Hamilton, Bermuda 29 August 2023 – On August 17th, The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), in partnership with the Global Atlantic Re foundation held the Youth Finals of the Wave of Opportunity Pitch Competition.
Three young and promising entrepreneurs – Sabriuna Wilkinson of Nurture Laiche, Aaron Lugo Jr. of Lugo’s Mighty Mower, and Antoine Jones of Distinct Collectives – took to the stage, pitching their ideas in front of an audience comprised of friends, family, Global Atlantic Re representatives and BEDC team members, and an esteemed panel of judges. Judges included, Hong Gao, SVP at Global Atlantic Re.; Kyle James, BEDC Board Member and Ondreyah Rochester, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Officer, BEDC.
The Honorable Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, remarked, “It fills me with pride to witness the innovative spirit, dedication, and resilience of our youth. Each participant before us is a beacon of hope and represents the promising future of Bermuda’s business ecosystem. ”
Erica Smith, Executive Director of the BEDC had this to say to the youth finalists, “To each of you, I want to say: you should be immensely proud of what you’ve achieved. Every idea pitched, and every business presented, is a testament to your hard work and the bright future of entrepreneurship in Bermuda.”
“The young entrepreneurs who participated in the event really demonstrated the ingenuity and creative spirit that are hallmarks of the Global Atlantic Re foundation,” said Darryl Herrick, President of Global Atlantic Re and Co-Head of Reinsurance. “We’re honored to sponsor this event and work with such talented young entrepreneurs and look forward to announcing the winner next month.”
While the atmosphere during the youth finals was exciting, the suspense continues. The grand winner of the youth finals will remain under wraps until the main pitch event on September 28th at the Hamilton Princess, but the excitement doesn’t end there! The public will have a role in determining the recipient of the “People’s Choice Award.” Following the main event on September 28th, the public will have the opportunity to watch the finalists’ pitches and cast their votes. The finalist securing the most votes will win up to $25k, an incredible boost for any business.
BEDC extends its appreciation to the Global Atlantic Re foundation for its invaluable partnership. This support will help to fuel the growth and success of small businesses throughout Bermuda, providing much-needed capital to help businesses expand, hire more employees, and contribute to the local economy.
Interested attendees for the main pitch event on September 28th can RSVP at www.bedc.bm. Stay tuned to witness the rising stars of Bermuda’s business world and be sure to cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award!
About BEDC
The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is Bermuda’s source of free, confidential business advice. The mission is to actively assist the development of a strong, well-managed and prosperous local business sector in Bermuda. The key objective of the BEDC remains providing a broad range of business advice, counsel and financial assistance to local businesses in Bermuda.
