07 Apr 2025 JumpSTART Cohort 1 Updates
YBTT 2025 JumpSTART Incubator Cohort 1
Turning Your Ideas to an MVP
Welcome to the JumpSTART Incubator – JS25C1!
This is where purpose meets structure. Over 12 transformative weeks, from April 7th to June 30th, 2025, this dynamic, youth-focused entrepreneurial development program will empower aspiring entrepreneurs from Trinidad and Tobago and across the region, including Barbados, to turn their promising ideas into viable, market-ready ventures.
Delivered virtually via Zoom, our sessions provide a blend of hands-on training, expert mentorship, and practical tools, enabling participants to refine their business model, validate their concepts, and prepare their Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
Our JumpSTART Incubator is meticulously designed to foster not just business acumen and strategic planning, but also personal discovery. This journey emphasizes customer empathy, self-discovery, and the strategic tools of the Business Model Canvas (BMC)—laying the groundwork for sustainable business success.
We are here to cultivate a supportive community where participants learn, collaborate, and grow—both as entrepreneurs and as individuals—ready to make a tangible impact.
The JumpSTART Phases
JumpSTART Incubator Programme is designed to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to transform their business ideas into reality.
Recruitment and Retention
JumpSTART 2025 Cohort 1 has successfully launched, welcoming 30 ambitious entrepreneurs from across Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. We look forward to guiding them through to graduation and celebrating their achievements and commitment at the end of June.
Below is a snapshot of our vibrant JS25C1 participants at the start of their journey.
Below is an image showing the baseline data on JS25C1 participants.
Geographical Reach
JumpSTART is dedicated to cultivating entrepreneurial talent not only across Trinidad and Tobago but also extending its embrace to the wider Caribbean region. Our current JS25C1 cohort proudly includes aspiring entrepreneurs from various locations within Trinidad and Tobago, as well as participants from Barbados. This regional inclusion underscores our commitment to fostering a broad and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The map below offers a visual representation of our community’s spread.
The JumpSTART Training Phase
The JumpSTART Training Phase is an immersive experience designed to transform promising ideas into actionable business solutions. For JS25C1, participants embark on this journey by focusing on:
– Personal Stocktaking: Uncovering skills, resources, and strengths to build confidence and self-awareness.
– Idea Generation: Using design thinking to develop innovative, customer-centered solutions.
– Business Development: Implementing the Business Model Canvas (BMC) to structure and evaluate the feasibility and viability of their ideas.
To ensure participants receive robust, ongoing support throughout this intensive phase, each is matched with an experienced mentor and grouped with peers. This structure fosters vital collaboration, accountability, and accelerates meaningful progress.
Below are the Satisfaction Ratings by Participants out of 5
Likelihood to Recommend the Programme
4.5
Length of Training Time
4.3
Communication ahead of the training
4.4
Topics and Content covered
4.4
Mentorship provided
4.6
Training Delivery
4.5
In-Person Advisory Meetups
To complement our virtual sessions, JumpSTART JS25C1 features dedicated in-person advisory meetups—a highlight of the incubator experience. Our first interactive session, held on May 5th, 2025, brought together participants, mentors, and YBTT alumni. It provided a vibrant space for direct collaboration, real-time feedback, and deeper dives into evolving business ideas.
Participants shared their progress, received valuable guidance on their customer empathy work and initial concepts, and began refining their models with expert input.
We look forward to our second in-person meetup on June 2nd, 2025, which will focus on further refining business models and pitch preparation. Below are a few snapshots capturing the energy and connections from our recent May 5th meetup.
The Grand Finale: Pitches and Graduation Ceremony
The final phase of the JumpSTART JS25C1 program will culminate with participants presenting their developed business ideas to a panel of industry experts from June 16th to 19th, 2025. These pitch sessions, delivered virtually, will provide a unique platform for our entrepreneurs to gain invaluable feedback, refine their strategies, and showcase the ventures they’ve built over 12 weeks.
Following the pitches, we will proudly celebrate the achievements of this cohort with an in-person graduation ceremony on June 30th, 2025. This special event will mark their dedication, growth, and transformation, launching them into an exciting new chapter as they gather with peers, mentors, and supporters.
As graduates, they will be warmly welcomed into the vibrant YBTT JumpSTART Alumni Network, gaining access to continued support, robust networking opportunities, and essential resources to help them confidently navigate their entrepreneurial paths. This growing community remains committed to fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustained success.
Participant Testimonials
Hear directly from our current entrepreneurs about their experiences through the incubator. These reflections highlight the transformative power of the program, the impact of mentorship, and the innovative thinking being cultivated. Their stories showcase the real-world benefits and development our participants are already achieving.
Thank you to those who make it happen!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors and partners for their unwavering support and commitment to helping us Take Entrepreneurship to the Next Level! Their contributions are vital in empowering our young entrepreneurs through programs like the JumpSTART Incubator.
Special Thanks to:
