The JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation is continuing to champion transformational entrepreneurship through its longstanding partnership with the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition, reaffirming its commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs and supporting the development of innovative businesses that contribute to Jamaica’s economic and social growth.

The Foundation joined partners, sponsors, students, and members of the university community for the launch of the 24th staging of the competition at the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM), reaffirming its commitment to helping individuals realise their greatness through education, entrepreneurship, and personal development.

The competition, a flagship initiative of the Vincent HoSang Entrepreneurship Programme, equips UWI students and researchers with the tools, mentorship, and practical business training needed to transform innovative ideas into viable businesses. Through intensive boot camps, expert coaching, workshops, and post-competition support, participants are challenged to refine their business models, strengthen their leadership capabilities, and develop solutions that create meaningful impact.

“As a Foundation, we believe that every individual possesses inherent greatness and that, when people are given the right opportunities, encouragement and support, they can create extraordinary outcomes for themselves, their communities, and their country,” said Kim Mair, CEO of the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation. “That belief is at the heart of our support for initiatives such as the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition, which helps aspiring entrepreneurs develop the confidence, skills, and mindset needed to bring their ideas to life.”

As a longstanding partner and sponsor, the Foundation’s support helps to facilitate a series of high-impact training and development opportunities throughout the competition. These include the Corporate Social Responsibility Bootcamp, which encourages participants to build businesses that create value not only for shareholders, but also for their communities.

Mair emphasised that the competition is much more than an entrepreneurial contest. “It is a platform where ideas are tested, confidence is built, innovation is nurtured, and future business leaders are developed,” Mair said. “It provides participants with the opportunity to see possibilities where others see challenges and to transform creativity into practical solutions that can positively impact Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.”

The transformative impact of the programme was underscored by the experience of Akeem Hutchinson, founder of Sapphire OS, an AI-powered learning platform designed to support CXC students, whose team emerged as the first-place winners of the 2025 Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition.

Addressing prospective participants, Akeem Hutchinson, founder of Sapphire OS, reflected on a journey that began in 2022 when he first entered the competition but did not progress as he had hoped. Looking back, Hutchinson admitted that he was not as open to learning at the time and approached the experience with a greater focus on what he already knew, than on what he could gain from the process.

Rather than discouraging him, the experience became a turning point. The mentorship, boot camps, coaching sessions, and networking opportunities offered through the programme humbled him and deepened his appreciation for continuous learning and personal growth. Returning with a renewed mindset and a greater willingness to learn, Hutchinson and his team continued developing their concept and ultimately emerged as the first-place winners of the 2025 competition with Sapphire OS.

“It’s not about the winnings; it’s about the journey,” Hutchinson said. “The knowledge gained, the mentorship received, and the relationships built throughout the process have had an even greater impact than the prize itself.”

He also noted that the programme’s impact extends long after the competition concludes, highlighting that he continues to work alongside members of his competition team and remains connected to a mentor he met through the initiative.

The 2026/27 Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition was officially launched on September 23, 2026, at the Mona School of Business and Management and will culminate in a Finals and Awards Ceremony in January 2027. Throughout the competition, participants will engage in workshops covering areas such as marketing, venture financing, and presentation skills, while benefiting from personalised mentorship, expert coaching, and post-competition support designed to help transform promising ideas into sustainable ventures.

The JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation’s continued support of the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition reflects its commitment to empowering individuals to realise their greatness through education, entrepreneurship, and personal development. Through partnerships such as the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition, the Foundation is helping to nurture a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are poised to create lasting impact within their communities and across Jamaica.

For more information about the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition, visit www.mona.uwi.edu/msbm or follow @VincentHoSangUWIVentureCompetition on social media.