Antigua Entrepreneurs to Gain Regional Mentorship Network Through New Business Support Partnership

Local entrepreneurs working in agriculture, health, climate and other priority sectors will soon have access to a wider Caribbean network of mentors, funding pathways and business support, following the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Business Trust’s (ABYBT) selection as one of 27 organisations delivering Conecta Caribbean, a regional entrepreneurship initiative spanning fifteen countries.

“Entrepreneurs are essential to building a more resilient and innovative Caribbean,” said Jerry Blenman, Executive Chairman of ABYBT. “Through Conecta Caribbean, we have an opportunity to strengthen not only individual businesses, but also the support systems that help entrepreneurs succeed.”

The initiative, implemented by Bridge for Billions under the CARIBEquity Facility, addresses a barrier entrepreneurs across the region have faced for years: limited access to mentorship, networks and capital needed to move ideas into sustainable businesses.

CARIBEquity, a blended finance facility funded by the European Union and implemented by IDB Lab, was designed specifically to close that gap, strengthening the organisations that support innovation and inclusive growth as much as the entrepreneurs themselves.

Through the programme, ABYBT will work directly with local entrepreneurs, providing structured business support, access to experienced mentors, practical tools, and connections to a growing regional network of ecosystem partners.

The 27 incubation programmes launched under Conecta Caribbean target entrepreneurs across agriculture and natural capital, essential infrastructure services, financial inclusion, education and employment, health, climate action, and gender-inclusive innovation.

Unlike traditional regional programmes, Conecta Caribbean places local organisations at the centre of delivery.

Each participating Entrepreneurship Support Organisation designs and leads its own incubation programme, a model intended to keep support grounded in local realities while still feeding into a shared regional vision for innovation, job creation and sustainable development.

Over the coming months, entrepreneurs participating in the 27 programmes will join a growing community of founders, mentors and ecosystem leaders working together across the Caribbean.