George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (21 April 2022) – 25-year-old George Wauchope claimed the top prize of USD $10,000 plus various business startup support services at the second annual Business Design Competition, hosted by Enterprise Cayman.
Enterprise Cayman’s second annual Cayman Islands Business Design Competition, sponsored by Cayman Enterprise City (CEC), hosted the competition finals at the Prospect Playhouse on Saturday, 2 April 2022. The “Pitch Day” welcomed 9 teams to the stage to showcase their business ideas to a panel of judges and leading business professionals, in the hope of winning one of three prize packages and kickstarting their innovative business idea.
Having applied and been shortlisted from an impressive cohort of submissions, the individuals behind 9 new business ventures took part in an intensive series of activities and workshops on prototyping, business ethics, market research, intellectual property, raising capital, public speaking, financial planning, and more. Programming was developed to help competitors refine and improve their business ideas with the help of some of Cayman’s top entrepreneurs, innovators, and business professionals, in preparation for the competition finals.
Competitors set out to compete for three awards:
The Community Impact Award for a business proposal that makes a difference in the community. Wins USD $2,000 sponsored by eShore Ltd., and a $10,000 in business startup support services, including a complimentary marketing support pack from Massive Media.
The Creativity Award for a business design that is inspiring, new, or unconventional. Wins USD $2,000 sponsored by Ava Labs and $10,000 in business startup support services, including a complimentary marketing support pack from Massive Media.
“Project of the Year,” the top award for a business design that shines above and beyond competition expectations. Wins USD $10,000 in cash sponsored by Cayman Enterprise City, plus USD $13,500 in business startup support services, including a complimentary marketing support pack from Massive Media.
In addition to the three awards, all competition finalists received a business support “prize pack” valued at over USD $1,500, as well as access to the Enterprise Cayman Launch Labs studio.
The 2022 Cayman Islands Business Design Competition winners were:
Creativity Award Winner – Lakeisha Mason’s SECRET2SAFETY
SECRET2SAFETY is a customizable and stylish running glove, that houses technology designed to empower women who run, walk, and bike alone. The Secret to Safety Defense Glove incorporates built-in deterrents, a GPS tracker and companion app, and a law enforcement service trigger into one seamless design.
Community Impact Award Winner – Jennifer Marshall’s ConnectKind
ConnectKind is a mobile and website based platform for volunteers, stakeholders, and NPOs to connect in the pursuit of fulfilling social impact goals. Volunteers can donate their time, skills, money, or goods, both physically and online. ConnectKind measures and reports verified corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) and environmental social governance (“ESG”) data for use by employers in reputational marketing applications.
Project of the Year Winner - George Wauchope’s Emailchaser.io
Emailchaser.io is a website and sales tool that allows users to find email addresses that aren’t publicly available. It aims to connect users with the decision makers in any organisation, breaking down barriers to networking and increased revenue.
"I had a great time participating in the 2022 Enterprise Cayman Business Design Competition. I was able to learn a lot from the various speakers that donated their time throughout the competition,” said George Wauchope from Emailchaser.io who took home the Project of the Year award. “I would like to thank CEC for putting together this event and for giving everyone the opportunity to apply and take part. My goal for Emailchaser.io is to continue improving the product, increase website traffic and grow revenue."
Congratulations to George Wauchope – recognised as the 2022 winner of the Business Design Competition. I was very excited to attend this inspiring event that featured multiple local Caymanians compete for a $10,000 grand prize and the opportunity to turn their business idea into reality! It was an honour to meet many of these young entrepreneurs, passionate to make a positive difference in our community. As the Minister of Investment, Innovation and Social Development it is part of our mission to support the innovative entrepreneurial growth of the Cayman Islands. I applaud the various Enterprise Cayman initiatives that provide access to high-quality learning experiences and opportunities and thank all the local professionals who dedicated their time and expertise to guide the 2022 competitors into success while building a strong foundation for Cayman’s future generations,” said Hon. Andre M. Ebanks, MP, Minister for Financial Services & Commerce and Minister for Investment, Innovation & Social Development
"Well done to the nine finalists who faced the judges for the second annual Business Design Competition! The competition this year was fierce, with the business proposals embodying the innovation based values fostered throughout Cayman Enterprise City. We hope all participants came away with additional support and new entrepreneurial connections. It was truly an inspiring evening to watch and I look forward to seeing how the multiple projects evolve. Special congratulations to George Wauchope, in taking the winners title for his innovative business design that shone above and beyond competition expectations! We cannot wait to see what the future holds for Emailchaser.io," said Charlie Kirkconnell, Chief Executive Officer, CEC.
Submissions for the 2023 Cayman Islands Business Design Competition open at the end of this year. Learn more about the competition here: https://www.enterprisecayman.ky/business-design-competition
About Enterprise Cayman: Enterprise Cayman is a non-profit workforce development initiative by Cayman Enterprise City in partnership with Cayman Islands' special economic zone companies (SEZCs). The organisation provides Caymanians and residents with access to high-quality learning experiences and opportunities to pursue careers in the technology and innovation sectors.