Young Caribbean Entrepreneurs Get Opportunity To Compete for 2009 TIC Caribbean Award

For the first time the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), with the support of the Caribbean Community Foundation, will present a special TIC Caribbean Award to the most innovative entrepreneurial project from the Caribbean at the Talent and Innovation Competition of the Americas 2009 (TIC Americas).

TIC Americas is rigorous international young entrepreneur competition that goes beyond traditional business plan competitions to establish an on-going process of young entrepreneur development, incorporating training, mentoring, and product testing to accelerate the development of innovative young entrepreneurs and scientists.

The TIC Americas Finals will be held May 28 – 29, 2009 concurrent with the Private Sector Forum of the Americas and the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, the annual meeting of the 34 Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas.  The TIC Caribbean Finalist will be presented with an award at the TIC Americas Finals and can also compete for additional TIC Americas prizes at the events held this year in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

With an emphasis on talent and innovation, TIC Americas is open to young entrepreneurs under age 36 and a wide range of entrepreneurial projects from the science, technology, and cultural sectors.  An online Boot Camp (Business Opportunity On-line Training) serves as a resource center with additional information and training opportunities.  Winners of TIC Americas can also compete in the Global TIC in August in Taiwan.

This year, through a grant from the Caribbean Community Foundation, YABT will award a Caribbean team a $2,000 cash prize as the TIC Caribbean Award and a scholarship for one team member to travel to Honduras for the 2009 TIC Americas Finals Competition.

The Caribbean Community Foundation (CCF), www.caribbeancommunityfoundation.org, is a non-profit Florida corporation founded in 2003.  CCF works with counterpart Caribbean foundations, other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments to identify project opportunities in social and economic development.  CCF then mobilizes financial resources from the United States and elsewhere to address these opportunities.  Past grants have ranged from hurricane recovery to NGO executive management and fund-raising training.

The Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) www.ybiz.net, is a nonprofit corporation supporting the work of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) and works with sponsors to offer opportunities for young entrepreneurs in leadership, training, technology, and business development.  TIC Americas 2009 is the third edition of the international competition that each year draws more than 800 teams and 4,000 participating entrepreneurs.

To register a team, visit www.ticamericas.net.
For more information, contact Ms. Yeruti Mendez at ymendez@oas.org / +1 202 458 3512