On the evening of September 23, 2026, despite the rain, students, sponsors, mentors, and partners gathered on the UWI Mona campus with a shared conviction that Jamaica's next generation of entrepreneurs was ready to be found, shaped, and championed. The Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) officially launched the 2026–27 Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition, and the energy in the room made clear that this was far more than the start of a competition. It was the beginning of a journey.

Now in its 24th year, the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition has quietly become one of the most powerful platforms for student entrepreneurship in the Caribbean. Open to all currently registered UWI Mona students, from Medical Sciences and Law to Engineering, Humanities, and beyond, the programme does not simply reward the best pitch. It builds the best entrepreneurs. Acting Executive Director of MSBM, Prof. Lila Rao-Graham, captured that mission with clarity in her welcome address: "By encouraging our students to develop, test, and refine their ideas, we are not simply helping them to create businesses; we are developing confident, resilient, and innovative thinkers who can help shape the future." It was a reminder that what is at stake here is not just a prize, but a generation. The resilience Prof. Rao-Graham mentioned is demonstrated by this year's programme introducing a new boot camp in AI and Entrepreneurship, a reflection of the competition's commitment to evolving as the business landscape does.

Through the continued partnership of the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation, the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, the Barita Foundation, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), the Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre (MECC), and World Brands, the 2026–27 prize pool has never been stronger. This year's first-place winner will take home J$700,000, with second place receiving J$500,000 and third place J$300,000. Additional honours include the DBJ Innovation Award valued at J$500,000, the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation Corporate Social Responsibility Award of J$50,000, and the newly introduced Barita ESG Award of J$50,000, celebrating ventures that go beyond profit to demonstrate meaningful Environmental, Social, and Governance impact. These are not just prizes. They are a declaration that Jamaica's partners in development believe in what this generation can build. Applications are open now and close on October 15, 2026.

Mrs. Kim Mair, CEO of the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, spoke with characteristic warmth and conviction about why the Foundation continues to show up year after year: "Every individual possesses inherent greatness. When people are given the right opportunity, encouragement, and support, they can create extraordinary outcomes for themselves, their communities, and their country. This competition provides participants with the opportunity to see possibilities where others see challenges and to transform creativity into practical solutions."

The Development Bank of Jamaica deepened its commitment this cycle, backing not only the enhanced prize pool but the post-competition pre-accelerator delivered through its Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) Programme, a structured 12 to 14-week pathway from concept to commercialisation, developed in partnership with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation. For the first time, an open call will be issued for this pre-accelerator, widening access to a programme that last year's pilot proved can change trajectories. Ms. Deidre-Ann Burrell of the DBJ spoke directly to the students in the room: "Today is more than just about launching a competition; it's about creating a space where ideas can be tested, businesses can be built, and Jamaica's next generation of entrepreneurs can begin their journey. When we help good ideas become viable businesses, we're not just supporting entrepreneurs, we're helping to build Jamaica's future."

Mrs. Sabrina HoSang Jordan, CEO of Caribbean Food Delights and steward of the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation (VHFF) legacy, brought both pride and purpose to the evening. She announced the introduction of the VHFF International Mentor Pool, an impressive cohort of medical doctors, college professors, entrepreneurs, and community activists from across the United States, joining the strong local mentorship network already at the heart of the programme. Her message to this year's participants was both generous and grounding: "Some of the ideas presented here may begin simply as concepts, but with vision, discipline, hard work, and the right guidance, they have the potential to become successful businesses and perhaps even industry leaders someday. Be bold with your ideas. Be humble enough to learn."

But perhaps no moment captured the spirit of the evening more powerfully than the testimony of 2025 champion Akeem Hutchinson of Sapphire OS - Approved Labs. He stood before the room not as a distant success story, but as living proof of what perseverance inside this programme can produce. In 2022, he entered the competition and did not make it past the first round. He came back. He listened. He learned. And in 2025, he walked away as champion. "The difference between 2022 and 2025 wasn't that I suddenly became a genius entrepreneur," he said simply. "I was willing to learn, I came back, and I was willing to put in the work. The competition may give you the stage, but the journey is what teaches you how to stand on it."

The 2026–27 Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition is made possible through the generous support of the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation (VHFF), Caribbean Food Delights, Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, Barita Foundation, Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), the Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre (MECC) and World Brand.