The University of Trinidad and Tobago Business Accelerator/Incubator, uSTART functions as an engine of innovation and enterprise, fostering an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurial mindsets of both students and staff of the university. uSTART fosters this ecosystem through the provision of a physical business space and Business development services inclusive of access to hosted seminars, workshops, and other educational opportunities originating at uSTART with our partner organisations.

uSTART, hosted its first ever Entrepreneur "Speed Dating" Event, on Wednesday 24^th May 2017. At this event, participants emanating from various sectors, presented their businesses via a sales pitch to one entrepreneur at a time for two (2) minutes each, before moving on to repeat the process with another entrepreneur. 

The event was fully subscribed, and participants comprised not only uSTART entrepreneurs, but also those from agencies within the ecosystem including : the Fair Share Programme, CARIRI, Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago (YBTT), National Entrepreneurship Development Company (NEDCO) and the National Integrated Business Incubator System (IBIS) Programme.

Entrepreneurs in the Process of their Business Sales Pitch

The Entrepreneur "Speed Dating" Event commenced with a team building challenge where entrepreneurs worked together in teams having met each other for the first time at the uSTART event.  This session, led immediately to the speed dating session. Entrepreneurs pitched to each other in an attempt to create cross-sectorial business relationships. Participants emanated from sectors such as: fashion, travel, engineering, food and beverage, information technology, manufacturing, event management and business consulting.

Entrepreneurs exchanged business cards, and conversations deepened well beyond the end of the event. Given the testimonials of the entrepreneurs, it was evident that the objectives were met, by hosting the Entrepreneur "Speed Dating" Event. These objectives were:

• to prepare the entrepreneur to pitch to would-be investors
• to create an innovative setting for networking for entrepreneurs
• to create the platform for collaboration among entrepreneurs within the national ecosystem

uSTART wishes to thank the agencies in the entrepreneurial eco-system for supporting this event, by promoting same to their respective entrepreneurs, as the UTT Business Accelerator/Incubator -uSTART provides support to the UTT’s overall mission:

 "To be an entrepreneurial university designed to discover and develop entrepreneurs, commercialize research and development and spawn companies for wealth generation and sustainable job creation towards the equity enhancement of the quality of life of all individuals, families and communities of the republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean."

Business discussions/exchanges occurring during allotted time.

Entrepreneurs eager to commence the "Team Building Challenge"