Createch By Kingston Creative Launches Two New Programmes For Creative Entrepreneurs – Business Incubator And Business Accelerator

Kingston Creative announces the launch of two new opportunities for creative entrepreneurs under the CreaTech umbrella – an Incubator and an Accelerator, co-funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ).

“Cultural and Creative Industry entrepreneurs have specific business development needs and we’ve designed both programs to fill those gaps. Both programs will guide entrepreneurs on how to increase sales, utilise technology, attract funding and become more resilient – especially through the pandemic,” says Dmitri Dawkins, Kingston Creative’s Entrepreneur Development Specialist. He states that he drew on his years of experience developing entrepreneurs at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean to design the programmes alongside Karen Hutchinson, CreaTech programme manager.

“The Creative Hub Incubator Programme is really designed to provide a safe and controlled environment for 6 micro or seed stage creative entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas and approaches. The Business Accelerator Programme focuses on driving growth for entrepreneurs with existing revenue, products and services,to become resilient, self-sufficient, global businesses,” stated Hutchinson.

The Creative Incubator will provide startups with free workspace, training sessions and mentorship to ensure they are on the right path to achieve their goals.  The Accelerator will focus on improving business and technology skills for more established creative entrepreneurs to increase their sustainability, capacity and ability to take advantage of global opportunities. Both programmes will run multiple cohorts over three years and aim to impact national development by providing job creation and developing the cultural and creative sector.

Benefits of the CreaTech by Kingston Creative Incubator and Accelerator Programmes include:

• Mentorship from experts in tech, HR, legal, finance and marketing

• Networking opportunities with other founders, experts and investors from Jamaica and around the world

• Customised training to help businesses get off the ground, win their first customers and hire their first employees.

• Prepare entrepreneurs to successfully access grants, loans and equity financing

• Support CCI entrepreneurs to take their business global and access new markets

Registration is now open for both programmes ( visit kingstoncreative.org/ business-incubator-and-accelerator to register), the application deadline is August 23th and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The Accelerator Programme will start on September 1st with ten new businesses forming the first cohort and the Incubator will start on August 31st with the first batch of creative businesses starting their residency at the Kingston Creative Hub at 107 Harbour Street.