Bacardi and Mercy Corps Team Up to Support Small Businesses in the US Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten Through Free Mentoring and Innovation Challenge
Share innovative ideas, receive free business mentoring, and enter to win cash prizes of up to $5,000.00
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands and GREAT BAY, St. Maarten, August 23, 2019 /3BL Media/ — After the 2017 storms, small businesses are still struggling to recover. The global humanitarian organization Mercy Corps and Bacardi, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, are launching the Caribbean Innovation Challenge 2019, a competition to award business innovation and strengthen businesses on the islands, entrepreneurs can win up to $5,000 USD.
The Caribbean Innovation Challenge 2019 will award 25 local entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for products, services or processes that will contribute to the economic development of the territory. Small businesses in USVI and Sint Maarten are a key engine of job creation and need tools to recover, grow and become more resilient to future crises.
To participate in the contest in Sint Maarten, the entrepreneur must have an active business that is registered with the Chamber of Commerce, be of legal age, and live in the territory.
To participate in the contest in USVI, entrepreneurs must have an active business, be of legal age, and live in the territory.
A group of local judges will select the best ideas and award them with up to $5,000 USD. Participants can visit the Challenge website to submit their application. The contest will be open until September 15, 2019.
To strengthen their businesses and increase their chances of winning, entrepreneurs will have access to free mentoring through MicroMentor, a social platform that enables the world’s largest community of purpose-driven entrepreneurs and business mentors to create powerful connections, solve problems, and build successful businesses together. MicroMentor’s global community is formed of more than 100,000 users around the world and has created nearly 25,000 jobs in 198 countries.
The Caribbean Innovation Challenge 2019 is one of the many programs that Mercy Corps has launched, thanks to the support of partners like Bacardi, designed to support economic recovery in islands impacted by the 2017 storms.
About Bacardi:
Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF® vodka. Founded more than 157 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 7,000, operates more than 20 production facilities in 11 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on Twitter @BacardiLimited or Instagram @BacardiLimited1862.
About Mercy Corps:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, Mercy Corps partners to put bold solutions into action—helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.Visit https://www.mercycorps.org/ or follow us on Twitter @mercycorps, Facebook @mercycorps or Instagram @mercycorps.
For MicroMentor visit: micromentor.org/caribbean or follow us on Facebook @micromentor.org, Twitter @micromentor or Instagram @micromentor_org.
