Innovation and entrepreneurship took centre stage at the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) on Friday, February 20, as seven student-led ventures competed in the Finals of the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition.

Four young innovators from Approved Labs, Akeem Hutchinson, Vanessa Andrews, Raheem Williams, and Damion Henry, claimed the top prize, walking away as first[1]place champions. Simone Hanson of Amaré Indulge secured second place, and Deandre Haughton of IDentify Life earned a well-deserved third.

In a historic first, Somesh Sharma of EcoStraw claimed the inaugural DBJ/MSBM Innovation Award, recognising a venture that advances sustainable manufacturing by transforming coconut waste into biodegradable drinking straws. The sectional prizes rounded out a memorable night, with the Phoenix Fressen Market Ready Excellence Award going to Amaré Indulge, taking home $25,000, and the JMMB Joan Duncan Corporate Social Responsibility Award of $50,000 going to Nowell Lewin of IFARM for its youth-focused agribusiness model.

Evaluating these ventures was no easy task. The judging panel, including Callia Smith-Harriott of Jamaica Junior Achievement, entrepreneur and Alt Catalyst CEO Wayne Beecher, Wayne Sutherland of First Angels, and first-time judge Carlington Burrell, CEO of the Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre, brought formidable industry experience to every deliberation. Their collective insight made the top three selection fiercely competitive, with scores running neck-and-neck until the very end.

The breadth of innovation on display reflected the diversity of ideas emerging across the UWI Mona Campus. EcoStraw tackled plastic pollution through the use of agricultural by-products. IDentify Life reimagined emergency response with stylish, customizable medical ID wristbands paired with a national health awareness campaign designed to save lives across the island. Bare Skin Studio presented a barrier-focused skincare line born directly from the founder’s personal battle with chronic skin conditions, while Amaré Indulge made a confident entrance with a natural, skin-friendly hair removal range, boldly declaring “Bare and Lovin’ it!” UniShare introduced a secure, student-only ride-sharing platform featuring real-time monitoring and women-only ride options. IFARM, a youth-led agribusiness, fused sustainable farming, technology, and skills training into a model that doesn’t just feed Jamaica today but invests in the farmers who will feed it tomorrow. Approved Labs closed the lineup with a Caribbean-born tech company on a mission to build scalable, culturally grounded software solutions to the region’s most persistent challenges.

The evening also highlighted the continued growth of the programme. Dr David McBean, Executive Director of the Mona School of Business and Management, reflected on the expansion of the programme since 2018, from a business school initiative to a university- wide platform engaging students from multiple faculties, reinforcing its role in shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs. Simone HoSang, COO of Caribbean Food Delights, captured the spirit of the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation (VHFF) ‘s enduring investment in one powerful sentence: “Loving your work creates engagement, joy and fulfilment, and the engagement with the Vincent HoSang Entrepreneurship Programme is not simply a responsibility but a calling.” For the HoSang family, this has always been personal.”

Since 2002, the VHFF has been committed to supporting the development of student entrepreneurs at the UWI Mona Campus, providing a forum through the annual competition for the students to bring their business venture ideas to life. One of the evening’s most significant announcements came from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), which committed JMD $3,000,000 to the competition, restructuring the overall prize pool and introducing a brand-new “Best Innovation Award” valued at J$500,000. Through the DBJ’s support, the top prizes were also enhanced, with first place receiving J$700,000, second place J$500,000, and third place J$300,000. Beyond financial awards, the Bank further underscored its commitment to entrepreneurship by pledging post-competition investment support through its Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) Programme. This support will provide participating ventures with a pathway toward commercialisation and sustainable growth.

Deidre-Ann Burrell, Programme Officer at the DBJ, emphasised the transformative opportunity facing innovators at this time, “The aftermath of Hurricane Melissa represents one of the defining challenges of our time, but it also presents Jamaica with an unprecedented platform for innovation. Be bold. Be curious. Be relentless. What the world needs now is your courage and your execution.” The impact of the initiative beyond the Finals stage was evident as competition alumnus, Chad Campbell of CNC, was presented with a USD $1,000 recovery grant by the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation, following hurricane-related damage to his hydroponic farm, a reminder of the programme’s ongoing support for its entrepreneurial community.

Representing long-time Partner, JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, Kim Mair, CEO, pointed to successful alumni ventures such as Queritel and Rush Alert as examples of the programme’s long-term contribution to Jamaica’s innovation ecosystem. The Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition is delivered through the Vincent HoSang Entrepreneurship Programme at the Mona School of Business and Management and provides structured training, mentorship, and funding opportunities for students to transform innovative ideas into viable businesses. Since its launch, the initiative has expanded across the university and strengthened its role in Jamaica’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This staging was made possible through the support of the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation, Caribbean Food Delights, Development Bank of Jamaica, JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, Barita Foundation, Phoenix Fressen, the Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialisation Centre, World Brands, and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation.