Google Start-Up Academy for Jamaica

Representatives from behemoth search engine Google have collaborated with the University of Technology (Utech), in Kingston, Jamaica along with members from the Jamaican Diaspora to present a “Start-up Academy Jamaica” program in the island. The group is meeting virtually from July 25-29, 2022, to provide Jamaican entrepreneurs with practical advice and practices regarding technology for early-stage tech start-up.

The vigorous week-long program covers a wide range of areas including Artificial Intelligence (AL) and Machine Learning (ML). The Google’s representative to Jamaica, Larkland Morley, one of the presenters, said he is delighted to extend the unique opportunity to the Jamaican participants. “Jamaicans are extremely talented and entrepreneurial, and I am excited about this event,” Morley remarked. The event will also have representations from the Jamaican Diaspora participating. Morley stated that the event comes about because of the depth and breath of the talented participants.

The goal is to enable and empower entrepreneurs who are building technology and to enable businesses to get the experience required to develop effective business cases to help prepare these businesses for venture capital funding, select the best technologies for the ideas and to provide long-term mentoring for business viability. “I really look forward to this event being a complete success,” Google’s representative stated.

Jamaica’s Diaspora Taskforce Action Network, Chairman, Leo Gilling said he is proud that the program will add to the tech start-up landscape. “The impact of this program is incalculable as participants will be the beneficiaries of great content, but more importantly equity free support, access to an exclusive network and access to future opportunities and programs,” Gilling noted.