GWP-C therefore sees the importance of empowering young people to be agents of change in contributing to and advancing Caribbean water security. Through GWP-C’s work and interaction with its youth Partners and young people within water and related sectors, they often do not have access to funding or resources to easily advance their project ideas. Additionally, they do not always have easy access to technical support to turn their ideas into fully workable projects. It is against this backdrop, that GWP-C has launched its “Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition.”
GWP-C’s Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition seeks to provide a unique opportunity for young persons from the Caribbean between the ages of 18 to 34 years, to pitch innovative and impactful water project ideas to support better water resources management in their community, country or the Caribbean region under the themes:
- Water and Climate
- Water and Agriculture
- Water and Health
- Water and Energy
- Water and Tourism
Participants will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas directly to investors (sharks) for a chance to secure seed funding of 4,000 Euros, to advance their innovative water-related project idea. The competition’s sharks will include a mix of investors, such as GWP-C Partners, entrepreneurs, water and environmental specialists, innovation strategists, business development specialists, youth representatives, government officials and more.
Everything You Need to Know!
Who should enter the Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition?
Caribbean or Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals between the ages of 18 – 34 years with innovative water projects focused on advancing better water resources management in the Caribbean (community, national or regional level) under any of the following five (5) themes:
- Water and Climate
- Water and Agriculture
- Water and Health
- Water and Energy
- Water and Tourism
Entrants in the competition must be nationals of the following countries:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Entry Requirements and Competition Timeline
Phase 1: The Application
The competition was launched on August 2nd, 2019 and the new application deadline is October 15th, 2019.
To enter, applicants must:
- Submit a completed project proposal using this template.
- Submit a 2 – 3minute video (this can be filmed on a mobile phone) pitching to camera. Download our short video pitch guidelines here.
All applications (proposal and video pitch) must be in English. Entrants must submit their project proposal and 2 – 3 minute video pitch via e-mail to: gwp.caribbean@gmail.com by Tuesday, October 15th, 2019 at midnight (Atlantic Standard Time). Please note that a maximum of two (2) persons can apply together on a submission.
Phase 2: Review of Applications (Project Proposal and Video Pitch)
All submissions (project proposal and video pitch) will be reviewed by the competition’s first group of sharks. These sharks will be different from those in the final round of the competition. The best seven (7) submissions (proposal and video) will be selected to advance to the final stage of the competition. Each of the seven (7) finalists will receive feedback, critiques and advice on their submissions to prepare for their final pitch to the second group of sharks. Proposals and pitches in this phase of the competition will be assessed based on various areas (but not limited to):
- Innovation
- Water Resources Management Relevance
- Practicality of Implementation
- Projected Impact
- Financial Feasibility
- Project Sustainability
- Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
- Business/Industry Analysis
- Market Research
- Competitive Analysis
Phase 3 (Final Stage): The Pitch
Seven (7) finalists will compete for the prize of 4,000 Euros and will be invited to pitch their water project idea to a group of sharks. These sharks will be different from the first group that reviewed competitors’ submissions. Finalists will be provided with relevant guidelines/criteria three (3) weeks in advance of their final pitch to the sharks. The pitches to the panel of sharks will take place virtually.
The Sharks/Judges
There will be two (2) groups of “sharks” or judges in the competition. The sharks / judges will include a mix of professionals (including GWP-C Partners, strategic allies, development partners and other organisations). The competition’s sharks will comprise of:
- Private Investors
- Investment Entities
- Caribbean Water Specialists
- Entrepreneurs
- Innovation Strategists
- Business Development Specialists
- Youth Representatives
- Marketing Specialists
- Government Officials
- Water and Environmental Specialists and more
Awards
All entrants in the competition will receive a certificate of participation to recognise their efforts and interest in water sustainability. The competition’s seven (7) finalists will each receive a personalised plaque. The winner of the competition will receive a special plaque and seed funding of 4,000 Euros to further develop their innovative water project idea. The winner of the competition and the other finalists, will also have their projects featured on the Youth for Water and Climate (YWC) platform for additional exposure.
Prospective Investors/Collaborators
Seed funding of 4,000 Euros has been secured for the winner of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition.However, if you are an investor, financial organisation, development organisation or an individual or entity that wishes to contribute to this initiative, you can contact GWP-C at: info@gwp-caribbean.org.
Questions about the Competition
For any questions regarding the competition, connect with GWP-C at: info@gwp-caribbean.org or on our Facebook and Twitter pages at anytime!
Download the competition brief or share this page with a young person that should enter.