and successful Caribbean tech entrepreneurs.
Caribbean BETA which is also a reflection of the tech entrepreneurship movement blossoming globally, was started by Ingrid Riley, founder of ConnectiMass that has been a leader in staging events focused on driving Caribbean Tech Entrepreneurship such as Kingston BETA that has had over 40 events that 2000 people attended and has seen over 50 Jamaican and Caribbean technology startups pitch their businesses.
“I am constantly inspired by the ideas coming from talented entrepreneurs I’ve met and worked with over the years across the Caribbean. Without question we will deliver to the world the tech equivalent of Bob Marley and Usain Bolt,” says Riley.
Caribbean BETA, staged by ConnectiMass, which is being held in Jamaica, one of the most Internet connected countries in the Caribbean, will also have exclusive product launches of Caribbean Startups as well as a PITCHFest. The PITCHfest is open to Caribbean led startups who will showcase their ideas and compete for prizes and earned bragging rights on the SiliconCaribe Top 10 Caribbean Tech Startups to Watch. The underlying mission of the event is to inspire college students and young professionals to see tech entrepreneurship as a primary option for them to take their ideas and talent to the local, regional world stages.
Caribbean BETA major sponsors are Round Hill Villas, KeyStone Augusta, JAMPRO, Jamaica Pegasus, Digicel Jamaica. Media Sponsors are SiliconCaribe.com, ICT-Pulse, Jamaicans.com, NewsAmericasNow.com. The Events affiliates are ICT4Development Jamaica, SlashRoots Dev Con and GramStep.
About ConnectiMass
Connectimass, a Digital Communications Company that’s focused on helping Caribbean business become Digital Rockstars via Digital Marketing Services as well as technology media and events geared to driving tech entrepreneurship in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. Our mission is to help bridge the gap between the information haves and have nots, the opportunity haves and have nots- to help the Caribbean become a region of innovation nations. ConnectiMass is the producer of the tech entrepreneurship events -Caribbean BETA, Kingston BETA and also StartupWeekend Jamaica 2012.
For further information about Caribbean Beta, contact Ingrid@connectimass.com or log on to .
