The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has entered into a partnership with technology firm TechBeach to expand access to the business curriculum for entrepreneurs and start-ups across the region.

According to the CDB, this expansion will be achieved by combining the Bank’s capacity in social and economic programmes with TechBeach’s technology entrepreneur training programme TBR LAB, which is an initiative between TechBeach, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and world-class accelerator programme, the DMZ.

The Bank’s intervention will amplify its and TechBeach’s ability to offer localised, country-specific programming as well as to reach, identify and train entrepreneurs from underserved markets.

APPLICATIONS OPEN TWICE ANNUALLY

“This partnership is critical to position technology companies as vehicles for innovation, job creation and sustainable economic growth in alignment with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and our corporate strategy,” the CDB said.

Applications are open for the TBR LAB twice annually and those accepted into the programme receive access to upwards of US$600,000 in perks and resources from global enterprises including Amazon Web Services, Stripe, Microsoft and Google, as well as world class learning opportunities delivered by experienced success stories from the global tech industry.

Since its inception, TBR LAB technology companies have collectively raised in excess of US$50 million and are quickly becoming catalysts for economic growth and job creation.

“We are happy to expand our working relationship with the Caribbean Development Bank, which started with the very first Tech Beach conference in Jamaica” said Kirk-Anthony Hamilton, co-founder of TechBeach

“Technology is a highly differentiated industry. The tools and resources of the past don’t always work for those building in this space. Our goal is simply to arm Caribbean nationals with what they need to be successful in tech. This partnership is exciting because it allows us to be even more inclusive and increase the reach of that impact to islands we otherwise could.”