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.

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.

I’m constantly looking to improve SiliconCaribe. In some of the feedback I’ve received continuously, is to step up the coverage of Caribbean and Caribbean-led Startups. I couldn’t agree more since it’s a passion of mine, at the core of the mission of Kingston BETA and Caribbean BETA, sister initiatives to SiliconCaribe.

Plus I’ve been very aware of the the constant surge in awareness of Kingston BETA and the fresh, curious faces who are attending wanting to know if their idea of using the Internet to do something spectacular can fly. Added to that there is an underground bubbling up of initiatives that I believe must be shared with the world as they are worthy and will inspire others to be bold and push forward with theirs.

So I’m going to make it happen, so for the rest of the year you will see us profiling lots of startups and technology initiatives worthy of the spotlight.

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The boom and pulse of the Caribbean Tech Scene

….The answer is…come to Kingston BETA next week Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, 6:30pm. And yes it’s still FREE. You see Kingston BETA is an event and a Community that’s about making connections, learning from the best and being inspired enough to start something yourself. It’s a blueprint for How to Become a Digital Rockstar!

Don’t believe us, just ask the over 1200 people, 45 Caribbean Startups who’ve attended our 30 events. Want further proof as to the who gives a damn about Kingston BETA and what they get out of it? Watch this video of one of the events.

We look forward to see some of the 400 of you on our mailing list, and our colleagues from our our affiliate groups – Slash Roots, Jamaica Association of Developers, Jamaica Webmaster’s Consortium, GramStep in attendance at the event and also online.

Caribbean BETA
Kingston BETA is giving birth to its first annual conference Caribbean BETA slated for November 25th, 2011 here in the culture, vibes and digital city of Kingston. We’ll be unveiling the logo and website next week also.

Have an Itch to Pitch?

BETA Pitch! is a segment of Kingston BETA event, that is a marketing and idea sharing Platform. We call it Open Mic for Great Ideas. So if you have a website, app, product, service that you could be  the next big thing and worth sharing with the community and our readers around the world. Then contact founder and host by email ingrid@connectimass.com to get on the lineup. The only thing we ask is that you be Caribbean working on an fantastic idea/startup business from the region or anywhere in the world. The idea must use the Internet, Mobile or some other Technology integrally.

It is an event produced by ConnectiMass as part of its role of helping to bridge the gap between the information haves and have nots, the opportunity haves and have nos, to help make the Caribbean a center of innovation that can change the world.

CALLING all Caribbean startups,tech entrepreneurs, web designers, technology and Business professionals, developers who have not yet heard of or been to Kingston BETA-The next Kingston BETA event is Wednesday June 1st, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. It’s 6:30pm and it’s still FREE. We just ask that you register online or at the door. At Kingston BETA members of the Caribbean Tech Startup scene will come together to Learn, Network and Be inspired. As usual we’ll be live tweeting( @kingstonbeta ) and using the hashtag #kgnbeta and filming the event .

We look forward to see some of the 400 of you on our mailing list, and our colleagues from our our affiliate groups – Slash Roots, Jamaica Association of Developers, Jamaica Webmaster’s Consortium, GramStep in attendance at the event and also online.

Have an Itch to Pitch?

BETA Pitch! is a segment of Kingston BETA, that is a Caribbean Startup Platform that’s focused on Discovering the Caribbean’s Most Promising Startups. It’s an exceptional promotional and networking platform available to entrepreneurs who are about to launch or have newly launched their Internet/Tech/Mobile idea.

If you have an amazing project or business idea you want to share, attract incubation, funding and feedback from the Caribbean Technology and Business community and the thousands of enthusiasts worldwide who follow the event…email Ingrid Riley at ingrid@connectimass.com or calling 1 876 864 2440.

What is Kingston BETA?

Kingston BETA is the event, community and resource for Caribbean Tech Entrepreneurs that’s focused on educating, better connecting and celebrating the Jamaican and Caribbean tech community. Over the last 3 years old, we’ve hosted almost 40 events that 1200 people attended and have seen over 50 Jamaican and Caribbean tech startups pitch their new business ideas. A better informed, recognized and connected tech community is emerging because of Kingston BETA.

It is an event produced by ConnectiMass as part of its role of helping to bridge the gap between the information haves and have nots, the opportunity haves and have nos, to help make the Caribbean a center of innovation that can change the world.

Related Posts
Kingston BETA January 2011 Presentations

Why Kingston Beta?

10 Things to Do Before You Start Your Start-Up

Attendees answer the question…Why is Kingston BETA important and to them? All this against the backdrop of another full house of about 90 attendees. We ended our 3rd year of Kingston BETA with a fulll house, lots of energy and announcements.

The next Kingston BETA event is Thursday March 31st, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.  There members of the Caribbean TEch Startup scene will come together to Learn, Network and Be inspired.

Have an itch to Pitch?

BETA Pitch! is is a Caribbean Startup Competition that’s focused on Discovering the Caribbean’s Most Promising Startups. It’s an exceptional promotional and networking platform available to entrepreneurs who are about to launch or have newly launched their Internet/Tech/Mobile idea.

If you have an amazing project or business idea you want to share, attract incubation, funding and feedback from  the Caribbean Technology and Business community and the thousands of enthusiasts worldwide who follow the event…email Ingrid Riley at ingrid@connectimass.com or calling 1 876 864 5705.

What is Kingston BETA?

Kingston BETA  is the event, community and resource for Caribbean Tech Entrepreneurs that’s focused on educating, better connecting and celebrating the Jamaican and Caribbean tech community. Over the last 3 years old, we’ve hosted almost 30 events that 1000 people attended and have seen over 40 Jamaican and Caribbean tech startups pitch their new business ideas.  A better informed, recognized and connected tech community is emerging because of  Kingston BETA.

It is an event produced by ConnectiMass as part of its role of  helping to bridge the gap between the information haves and have nots, the opportunity haves and have nos, to help make the Caribbean a centre of innovation that can change the world.

Related Post
When is the next Kingston BETA? FourSquare co-founders tell you

Last week Thursday, Kingston BETA kicked off the first in its series of bimonthly events in Kingston, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel with “SHOW ME THE MONEY” will be an interactive panel-led discussion  on How Jamaican and Caribbean technology/internet entrepreneurs can develop profitable business models for their ideas and startups. Our 3 guest panelists were O’Neal Campbell- Discountsja.com ( Jamaica’s Groupon.com), Alex Morrissey Songwrita/Jamaicansmusic.com and Marc Gayle- Compversions.com.

Marc Gayle kicked off the discussions with his presentation called “Ideas are Cheap:

“SHOW ME THE MONEY” will be an interactive panel-led discussion  on How Jamaican and Caribbean technology/internet entrepreneurs can develop profitable business models for their ideas and startups. We have 3 guest panelists and a couple in audience guests to share their journey, success stories and insight at the first Kingston BETA of 2011, Thursday January 27th, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus.

The Panelists are: O’Neal Campbell- Discountsja.com ( Jamaica’s Groupon.com), Alex Morrissey Songwrita/Jamaicansmusic.com and Marc Gayle- Compversions.com

STARTUP PITCH CONTEST
At Kingston BETA we’ll also kick off our year-long Startup Pitch Contest. Winning Startup walks away with prizes and connections. Our Judges and Audience will choose. Want to pitch your startup, Find out more here .

Kingston BETA  is the event, community and resource for Caribbean Tech Entrepreneurs that’s focused on educating, better connecting and celebrating the Jamaican and Caribbean tech community. Over the last 3 years old, we’ve hosted 25 events that 1000 people attended and have seen over 40 Jamaican and Caribbean tech startups pitch their new businesses.  A better informed, recognized and connected tech community is emerging because of  Kingston BETA.

It is an event produced by ConnectiMass as part of its role of  helping to bridge the gap between the information haves and have nots, the opportunity haves and have nos, to help make the Caribbean a centre of innovation that can change the world.

ALL EVENTS are FREE but YOU MUST REGISTER.

We made the announcement on May 19th on the event blog for Kingston Beta. The headline read  Marc Canter, Founder of Macromedia, creator of FLASH Media Player will speak at the ConnectiMass technology event Kingston Beta in June. The Jamaican and Caribbean tech  and business community has been a buzz ever since.

And yes he will be speaking their via Skype Video on Thursday June 24th, 2010 to the Jamaica’s Kingston Beta community at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston.

Since we became Facebook friends, I took the opportunity to get a pre-event interview with him. So I sent him some questions and he answered them in a candid and direct way. Here’s the interview:

Journey of the Tech Entrepreneur
A Facebook Interview with Marc Canter, Founder of Macromedia, Ceo of Broadband Mechanics.

SC:When you started MarcoMind what was your intention, your goal at that time?
MC:To create video game development tools.

SC:Was Macromedia bootstrapped, then growth fed by profits or was it venture funded? And how did the type of funding play a role in Macromedia’s success?
MC: Angel funded with $100k from my father-in-law – we produced 7 products in three years.  We received VC money – after five years.  The VCs came in and took over.   Then kicked me out.

SC: The start and finish timeline of Macromedia can be summed up like this – (well according to Wikipedia anyway)- Founded in 1992 by Marc Canter…formerly an American graphics and web-development software house headquartered in San Francisco, California, produced such products as Macromedia Flash as well as Macromedia Dreamweaver. Its rival, Adobe Systems, acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005 and as of 2010 controls the line of Macromedia products.
What are the factors – internal, external ( USA) that enabled Macromedia to achieve success?
MC: By the time the company was renamed Macromedia – it had achieved all of the milestones, overcome all the barriers, paid our dues, built up a new market, invented new product categories, pioneered and entirely new industry.  That was MacroMind.  We never had enough money.  When the VCs brought in their CEO – he spent more in the 1st QT, than we had in the previous 5 years.

That first CEO went back to the trough (VC rounds) = 5 times in 2 years.

That company and culture of MacroMind was entrepreneurial.  The culture of Macromedia was “buy a company rather than invent the technology”.

Macromedia never invented anything.

SC: This Adobe/Macromedia deal was clearly a strategic move against Microsoft…but…why did you “sell” ? Even though you walked away had trailerloads of cash..how did you move on from this? Was this your exit plan?
MC: It wasn’t me – it was them. Mating dinosaurs is how I’d typify that deal.  By the time that deal happened both companies are already dead.  They just don’t know it yet.

SC: It’s been said we’re now in the age of small business, there is now a rash of small and very successful software companies like 37 signals- is this the way forward?
MC: Inn the 80′s there were 100′s of software companies.

in the 90′s 1,000′s

in the 00′s 10,000′s

and in the future there will be 100,000′s of software companies.  How many will be the next Google or Facebook?  .00000001% all the rest will think global and act local.

SC: We have a small but vibrant software industry here in Jamaica and the Caribbean…speak to the entrepreneurs….tell them what you think are the things you believe will help make them successful and profitable.
MC: Open APIs, connecting ‘cyberspace to meatspace’, build software with some stage or role for humans to be directly involved in.  Design loosely coupled with other open systems and platforms.

SC: The centre of innovation is now the world it seems, innovation is no longer exclusively coming out of places we expect them to….does Jamaica have what it takes to be a centre of innovation? I ask this as we’re seeing lots of activity in Jamaica, across the Caribbean, we’ve predicted that this year is the tipping point for tech industry here and I want to see if we have the factors for that really to happen.
MC: Sure why not? But Jamaica can also fall on its face if it does not get it’s PEOPLE to use companies.  Its a simple notion – “all jobs of the future will require having computer skills”. Don’t worry so much about the software developers, “train the children!”

SC: You’re speaking at Kingston Beta on Thursday 24th live by Ustream, first of all thanks for saying yes to that…you are now the Founder and CEO of Broadband Mechanics, and I read online I believe on your blog, that your goal is to Making Software Social and you’re on the road to creating another billion dollar company…without telling us everything before Kingston Beta…what is Broadband Mechanics about and what’s this move about Making Software Social?
MC: That message is 2-3 years old.  That’s what’s on the Broadband Mechanics web site.  That company has a social networking platform that one could use to create their own Ning, or Facebook or any kind of social network.  We call that “white labeled”.  The source code is available for that product at:  update.peopleaggregator.org.

But to me that was 5-6 years ago – when I started that platform – which was a culmination of years of designing and building many of the original social networks (2003-2006.)

About 2.5 years ago I started work on a book – called “How to build the Open Mesh” – which was a theoretical treatise on how open standards and dashboard can form a distributed system for allowing ANY software developer to “play” in the game.

After I finished the book I was looking for new opportunities as the (economic) downturn had decimated my customers and we had only one remaining customer – the U.S. Army ROTC program. So I laid my book onto the desk of the CTO of CWRU (in Cleveland) and he invited me to teach there.  So I wrote a second book for my class: “How to build a Digital City” – where I go into details on just how we can create jobs and build out a new kind of software infrastructure.

Here are links to downloads of my two books:

http://blog.broadbandmechanics.com/2009/07/10/links-to-my-two-books/

I’ve now focused my energies on starting a new company called “Digital City Mechanics” – which will be the commercial version of my Phd. thesis.  The idea is that I will spend five years:

- deploying my ideas into local “digital bureaus”
- we will leverage the “Haves” to help the “Have Nots”
- we will train our future workers in a “virtuous process of volunteerism and community involvement”
- and we will utilize sponsored multimedia projects to get paid workers to intern and apprentice our trainees”
- who will then learn marketable job skills by BUILDING multimedia projects

And that’s where Jamaica comes in

Now ask me “what was I saying back in 1991-2 when I came ot Jamaica with Hugo?”  And what did I say on Mutabaraka’s show?