10 Cool Createch Companies to Watch

Cofounder & Executive Director Kingston Creative

The Biztech Summit & Knowledge Forum will be held from November 17-19, 2020 in Kingston Jamaica, and for the first time, the Jamaica Computer Society will partner with arts non-profit Kingston Creative to take a look at Technology and the Cultural and Creative Industries. Kingston Creative recently opened the first Creative Hub in partnership with the Hub Coworking, with a podcast studio, offices meeting rooms, training and equipment for creative entrepreneurs and content creators. What happens at the intersection of creativity and technology? Well, some pretty cool stuff. Creativity and Technology were historically viewed as separate industries, but today, technology is seen as an enabler of all industries. New tech like blockchain, AI, AR and VR is being applied to creative niches like music, film, fashion, heritage and culinary arts, and as a result we see new ways of distributing content, delivering immersive experiences, engaging remote audiences and even conducting virtual tours. This trend has been accelerated by the pandemic, and Jamaican creatives and innovators are bringing together technology and the creative industries with some transformative results, giving audiences a variety of ways to access creative goods and consume cultural experiences. Creative entrepreneurs are not only using digital marketing and ecommerce platforms to sell goods, they are integrating technology at the heart of how they make creativity, art and culture work. Here are ten Jamaican ‘Createch’ enterprises to watch: PlayJamaica is best described as a think tank that is responsible for providing innovative solutions for several private and public sector companies. Headed by Gregory Moore, they are the owners of VRX(Virtual Reality Jamaica). They are founders of (JEI) Jamaica E-sports Initiative, a recognized member of the Jamaica Olympic Association with the responsibility for the development of E-sports in Jamaica. Their services include Augmented Reality, Interactive Signage, VR/360 Photography, VR Tours and Advertising, VR Games, Video Games, Motion Simulator, Immersive Education, VR Course Delivery, Interactive lab Creation and the team is now focused on solving a major problem in the entertainment sector with the new virtual event platform EventVio. Educatours JA is an EdTech and adventure tour company that integrates cultural experiences with gamification, storytelling and technology to enhance tours and learning. Headed by Kadeem Petgrave and Simier Lansend, the company provides schools, cultural companies, corporates and other groups with experiential learning, team building exercises, heritage tours and adventure tours delivered through an engaging gaming platform. They have even developed and tested a gamified tour of Downtown Kingston’s emerging Art District. ListenMi Caribbean is an award-winning Animation and Design Studio for culturally-inspired products. Led by Kenia Mattis, ListenMi makes animations, apps and games and help brands attract their tribe through amazing storytelling and brilliant design. They describe themselves as artists at heart, and use technology and creativity to excite our audiences and inspire young creatives through summer camps, workshops and products aimed at youth. They specialize in illustration, animation pre-production and short 2D and 3D stories, and produce and arrange film scores, soundscapes, radio ads and record voiceovers. ListenMi is a fresh new voice in the Createch space, and they are committed to strengthening the creative community, while solving real problems by design. Night Vision Media Ltd. specializes in creativity. Founded by Kevin Jackson, they evolved from being a graphic design firm into a company that can provide creative solutions for a range of clients. Currently their services span Animation, Education and Marketing. Their client list includes the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour, Jamaica Environment Trust, Real Estate Board among others. Night Vision has won awards for their animated proof of concept, Abeeku and the Maroons. Best Animation, Best Script and Best Acting at the 2018 Lignum Vitae Film Festival; Best Animation at the GATFFEST Film Festival and Best Animated Short at the Columbu Black Film Festival in Ohio. The company aims to be the leading animation studio in the Caribbean, developing entertaining and educational content for global consumption by the end of 2022. KiannePatrice photo.art.design is a business that focuses on digital art, photography and wall art creation, including creating large format murals for interiors. Design pieces are printed primarily on archival canvas and other options include archival paper, aluminum and acrylic while the murals are digital art printed on adhesive vinyl. Led by artist and female founder Kianne Patrice, the style is contemporary, abstract art and these pieces are sometimes merged with photography to create a fresh, modern and synergistic blend. In the last few years, Augmented Reality technology is used to bring selected artwork and outdoor murals to life. The company’s work is featured on VOGUE Italia’s PhotoVogue, in German photography magazine Pictures Das Foto-Magazin and has been included in several exhibitions including at the BBA Gallery in Berlin and their large format wall art murals adorning walls of private collectors in New York. SpriteWrench Studios is a micro-studio that focuses on smaller, self-contained titles with an emphasis on a great story. Led by Glen Henry, the studio was selected as one of 2020s #BHMGames100. With over eight years in experience in software development & project management, they also offer consultancy services in Illustration & Graphic Design, HTML5 & Javascript Development, Game Design, Project Management. They create a range of initiatives and events designed to increase the visibility and representation of People of Colour in the video games industry. Founded in 2013, the organization primarily serves to advocate for the emerging local game development sector, by providing education, sharing of experience and network opportunities. This studio is looking to explore, educate and advocate for the craft of interactive entertainment in Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean. The studio is particularly interested in exploring the ways the Caribbean’s cultural position can influence the stories they tell. Liquid Light Digital is an award-winning film, video, computer animation and special effects production house based in Kingston, Jamaica.  Since its inception in 2002, Liquid Light has completed over 500 projects for independent clients, advertising agencies and production companies comprising an international clientele extending as far abroad as Scotland, India and Brunei.   The LLD team, led by Adrian Lopez, has over 30 years of experience in directing, graphic design, visual effects and animation, and has gained a reputation for being the premiere source for the development of high-impact and specialized audio/visual content and programming for broadcast in the Caribbean and its diaspora.  From concept development to overall project strategy, Liquid Light Digital fuses creative video direction, bold visual styles and the latest techniques in digital imagery and visualization to achieve our client’s objectives. Liquid Light Digital believes in the synergy derived from the collaboration of creative minds from diverse artistic disciplines.  To this end, LLD has fostered working relationships with graphic designers, musicians, CG artists and filmmakers in the Caribbean, Scotland, UK and North America.  These diverse talents can be brought to bear as needed — ensuring a world-class, unified solution and a unique end product. First in Line / First STREAM specialise in live streaming and online video platforms. The company led by Michael Campbell and Mark Tracey originally started out as an electronic payment services company that provided secure, digital payment solutions for the entertainment/creative industry for over nine years. They facilitated the safe collection and transfer of millions of dollars in proceeds for events and festivals. Over 33,000 individuals have trusted and used their e-payment platform to make contributions or access events and services from the comfort of their homes or while on the go using their mobile devices. First STREAM now offers a new Live Streaming Platform, an Online Video Platform, an Online Client Dashboard and simple, secure checkout to ensure that creatives can monetise their virtual events. First in Line JA was also the winner of the ‘Greatness in the Making Award’ – Branson & Guinness Made of More Entrepreneurship Challenge 2017. Phase Three Productions is a leading television and multi-media production company that specializes in multi-camera coverage of cultural, festival and entertainment events in 4K & High Definition format, as well as LIVE streaming and other support services such as set-up of LED Screens at events. Phase Three invests heavily in cutting-edge technologies in order to be globally competitive. Led by CEO Delano Forbes, they invest in training and keeping their staff abreast of new communication technologies. This 30+ years old Jamaican company is committed to the growth and development of the media and creative industries in this island and the wider Caribbean. Kraasimages, led by female founder Staysean Daley, is an online platform for Caribbean crowd-sourced stock photos, vectors and illustrations. Responding to the global cry for representation and inclusion, this local company gives photographers and illustrators a platform earn by licensing their stock content to businesses and individuals around the world for use in a wide variety of projects. Today, they continue to be the key destination for creative business professionals who want to make a big impact through relatable Caribbean content without breaking the bank. Imagery has the power to move the world and their photographers and illustrators are ready to shape the narrative for Caribbean content. Kraasimages is proud to offer authentic and relatable Caribbean stock images to the world.