Three student-entrepreneurs shared a Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) $2,000 prize purse after successfully pitching business ideas to four “sharks” at International School of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology’s (ISBET) fourth “shark tank” event.

Stafford Bain, 11, a sixth-grade student, received half the prize purse, $1,000, for his idea, Site Forge, a website design company.

Stafford opened his pitch, asking the “sharks”, “Who here wants to be a great entrepreneur and make great money? In order to do that, you need a digital presence, and that’s where my company Site Forge comes in.”

He also spoke about the services he offers.

“You see the professionalism in my website as a young child, imagine what I can do when I get older,” said the tween.

Stafford said he came up with his concept a year ago after watching a YouTube Short about website design. He said he plans to invest his $1,000 windfall.

“The first thing I’m going to do is invest [the funds] in AI research to make more websites faster, so I could get a larger audience,” he said.

Stafford said the experience taught him “confidence is everything”.

Twelfth-grade student Darian Sweeting, 17, was judged second for his product Life Line – a wearable safety alert system. He took home $700.

Darian said he was inspired to create the product after his friend was murdered.

“After her untimely demise, I wanted to do something about it,” he said during his pitch.

He told the “sharks” that his Life Line would be affordable, made in a sleek design that could go unnoticed, and that it would contact authorities within five seconds after a button is pushed.

He said he plans to use the funds to build the prototype.

“With this check, I would put it towards buying and building the prototype in the form of a bracelet with Arduino kits, which is an electronics platform that allows anyone to easily learn how to build interactive devices,” he said.

Hénri Todd, 13, an eighth-grade student, rounded out the top three.

Hénri received $300 for Hénri’s Snack Haven, homemade fruit punch and lemonade. It was an idea, he said, that came about two years ago, when he as a student at another school.

“It started during our school’s annual enterprise day as a small student business selling hotdogs, candies and drinks. But something stood out immediately — the homemade fruit punch and lemonade sold out first. That’s when the focus shifted from general snacks to specializing in refreshing, high-demand homemade beverages.”

The first thing he said he would do out of his winnings is pay tithes.

Nine sixth through 12th-grade students were given five minutes each to convince a panel of four “sharks” as to why they should be awarded seed money for their companies.

Samantha Rolle, SBDC executive director, who doubled as a “shark”, said in determining the ultimate winners, she and her fellow “sharks” — Dr. Leo Rolle, CEO, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation; Ceri Howells, CEO, CLX Logistics Bahamas; and Hollis Lightbourne, business development consultant, considered who could utilize the funds.

“We were really looking at those low-hanging fruit who could use the funds almost immediately to expand their business,” said Rolle. “There were presentations where they expressed and could show that they were already operating, so that was impressive. And we wanted to make sure they got the funding they need to continue to operate. Then, there were a number of persons, particularly Mr. Stafford, where his presence was just so pleasantly overwhelming — and he knew his business, and he was charismatic, and he was informative. So, all of that led to the decision.”

Precious Thompson, ISBET principal, said she was proud of her students and that experimental learning is the way forward in education.

“This is the new way of learning — experimental learning, hands-on learning, because this adds to getting the kids engaged. We have to move beyond standardized testing and looking at that as the only way to evaluate our kids. No number of tests that they have to sit down and formally take will allow them to learn the skills without them doing it hands-on.”

ISBET’s Shark Tank, held on Thursday, February 19, at SBDC on Gladstone Road, concluded the school’s business week. Students engaged with Bahamas Development Bank and Tourism Development Corporation representatives on Monday, February 16, their leadership and business day. On Tuesday, February 17, students visited EV Motors, Paradise Pedis, The Mall at Marathon and Auto Mall to experience how businesses operate in real time. And on Wednesday, February 18, the school’s marketplace business expo was held in Rawson Square. School officials said 98 percent of the 34 student businesses sold out of their products.

Source: The Nassau Guardian

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Bahamian micro, small, and medium-sized businesses are getting a seasonal boost as ALIV Business and the Small Business Development Centre launch a holiday road tour, visiting MSMEs across New Providence to encourage local spending, promote entrepreneurship, and circulate more dollars into the community during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. Small business owners across the island received an early holiday lift Friday through the joint initiative, which brings ALIV Business and the SBDC directly into local storefronts. During each visit, teams purchase products, sample services, interact with customers, and spotlight entrepreneurs through digital and community features.

One of today’s stops was Roots Kava Lounge, a non-alcoholic social space offering natural beverages and a relaxed environment. It’s one of several businesses receiving hands-on support this month. Jennifer Basden, Head of B2B Marketing at ALIV Business, says the tour was designed to show appreciation for the companies that support them year-round and to help those entrepreneurs continue to grow.

So far, the tour has made stops at EV Motors, Duck Donuts, and now Roots Kava Lounge, with more planned throughout December. Beyond documenting the visits, teams are buying coffee, merchandise, and capturing digital content to boost online visibility. From the SBDC’s perspective, Marketing and Communications Lead Alexia Johnson says the in-person visits help deepen understanding of client needs while strengthening a partnership rooted in sustainable business growth. During the stop, Roots Kava Lounge owner Randy Butler Jr. shared how meaningful the support has been, noting that the SBDC played a key role in bringing his business to life and expressing gratitude for the exposure and encouragement.

Source: Our News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — This December, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC), in partnership with SBDC Bahamas, is creating the kind of holiday experience that makes you want to grab your family, call a friend, and spend the day discovering something new.

On Saturday, December 6th, from 10am-6pm, the BCCEC 4th Annual Trade Show will transform The Retreat Gardens on Village Road into a lively marketplace featuring more than 35 local vendors, each one bringing a piece of Bahamian creativity, culture, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Visitors can expect good food, great energy, and a full lineup of businesses offering everything from handmade gifts and holiday treats to health services, insurance options, beverages, beauty, crafts, and more. It’s the perfect chance to shop local and find those “I’ve never seen this before!” holiday gifts.

The day will be hosted by Ewurabena “Rabs” Appiah, with music by Selecta J, setting the tone for a fun, easygoing atmosphere where people can browse, sample, shop, and just enjoy being outside with their community.

Throughout the event, attendees can look forward to:  raffle prizes every hour, special giveaways, featured Caribbean Wines & Spirits offerings and a Kiddie Corner. Additional parking will be available at Queen’s College, making it simple for families, couples, coworkers, and solo shoppers to pull up and enjoy the day.

“It’s more than a trade show — it’s a holiday meet-up spot. We want people to feel welcomed, inspired, and incredibly proud of the talent and businesses we have right here at home,” Dr. Leo Rolle, CEO of the BCCEC shared.

“Whether you’re shopping for gifts, scouting new vendors, supporting small businesses, or just looking for something fun to do, this is where you want to be on December 6th”, Dr. Rolle added.

Source: Eyewitness News