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YuhChat, an AI-powered customer service platform designed to help Jamaican businesses answer calls, manage WhatsApp messages, and capture leads 24/7, was named the winner of the “Know Your Numbers” Entrepreneurial Pitch Showcase and Awards Ceremony.  The company, founded by Andre Thomas earned the grand prize of JMD $500,000 following a pitch presentation held on April 20, 2026, at Lecture Theatre 50, Shared Facilities Building, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus. The event was hosted by the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), University of Technology, Jamaica in partnership with the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce and the Barita Foundation.

Second Place Winner

Dewayne Tennant, owner of JIG Entertainment, secured second place and received $250,000.  The venture addresses several challenges faced by visitors, including difficulty finding reliable and authentic food and entertainment, limited cultural immersion due to language barriers, and inconsistent transportation and accommodation options.

To solve these issues, JIG Entertainment offers curated access to authentic Jamaican restaurants and cultural experiences. Its services include dancehall dance classes, patois language lessons for visitors before, during, and after their stay, as well as reliable transportation and accommodation from arrival to departure, creating a seamless and immersive Jamaican experience.

Third Place Winner

Team Endzah of Malik Heron, Jeamelee Smith and Mark Hinds secured third place, taking home $150,000 for their event discovery and ticketing platform.  The team identified a fragmented events landscape in Jamaica, where patrons struggle to find events and promoters lose revenue due to untracked, cash-based systems. Their solution is a live, interactive platform that allows users to discover events by location, vibe, or time, and purchase tickets instantly.  Endzah also enables organizers to easily list events and track both online and offline sales, creating a more efficient and transparent system.

Six teams advanced to the final round of the pitch competition following the “Know Your Numbers” intensive workshop programme, during which entrepreneurs learned how to interpret income statements, cash flow, and profit margins; price their products and services effectively; manage costs strategically; forecast cash flow; and make informed decisions around growth, staffing, and investment. 

Born out of a recognised gap in the MSME ecosystem, the “Know Your Numbers” programme offered by the UTech, Jamaica Technology Innovation Centre, addresses the critical challenge that many entrepreneurs struggle to interpret financial data or explain their pricing. This practical initiative supports SMEs in achieving sustainability by equipping them to manage costs strategically, forecast cash flow, and attract investment through financial discipline.

Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment, & Commerce in his keynote address, underscored the importance of the sector, noting that Jamaica has over 425,000 MSMEs, which he described as the backbone of the economy. “When our MSMEs are strengthened, and they grow, Jamaica grows,” the Minister said.

Addressing entrepreneurs, he urged them to take full advantage of available support systems offered by the Ministry, particularly in financial management and business planning. “How do you organise your business? How do you know your numbers?” he asked. “They will help you.”

He stressed that financial discipline is essential for investment readiness and long-term success.  and highlighted opportunities in public procurement, noting that MSMEs are eligible to access government contracts under existing policy frameworks.  He also referenced broader reform efforts under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority, aimed at improving efficiency in public systems while maintaining accountability.

Encouraging young people to embrace digital tools and emerging opportunities, Minister Hill pointed to the growing number of Jamaicans earning income through remote work and global platforms.  “You have shown that Jamaica’s entrepreneurs have the talent, the drive and the discipline to compete at the highest level,” he said.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s support for entrepreneurship and called for continued collaboration between public institutions, private sector partners, and educational bodies to strengthen Jamaica’s innovation ecosystem.

Dr. Kevin Brown, President, University of Technology, Jamaica in his remarks commended the participants and underscored the resilience required for entrepreneurial success, stating, “I really want to celebrate entrepreneurs because some of you fail and rise again and fail and rise again until you find something that you can sustain.”

He further emphasised the broader impact of entrepreneurship on national development, adding, “but most importantly, the lifeblood of this country is built on the backs of small and medium-sized businesses.”

Recognising the importance of financial literacy, she encouraged participants: “We do not just want you to understand your numbers; we want you to use them to make smarter decisions, unlock new opportunities and build stronger, more resilient businesses.”

Tanketa Chance-Wilson, Executive Director, Barita Foundation, noted the importance of financial literacy for business success. “Jamaica is not short on good ideas, ambition and creativity,” but she expressed that some businesses do not reach their full potential because “they don’t know their numbers.”  She described the programme as timely and impactful, adding, “This is a very timely competition and training, and we were very excited to be a part of it.”

The TIC, UTech, Jamaica, remains the premier hub for entrepreneurship and technology development, supporting the growth of start-up, technology-based MSMEs. Mrs Andrea Bolton Fyffe, Incubator Manager at TIC, noted that “Over 400 businesses have passed through our incubation programme, many gaining local and international recognition in just the last five years.” She added, “Our incubated companies have secured over $60 million in grants alongside millions more in equity investment,” noting that this is proof that Jamaican SMEs can compete, scale, and win.