Pitch room featured at upcoming JSE’s Regional Investment and Capital Markets Conference

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Applications are now open for entrepreneurs to pitch for venture capital funding at the upcoming three-day Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Regional Investment and Capital Markets Conference in January.

Entries must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected] by midnight January 6, 2023. Only shortlisted entrants will be notified by January 13, 2023.

The pitch room will be featured on the second day of the investment and capital markets conference, held annually in January by the JSE. The next competition will be held on January 25, 2023.

The JSE’s venture capital pitch room is an ideal place for entrepreneurs to seek capital funding and get exposure for a business venture in front of an audience, judging panel, venture capitalists, investment bankers and journalists. The pitch room will feature a one-hour segment where six lucky entrepreneurs will have precisely six minutes to pitch their proposals for venture capital funding.

Competition details

The entrepreneurs’ presentations must state clearly:

• What their product or service is
• The unique value being offered or competitive advantage enjoyed
• The amount and type of funding being requested and the purpose for which it will be used
• What percentage stake of the business they are willing to give up.

The judges will identify the top three most promising, new or existing ventures, of which one will receive financial and technical assistance, subject to due diligence and provided that the proposal present a viable business proposition that is considered worthy of funding.

The proposals will be judged on:

• Business viability
• Clarity of presentation
• Feasible organisational and marketing strategy
• Demonstrated expertise and passion for the business of the entrepreneur(s)

Entrepreneurs must satisfy the following eligibility requirements to be considered for participation in the programme:

• The individuals applying must be 18 years or older
• At least 50 per cent of the business must be Jamaican
• Must be a part of the management team or one of the business owner/conceptualizer
• Must be willing to negotiate and/or entertain discussions for equity investment
• The business is not listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
• Be willing to register the business as public company
• Entrants should be persons considered fit and proper by the Financial Services Commission