Returning for a second year, Best Pitch Forward is now accepting applications from entrepreneurs for a chance to pitch business ideas to a panel of investors and win cash prizes. This project by Kingston Creative, JAMPRO, IDB Lab and the Development Bank of Jamaica provides creative entrepreneurs with an opportunity to gain investment and training from industry experts on how to package and pitch their business. The programme will see entrants vying for a chance to win cash prizes on November 26 at the live-streamed pitch night. The first-place winner will walk away with J$400,000 in seed funding for their project, while second and third place will take home J$250,000 and J$100,000 respectively. There will also be a People’s Choice cash prize of J$50,000. Additionally, finalists will get the chance to meet with potential investors and tech companies. “Jamaica is replete with dynamic entrepreneurs and innovators. This is evident in all spheres of the economy, but one area that needs to be highlighted is our creative industry. At the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) we are focused and committed to building a robust and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. This partnership we have forged with Kingston Creative and its incubator, CreaTech is geared at ensuring that the players within the creative sector are provided with the necessary tools and skills to make them profitable. We endorse the work being done at Kingston Creative which is aligned to the DBJ-BIGEE five-year programme,” said Christopher Brown, General Manager, Project Management Office, at the Development Bank of Jamaica. Karen Hutchinson, Kingston Creative Programme Manager commented, “Pitching is a critical skill that entrepreneurs need to be able to get capital and investors on board. We are really excited about being able to develop this and other business skills in creative entrepreneurs, as we feel that this will make a difference long term in creatives ability to build resilient businesses and grow the creative economy” Participants who sign up and make their pitch submissions will get the chance to benefit from: • Training on how to package their creative idea as an investable business • Training on how to deliver a successful pitch • Introductions to potential investors • Introductions to technology companies • Up to $5000 USD in Amazon Web Service Credits • $25,000 JMD rebate on registering their business or IP • Go Digital Grants from the DBJ Interested parties can begin their investment pitch preparation process by visiting https://kingstoncreative.org/createch-best-pitch-forward/. The deadline for registration is November 4th.