RevUP Caribbean and BELTRAIDE Empower Belizean Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs, business leaders, and aspiring business owners gathered at the Grand Resort last night for a panel discussion hosted through a partnership between RevUP Caribbean and BELTRAIDE. RevUP Caribbean, a regional program that supports startups and small businesses through mentorship, training, and networking opportunities, is working to help entrepreneurs strengthen and grow their ventures. During the panel discussion, Managing Director of RevUp Caribbean Sandra Glasgow of Jamaica shared insights on the value of entrepreneurship and the importance of creating opportunities for aspiring business owners. Love News was present at the event, where Glasgow spoke about the significance of the initiative and the impact it can have on entrepreneurs throughout Belize.

Sandra Glasgow, Managing Director, RevUp Caribbean: “In partnership with Beltraide we had a meetup of founders. RevUp Caribbean is looking to recruit Belizean startup founders for our five month business incubation program. RevUp wants to prepare innovative businesses to be investment ready and to secure financing from First Angels Caribbean. So this was an opportunity for us to share what RevUp is all about and First Angels and to invite Belizean founders who have businesses that have high growth potential and who are looking for investment capital to answer, you know, ask questions and get information on the program. RevUp has been around since 2021. We have over 180 founders who have participated in our program so far from 10 Caribbean countries. We have one Belizean, so we’re hoping to increase that number. And as we have launched Cohort 8, which starts in July, our mission is really to support founders to grow Caribbean economies. And that’s one of the reasons we’re in Belize. But we know Beltraide is one of the organizations, probably the premier organization that supports MSMEs. And so we want to explore opportunities for us to deepen that collaboration to help support Belizean Founders. There are many needs that they have and we want to explore how we can work with them to ensure that those needs are met.”

The collaboration between RevUP Caribbean and BELTRAIDE aims to provide Belizean entrepreneurs with greater access to regional networks, mentorship, and business development opportunities. BELTRAIDE representative Ishmael Quiroz explained how the partnership can help local businesses become more competitive and investment ready.

Ismael Quiroz, Executive Director, Beltraide: “So it’s a tremendous honor for Beltraide to partner with RevUp in promoting awareness of the program. It’s a really exciting opportunity for Belizean entrepreneurs to tap into support services. Beltraide through the Small Business Development Center Belize has since 2012 served in providing business support services to MSMEs right across the country and literally thousands have passed through our programs that provide training, capacity building, opportunities for grants and even access to finance in partnership with the financial institutions. I’m very much looking forward to exploring with RevUp to understand the programme a bit more, to see how we can play a role in ensuring that more Belizeans know about the opportunity and to complement the efforts to help them grow their businesses. There are over 180 founders in the RevUp community but only one Belizean, one Belizean entrepreneur. And we want to increase that number, we want Belizeans to tap into this opportunity and benefit. Think big, think Belize. Think about growing our economy and doing something that has impact. You know a big part of that first step is just really getting behind, getting your ideas together, trying to equip yourself with the knowledge and the tools, the contacts to kind of convert a business into or an idea into a business and into a livelihood. You can provide for yourself, you can empower yourself and entrepreneurship is definitely one avenue for that.”

The discussion also featured Belizean entrepreneurs Buddy Magana and Tanisha Vernon, who spoke about their entrepreneurial journeys and the importance of learning from experienced business leaders. They say events like this provide valuable opportunities to gain knowledge, build connections, and explore new avenues for growth.

Buddy Magana, Entrepreneur: “So tonight, I like seeing that we have some entrepreneurs and founders taking the initiative to be part of a program that will not only help them in their business but will also take them one more step higher with their capacity development and skills as they enter and continue proceeding, pursuing their business in Belize. I’m always trying to learn and improve myself and one of my sayings that I tell myself is an investment in me, is an investment in my community. So I do my best to always build my capacity so that I am able to assist and mentor my Belizean people as they pursue their own aspirations. Some words of encouragement would go along the lines of “execute.” Don’t think that you’re not ready. If you have that idea, execute it. Because if not, it will forever remain an idea on the page.”

Tanisha Vernon, Entrepreneur: “Tonight, the event has definitely expanded my knowledge and as a small business how to think bigger and how to scale your business. And for me, it’s just to understand the value of the company that you have and how you can elevate that. And from the name RevUp, you know, it’s definitely was one of the, you know, inspiration behind me coming here to Rev Up my company, Rev Up my level or my competence as a business owner and how I could take a small business idea into a global company. Think larger than what people expect of you and as Belizeans, you know, we think to feel that we have to smallen ourselves and we cannot, you know, have these grand ideas. And so for us to think bigger and elevate ourselves even if it starts just mentally until you’re able to gather the resources to capitalize on that and think Belizean. I definitely want to encourage women to step outside of their traditional roles and to see themselves in a community that not limit them. To take up leadership roles and to you know put themselves in positions that are male dominated. You will find challenges and but what is life without challenge right?”

Organizers say the initiative is aimed at helping Belizean entrepreneurs gain access to guidance, support, and opportunities that can help them grow their businesses.