Participation in the inaugural Ignite Bermuda cohort has been positive on both a personal and professional level for entrepreneur Colin Rego.

The 26-year-old owner of Sargasso Sea Ltd, the online marketplace and restaurant delivery service, saw monthly sales for the business increase by 150 per cent during the six-month entrepreneurial accelerator programme that ended on November 15, while orders more than doubled during the period.

Mr Rego was also named winner of the Ignite Dynamism Award by his peers in the programme. The award recognises outstanding achievement by someone who has the dynamism of a natural leader, and is positive in attitude. The award also recognises an Ignite participant having a valid business model, achieving significant business growth, and who is continually learning and developing.

“We all bring special assets and experiences to the table, so it’s a good feeling that the team recognises our individual attributes,” said Mr Rego, who launched Sargasso Sea in mid-January.

He added: “Ignite was my power space. It came at such a perfect time. Six months into our journey, Ignite presented itself. At that time, I was really struggling to find support.

“The infrastructure and resources at Ignite gave me a foundation to reset, and take the business to the next step. Having a door to close, a window that didn’t face another wall, free coffee, smiles, and a shoulder or some advice, was priceless to me.”

Mr Rego said he experienced growth as an individual entrepreneur over and above the rise of the business itself. The resources at Ignite, he said, prompted him to stay focused on his venture.

“They aren’t consultants who tell you what and how to do things,” he said. “They advise, and they train your mind to approach opportunities in a professional way by being prepared, organised, and innovative. The beauty of that is that you are prepared for any given moment.”

Sargasso Sea currently delivers to an area spanning from Hog Bay in the west, to the eastern end of Crawl.

Mr Rego said the company plans to expand its delivery area to include St David’s, St George’s and Sandys.

“My goal over the next 30 to 60 days is to get those other parishes taken care of so that we can get ready for our 2020 plans,” he said.