When Toni-Ann Williams recorded her video pitch for the 2023 Flow Business InKnowvation challenge, she did so with a hopeful but cautious heart.

“I had entered the year before, however, I was unsuccessful and that really dampened my spirit,” shared the owner and founder of the organic farm Mosa Estate.

The Flow Business InKnowvation Pitch Challenge provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to vie for cash and technology prizes valued at over US$20,000. Entrants are tasked with submitting a two-minute video outlining how they would use the funds and prizes to improve their operations, profitability, and competitiveness within the digital realm. The top five contestants are invited to pitch live, with the top three being rewarded for their efforts in cash and kind. The competition is open to entrepreneurs across the Caribbean.

Williams explained she took some time to recover from the disappointment of not placing in the top five in 2022 and channelled all her energy into preparing a phenomenal pitch for the 2023 competition.

“This year I took a bit more time to prepare my pitch and meticulously outline how I would use the funding and tools to grow my business,” she said.

Her efforts were not in vain as the St. James native placed third out of over 200 applicants from more than 18 countries.

“Winning to me was a great accomplishment and experience. I am so grateful to have been a part of the competition. This opportunity gave my company, Mosa Estate, the push it needed in terms of capital to help implement automation software in the agri-tech arm of the business as well as remote access for real-time data through Flow Business’ fast internet,” Williams continued.

Williams’ prize includes one year of high-speed internet, the production and airing of a 30-second television commercial, the development and hosting of a website and US$3,000 in cash.

Dwayne Walters, senior manager for Flow Business, contended that the InKnowvation Pitch Competition forms part of the brand’s wider ecosystem of support for small business operators.

“We recognise that small businesses are the driving force behind our economy and in fact, micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises provide more than 70 per cent of employment in Jamaica. As a true partner to operators within the MSME sector, we therefore take pride in providing such opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their knowledge and improve their operations and efficiency,” Walters stated.

The Flow Business InKnowvation Pitch Competition was part of the InKnowvation Virtual Conference which was held recently in Kingston. Over 5,000 persons registered for the event to listen to keynote speaker and entrepreneur Grace ‘Spice’ Hamilton. The renowned entertainer was also part of the judging panel that assessed the top five pitch challenge entrants.

“I was very impressed with the pitches and by the roadmaps for growth that were outlined by our top three entrants. I’m looking forward to seeing them put the prizes they have received to good use,” Hamilton said.

Joining Mosa Estate in the top three were Terri Henry, founder of Bee Natural personal care products in Dominica who won the challenge, and Dr. Jose Davy, founder of the Better Health Centre in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who placed second.

The InKnowvation Pitch Competition and Virtual Conference was held under the theme “Small Business…Big Impact”.