Innovate! Cave Hill Campus New Venture Challenge
28 March 2022
l-r Professor Clive Landis with winners of the Innovate Cave Hill Campus New Venture Challenge
Entrepreneurs in the region may soon have a virtual networking platform to connect them with resources, information, and opportunities needed to set-up and improve their business processes.
The Virtual Open Innovation Sandbox was created by information technology partners David Smith and Clint Hurley who emerged as the winners of the Innovate! Cave Hill Campus New Venture Challenge on during the awards ceremony held on Wednesday 23
rd March 2022.
The co-creators, who are also colleagues in the Campus Information Technology Services Department, took the top prize of $30,000 for their development of a virtual networking platform which provides “tools to enable entrepreneurs to evaluate their options and connect them to the right person at the right time” impressed the competition judges who were looking for impactful and innovative ideas that lead to generation of income for their unit or department and the campus.
Speaking on behalf of the duo, Clint Hurley expressed his gratitude to the organisers, judges and mentors for the opportunity. “I would like to take this time to say thanks to all involved for making this a reality. We are not only elated to have won the contest but to now have the opportunity to further develop our platform for the benefit of the campus community.”
Second place winner was Dr. Wendy Sealy from the Faculty of Medical Sciences who received $20,000 for her start-up the Virtual Nursing Education and Research Academy aimed at providing student nurses and nursing personnel access fee-based continuing education, consultancy remedial work as well as mentoring support and other such services at very affordable membership fees.
The third place prize of $10,000 was won by Dr. Chloe Walker, Ms. Andrea Walker, and Dr. Jason Haynes from the Faculty of Humanities and Education, The Student Enrolment and Retention Unit, and the Faculty of Law respectively.
The three took the prize for their project International Foundation English Language Programme which is a one-year intensive course for prospective international students, which can potentially significantly improve their English proficiency and prepare them for tertiary-level studies at English-speaking universities.
Speaking at the Awards ceremony, held at the 3Ws Pavilion at The UWI Cave Hill campus, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor Clive Landis said the challenge fit perfectly into the UWI’s 2022-2027 strategic plan which focuses on “The Revenue Revolution”. Principal Landis shared that apart from developing exportable tertiary education services and fostering innovation, the campus is currently exploring expanded revenue streams to ensure the University’s financial sustainability.
Mr. Mourad Arnouk, Senior Manager – Advisory Service business and Platinum Banking, Retail and business Banking at the CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank shared that the Bank was pleased to continue its relationship with the Cave Hill Campus and in this instance with the Office of Business Development to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among the staff of the Campus.
Return to all news