Hub of the Caribbean's Tech Scene
The Next Kingston BETA is February 23rd, 2012
Jan 25th
Caribbean Startups
Kingston Beta, our bimonthly Event staged in Jamaica, connected to the Caribbean and Diaspora – is a platform for startups, entrepreneurs, developers, designers and tech professionals – to learn, be inspired and network.
It’s become the hub for the movers and shakers in the Jamaican and Caribbean Tech Community. Over 40 events have been held, that 2500 people attended and have seen over 70 Jamaican and Caribbean technology startups pitch their new businesses ideas. We’ve kicked off a tech entrepreneurship movement in Jamaica and growing across the Caribbean.
In 2012, we will have 5 bi-monthly events and end the year with Caribbean BETA- The annual Tech Entrepreneurship Conference. Our year long theme is “Startup Local, Think Global” . Each Kingston BETA event will have a guest speaker (local,regional and global), a BETA Pitch Contest and networking with the smartest minds in the industry. We’ve started to charge for the event once again, first time in 4 years. We ask all attendees to pay only JA$500 or US$5.
The next one is Thursday February 23rd, 2012 at our home The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
Kingston BETA is part of a network of initiatives that includes SiliconCaribe.com, Caribbean BETA, the annual tech conference coming in November, StartupWeekendJamaica, and are all working on the same mission – to drive tech entrepreneurship in the Caribbean. We believe tech entrepreneurship can and will become a major driver of startup businesses, job creation and innovation.
5 Killer Questions for Every Entrepreneur Starting a Business
Jan 9th
by Steve Livingston on March 29, 2010
1. What problem or need will your product or service fulfill and how is this better than what’s currently on offer?
2. How big is the potential market? What’s the potential “open goal”?
3. Do you have the right team? Is it well balanced with a decent mix of experience and raw enthusiasm?
4. How will you dominate your market? e.g. by having proprietary protected know-how that creates a barrier to entry for competitors or can you (quietly) build dominance in a small niche market then blast off from there?
5. Can you deliver it now and if not, how and when?
Do You Have What It Takes to Run a Startup?
Dec 20th
by Serial Entrepreneur Neil Patel
Because startups like Airbnb and Dropbox are becoming very successful and making their founders millions, everybody wants to form a startup these days. But what most people don’t realize is that startups involve a lot of time, energy and sometimes even money. So although it may seem rewarding to startup a company, it can be painful. So do you think you are up to the task? Well, if you are unsure, you should have your answer after you read this… more
CALL for Caribbean STARTUPS: Caribbean BETA Startup Contest now Open
Nov 2nd
Start the brainstorming. Get to work on your prototypes. We’re having a startup contest for the Silicon Caribe’s Top Caribbean Startups to watch in 2012 list – we call it BETAPitch . Where anyone can come with their passion, powerpoints and cheering section to pitch their killer business idea. Five Caribbean Startups Confirmed so far. More
Who Should Attend Caribbean BETA ?
Nov 1st
Who?
If you see yourself in any of these categories. Then we will see you at Caribbean BETA on Friday, November 25th, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
Who Should Attend:
• Startup Entrepreneurs
• Aspiring Entrepreneurs -Individuals who have an idea and thinking about starting a business that incorporates the Web and/or the mobile phone.
• College Students
• Organisations working on using Technology to change communities and industries.
• Businesses looking to position themselves for the upturn and want to get close to the future digital movers and shakers to learn about the trends, to partner and do business.
Register now. We have student rates and early bird specials.
Registration for Caribbean BETA the first of its kind tech entrepreneurship conference is now open ONLINE. We have early bird specials on and special rates for Students. Register now then pay at the door. It’s that simple. You cannot afford to miss this event.
It’s a one day Tech Entrepreneurship conference that’s about driving startup businesses, jobs and innovation in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. It will be on Friday, November 25th 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.
Caribbean BETA is the event where the smartest Caribbean minds in technology around the world, come to show and tell what they’re doing to change the world, to learn from experts, be inspired and get connected to talent, funding and opportunities.
It brings together the industry pioneers and fresh faces, thought leaders and technology giants from Caribbean and around the world. The event will include inspiring keynotes and workshops, refreshing panels and a BETA PitchFest contest with focus on hot sectors like mobile/web apps, social networking, multimedia content and gaming. Register Now
Who is a Tech Entrepreneur? Any in the Caribbean?
Nov 1st
Who is a Tech Entrepreneur? Typically defined, a tech entrepreneur is a woman or man who applies their ideas using technology. Over the years the technologies being used have primarily been the Internet and the mobile phone/device. So if you surf online or use a mobile phone chances are you are using a product or service – such as an app, a website, a game, a social network created by a tech entrepreneur. More
Who’ll be coming to the Tech Entrepreneurship Conference, Caribbean BETA?
Oct 20th
Do you remember Flash and Dreamweaver? The keynote speaker will be Marc Canter, the founder of Macromedia, the graphics and web development software company that, relatively recently, was acquired by Adobe. Although the purchase of Macromedia should have left Marc set for life, and able to sit on the beach all day drinking mai tais, he has a new passion: building digital cities. This 30 year software development guru and tech entrepreneur, is now the CEO of Digital City Mechanics.
Michelle Messina Silicon Valley comes to Jamaica
Also featured on the agenda will be Michelle Messina, Vice-President of International Business Development of the Silicon Valley-based Guidewire Group, which… provides startups, their supporters, and those who do business with them with the tools, data, networks and programs they need to discover, monitor, benchmark, compare, and promote early-stage companies…
These international guests will complement a powerful crop of young tech entrepreneurs from across the region who are making their mark at home and further afield. For the most part, they will be sharing their experience, for example, how they became successful, along with discussing the various funding options that are available.
What is Caribbean BETA ?
It’s the first of its kind, one day Tech Entrepreneurship conference that’s about driving startup businesses, jobs and innovation in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. It will be on Friday, November 25th 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. See Conference Agenda for details.
It’s about the business of spawning successful Caribbean Tech Startups.
It’s the event where the smartest Caribbean minds in technology around the world, come to show and tell what they’re doing to change the world, to learn from experts, be inspired and get connected to talent, funding and opportunities.
It brings together the industry pioneers and fresh faces, thought leaders and technology giants from Caribbean and around the world. The event will include inspiring keynotes and workshops, refreshing panels and a BETA PitchFest contest with focus on hot sectors like mobile/web apps, social networking, multimedia content and gaming.
Registration for the Tech Entrepreneurship Conference Caribbean BETA is now OPEN Online
Oct 20th
Caribbean Beta.com
Registration for Caribbean BETA the first of its kind tech entrepreneurship conference is now open ONLINE. We have early bird specials on and special rates for Students. Register now then pay at the door. It’s that simple. You cannot afford to miss this event.
It’s a one day Tech Entrepreneurship conference that’s about driving startup businesses, jobs and innovation in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. It will be on Friday, November 25th 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.
Caribbean BETA is the event where the smartest Caribbean minds in technology around the world, come to show and tell what they’re doing to change the world, to learn from experts, be inspired and get connected to talent, funding and opportunities.
It brings together the industry pioneers and fresh faces, thought leaders and technology giants from Caribbean and around the world. The event will include inspiring keynotes and workshops, refreshing panels and a BETA PitchFest contest with focus on hot sectors like mobile/web apps, social networking, multimedia content and gaming. Register Now
The What and Why of the Kingston BETA event Explained
Sep 30th
We're on a Mission
I’ve made it no secret that I’ve been on a mission. From the 1999 with the publication of Jamaica’s first Internet Guide, iGuide Jamaica, to the launching of this blog because my inbox got too heavy with information and many questions from people like you who wanted to know and to share what you were doing. I put my first tech company on ice to go work for a US-based dot com then called HomeView as its Chief Content Officer. What an experience that was.
The mission expanded in 2007 where we joined early the global movement to drive tech entrepreneurship and startups by launching the Kingston BETA event for the growing tech community to meetup regularly, network, pitch their big ideas, get feedback, connections and expertise.But honestly Kingston BETA came from my own selfish need to meet more people like me who were in the tech industry, thought we were alone with our ideas and were going crazy working in silos craving validation, connection, information and help.
Four years, over 40 events, 2000 attendees, 70 Caribbean Startups later…the community is growing, the ideas are getting better, the startups launching are happening faster, more are being successful. At the same time, some people still don’t get it, so they’ve never supported the mission, event and community (corporate or individual), that’s ok too.
Read the rest of this entry »
