Barbados News – New Kinesis Programme to Drive Startup Growth and Sustainability

Barbados is now part of the Kinesis Free Accelerator programme, a new initiative designed to enhance the growth and sustainability of startups with social and environmental impact across Latin America and the Caribbean. The programme, funded by USAID and operated by Agora Partnerships, was recently launched during an interactive event.

Kinesis operates across several countries, including Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Barbados, with Agora Partnerships directly implementing it in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panamá, and Colombia. In Barbados, the Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (COESL) will be the key implementing partner.

View Commercial Properties for Rent in Barbados

Executive Large Office Space with Sea Views. Hastings

The programme seeks to empower startups that aim for financial success while making a positive social and environmental impact. Kinesis is also part of the broader America’s Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) initiative, which focuses on economic integration, job creation, and fostering innovation. Barbados is the only English-speaking Caribbean country involved in the programme, playing a crucial role in this evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Juliana Villalba, Chief of Scalability and Impact at Changelab and moderator of the event, highlighted the broader purpose of the initiative, saying, “Kinesis is more than just an acceleration programme; it’s a movement aimed at driving significant change within the entrepreneurial and social ecosystems of the region.”

View Commercial Properties for Rent in Barbados

Restaurant/Bar/Retail/Office Space Baxters Rd

Participants in the programme will benefit from a 10-week comprehensive acceleration experience, including coaching, growth opportunities, access to commercial ventures, and support for enhancing their social and environmental impact. Eligible startups from Barbados or other APEP countries, with annual sales between $55,000 and $2 million, are invited to apply.

Dr. Marcia Brandon, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development at COESL, expressed excitement about the partnership, noting that it offers local entrepreneurs access to essential resources and a broader network to scale their businesses sustainably.

View all of our Properties for Sale in Barbados

Compare listings

Compare