Cradle of Life Limited and Dr KAD Morgan & Associates emerged as the top winners at the Boost Her Biz Pitch Session and Awards Ceremony, each securing $1 million in funding from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) to advance their businesses.

The event, hosted by DBJ under the Boosting Innovation, Growth & Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) programme, provided a platform for female-led businesses to present their ventures to a panel of judges.

The competition featured five finalists: Claumas Distributors Limited, Cradle of Life Limited, G Note Management Services Limited, who were absent, Dr KAD Morgan & Associates, and Pro Immaculate Cleaners. Each business was evaluated on innovation, scalability, and potential economic impact.

Following the pitch session, the judges deliberated while attendees engaged in networking over a coffee break. The announcement of winners in the programme was a nerve-wracking half-hour for the female entrepreneurs vying for the prize money.

Cradle of Life Limited’s CEO, Simeca Williamson, a registered nutritionist and one of only six internationally board-certified lactation consultants in Jamaica, shared her vision during her pitch presentation. As a mother of two, she has firsthand experience with the challenges of breastfeeding and combines her expertise in nutrition with her background in public health. She aims to create a more tailored approach to breastfeeding support in Jamaica, ensuring that each mother receives personalised care rather than a generic, one-size-fits-all solution. Williamson emphasised that no two breastfeeding journeys are the same, even for the same mother with different children.

After giving her very entertaining and informative pitch, and subsequent win, Simeca Williamson told Our Today:

“I’m so excited about this win! Each time I come out I’m able to share my business and how passionate I am about it, and one more person hears about it and and allows me to grow so that I can help all of Jamaica and the Caribbean so that everybody can breastfeed, I’m excited,” she said. “The more my business can get out there for more people to know about it, the more mommies and babies that will be able to breastfeed.”

Dr KAD Morgan and Associates provides comprehensive mental health services, including psychological assessments, therapy, and training. Their practice specializes in forensic, neuropsychological, and psychoeducational evaluations while also conducting workshops and research. They aim to expand tele-assessments, improve data compliance, and enhance service accessibility. The funding will support technological upgrades, staff specialization, and a stronger online presence.

After receiving her cheque for 1 million dollars, Dr. KAD Morgan, beaming with excitement spoke with Our Today about her win and the impact on their business.

“I have actually never pitched to anything. You know? But I do a lot of presentations, so I felt that level of comfort and I just looked at it. My husband said, you just just pretend like it’s just another presentation. You’re good. And I did that!” she said. “The time was the challenge that I was worried about. I was like, thirteen minutes. Oh my god. How am I gonna do this? But I made it happen.”

“So very, very excited about this prospect of how it can take the business to the next level,” she added.

Despite not securing the top prize, Pro Immaculate Cleaners’ director Azaria Johnson appreciated the experience. “It was an incredible opportunity to present my business alongside such inspiring entrepreneurs. While I didn’t win, just being part of this competition was an honour, and I’m grateful for the exposure and connections made today,” she said. 

“This was my first ever pitch competition, and I think the preparation and everything that got me here was a great experience. The guidelines that DBJ provided allowed me to understand what, you know, investors are looking for. And I see myself going out and, you know, this was my platform to start pitching,” she added.

The event featured remarks from DBJ Gender Specialist Kristina Neil. It was judged by DBJ Programme Manager for BIGEE Christopher Brown and Inter-American Development Bank Strategy, Programming, and Innovation Lead Officer Terry-Ann Segree-Brown. Also in attendance were DBJ Board Human Resources and Compensation sub-committee Chair Kerry-Ann McKoy Tulloch and BizTactics Founder and Managing Director Sandra Glasgow.

Renay Folkes-Johnson, Acting General Manager for Strategic Services at DBJ, delivered closing remarks, emphasizing that DBJ proudly supports women in entrepreneurship. She acknowledged that while not everyone emerged victorious, each participant did phenomenally and their businesses were destined to thrive.

More photos from the event: