The performances of seven young entrepreneurs who are participating in the Urban Labs for Youth Innovation project, sponsored by the Citi Foundation and The Trust for the Americas’ Democratising Innovation in the Americas (DIA) Programme, have been outstanding and they are being rewarded with additional funding to strengthen and expand their businesses.

The entrepreneurs include Candice Gordon – Shevielle Naturals hair and skincare line of products; Akime Edwards, Global Hub Learning Solutions Ltd; Aalyah Campbell, The Eco Store; Miguel Francis, I Want To Make; Godiva Golding, Steam House Network; and Collin Fuller-Bennett, Atendify.

Launched in 2016 by the Citi Foundation and The Trust for the Americas, the DIA Lab is a regional initiative that seeks to foster innovation and empower new generations to create low-cost, high-impact innovations that improve livelihood opportunities and solve daily challenges in their communities. It aims to inspire and provide skills to young Jamaican innovators between the ages of 16-29, through innovation and entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and access to technology. In 2020, the DIA Programme  introduced a new component to increase employability and economic opportunities for at risk youth in the Caribbean through digital literacy, data science and future of work skills.

At a project update session held at Citi Group headquarters in Kingston on Wednesday, December 6, the young innovators spoke passionately about their projects as they share their journey with Citi team members and local media. In response, the budding business leader were told that the US$1,000 already given to them to start their projects will be augmented by “further reinvestment”.

Making the announcement, Dwayne Gutzmer, CEO of the Institute of Law and Economics (ILE) and programme coordinator, said: “We are elated to  support the journey of these young people”. He noted that since inception, the programme has provided training in innovation, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, sensitised another 622 youth and built 31 businesses, created social ventures or improved or expanded other businesses.

Gutzmer said that over US$20,000 in seed funding has been awarded. Under the new reinvestment fund, 32 innovation projects have received funding and three Pitch Tank competitions have been held.

Praising both the administrators and the entrepreneurs Eva Lewis, Citi country officer and corporate bank head, said the project updates were like “food for my soul”.  Noting the “professionalism, eloquence and confidence displayed in the presentations, she commended the mentorship and coaching dispensed by Gutzmer and ILE project coordinator Shauna Todd. Lewis said that “when one considers the number of at-risk youth that can be positively impacted by the DIA Lab, I can think of no better way to invest Citi Foundation’s money. This is a source of inspiration – we are building a community!”