A one-day gathering of ecosystem builders, investors, entrepreneurs, and development leaders focused on what it takes to grow entrepreneurship and innovation in the Bahamian economy.
June 11, 2026
One day
9:00am - 3:00pm
Full day programme
Freeport, Grand Bahama
UB North Student Recreational Centre
In Person
Lunch and refreshments provided
ABOUT THE EVENT
Where ecosystems converge - and move
Ecosystem Connect: The Roadshow is a collaborative initiative bringing the conversation about innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital directly to Grand Bahama.
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Co-hosted by UB IGNITE and IDB Lab, the innovation and venture arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, the Roadshow is designed to do something simple: meet ecosystem builders and founders where they are.
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The Bahamas has real assets. What it needs is infrastructure, connectivity, and a coordinated ecosystem. This is day one of building that together.
CONNECT
Build real relationships
High value connections across sectors, borders, and institutions - between organisations, funders and founders.
CATALYSE
Unlock what's next
Practical sessions on capital access, digital transformation, and investment readiness - structured to move people from awareness to action.
CO-CREATE
Shape the ecosystem
A participatory roundtable to surface Grand Bahama's real needs - with IDB Lab and UB IGNITE committed to acting on what we hear.
PROGRAMME
June 11 - Full Day Schedule
9:00am - 9:15am
OPENING
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Setting the ecosystem context and welcome participants. We explore what an Ecosystem Support Organisation is, UB IGNITE's role, and what this moment means for The Bahamas
9:15am - 10:30am
Keynote
Understanding Nascent & Emerging Ecosystems
Damian McIntyre, CaribEquity
A foundational session using Startup Genome data to place The Bahamas in regional context, identify priority ecosystem gaps, and outline what it will take to strengthen the innovation environment in Grand Bahama - and nationally.
10:30am - 10:45am
BREAK
Coffee & Networking
10:45am - 11:45am
Workshop
Building for Impact: Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Theory of Change and Results Frameworks for ESOs and MSMEs
Maria Vallejo Martelo, Development Effectiveness Division, IDB
A practical, grounded session designed to help ESOs and MSMEs strengthen how they define, structure and track their initiatives.
11:45am - 12:45pm
Workshop
MSME Growth and Digital Transformation
Julian Martinez, Suricata Labs
A focused session led by Suricata Labs on their own journey to scalability and the practical implementation of digital transformation for MSME growth and development.
12:45pm - 1:30pm
BREAK
Lunch & Networking
1:30pm - 2:00pm
Plenary Session
Understanding the MSME Journey & Introduction to the Ecosystem Platform
Keturah Babb-Higgs, UB IGNITE
A journey through the UB IGNITE experience, highlighting how MSMEs engage the ecosystem through Ecosystem Support Organizations, access coordinated support services, and move from early-stage readiness toward sustainable growth
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Roundtable
What Grand Bahama and The Bahamas Needs to Scale
Led by UB IGNITE Team
A moderated discussion on access to capital, market access, ecosystem support, and talent to build a collective, actionable view of what Grand Bahama needs to enable growth, that extends nationally
2:45pm - 3:00pm
Closing
Closing Reflections & Next Steps
IDB Lab & UB IGNITE
From discussion to action, we finalize concrete next steps, continued engagement opportunities, and how the organizing partners will follow through with the ecosystem.
ORGANIZING PARTNERS
The Roadshow brings together the regional reach of IDB Lab and the local presence of UB IGNITE. Two organizations committed to building the infrastructure that entrepreneurs in The Bahamas needs.
IDB Lab is the innovation and venture arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. It mobilizes flexible financing, practical knowledge, and global connections to support high-impact startups and the ecosystems they need to thrive. Since 1993, IDB Lab has deployed more than $2.2 billion across 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UB IGNITE is the University of The Bahamas' flagship entrepreneurship and ecosystem-building arm. As an Ecosystem Support Organization, it connects emerging founders and MSMEs with mentorship, training, funding pathways, and strategic networks — anchoring the innovation infrastructure of Grand Bahama and the wider Bahamas.
For additional information, feel free to contact us at ubnignite@ub.edu.bs or 1 (242) 727-3962 (WhatsApp or Call)