Jamaican artisan cheese manufacturer, Outland Hurders emerged the winner of the Flow Business Inknowvation Pitch Challenge, topping a field of 233 submissions from small businesses across the Caribbean region.

For their first-place effort, the three-year-old company was awarded US$7,000 including $5,000 in cash, one year of broadband connectivity, a one-year access to Flow Business Smart Solutions, the chance to showcase their business in their very own TV commercial as well as a one-hour coaching session with a digital expert.

“We extend hearty congratulations to Outland Hurders on a well-deserved win. Scores of small businesses across the region submitted impressive business plans demonstrating how they’ll use digital tools and technologies to grow their business; and how their business contributes to their local communities. It was no small feat to top the other entries,” shared Nicolas Collette – Chief Commercial Officer, B2B at C&W Communications and lead judge in the Flow Business
challenge.

“We are so excited and grateful with this win. This is a great opportunity for us and we’re looking forward to this journey with the Flow Business Team! Thank you to all the judges and organisers of this session. This is very exciting!” exclaimed Gordon Dempster, co-founder of Outland Hurders, which retails their cheeses in boutique stores and supermarkets locally.

They are currently available in over 18 retailers, primarily in Kingston, St. Ann and Montego Bay.

The Flow Business Inknowvation: Small Business Fridays was a compelling series of webinars that started on October 8 and took place weekly throughout the month.

It was aimed at empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners to grow their business and thrive in the digital age. Small business owners were invited to not only attend but also to submit their business pitch for a chance to win up to US$7,000 in cash and prizes while attending the engaging webinars and participating in interactive and focused breakout workshops to expand their knowledge in a range of topics aimed to help them make the most of digital tools and solutions to take their business to the next level.

Collette continued, “We were impressed with the response to the competition and the innovative ideas shared by our small business owners. It is clear that they are ready to expand their business into the digital space and tap into the global marketplace and we are excited to help our top three not only conquer that space but become examples for the others to follow.”

Five finalists were chosen and invited to pitch live at the final event where the judging panel awarded first, second and third place.

Second place went to Allegori Innovations from Trinidad, which took home US$4,000 cash, while third place went to Caribay Cuisine from The Bahamas with US$3,000 in cash.

They also won one-year free broadband connectivity and Smart Solutions, airtime for their own television commercial and an hour with a digital business coach.

The other judges were Andre Foster, CEO of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC); Teneile Simmons, SMB Lead at BTC; Waldon Russell, CEO, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce & Employers’ Confederation; and Knolly Moses, CEO, Panmedia (On Behalf Of Revup).

For Dwayne Walters, Head of SME (Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises) & Partner Channels at Flow Business Jamaica, the Inknowvation Series and Pitch Competition continued the company’s tangible demonstration of its commitment to help small businesses with their digital transformation and growth.

“We want to positively impact our small and medium-sized business and continue to build awareness of the advantages of digitizing one’s business, a lesson taken from the ongoing pandemic. Our SMB month [October] was yet another step in delivering on our commitment. Undoubtedly, our Pitch Challenge winners will benefit tremendously from the expertise gained as well as the technology solutions they will now enjoy courtesy of Flow Business,” he added.