Eight entrepreneurs have been accepted into the 12-month Enterprise Bermuda Incubator programme operated by the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

Participants will be housed in the BEDC offices for the duration of the programme during which time they will take part in an intensive development process to ensure that they get beyond the idea stage and start to take their businesses to fruition.

The eight participants are: Nadia Laws, Media Maven; Fiona Douglas, Care Connect; Carl Vincent and Leanne Evans, DropIt Delivery; Lakeisha Wolffe, A New Life Consulting; Arianna Hodgson, Yummy Mummy; Kim Caisey, Kim’s List; Marquis Caines, Aye Yo!; and Sandra Dill, EDcellerate.

Speaking at a press conference, Premier David Burt said participants receive complimentary access to BEDC’s educational courses and programmes, free or subsidised office space, and personalised mentoring with local mentors including Bruce Sharpe, Chris Maybury, Felicia Rickards, David Lovell, Tyler Owen, Jvon Furbert, Kyle James, Tulani Bulford, Tee Ogunyemi, Kim Perdikou, Delight Morris and Kyle Masters.

“These individuals are entrepreneurs and industry experts in their own right and have been gracious enough to share some of their expertise and knowledge to support the Incubator participants,” the Premier said.

In addition to mentor support, the Premier said, BEDC also uses its vast database of industry contacts to find participants pro-bono or subsidised services in areas such as marketing, accounting, legal support and web development, which he said were all identified by entrepreneurs in a recent needs assessment.

The Premier said participants meet one-on-one with BEDC’s officers on a bi-weekly basis to provide updates and receive added encouragement and support.

The BEDC launched Enterprise Bermuda as a pilot programme in February 2018. It has now become a primary part of the organisation’s service offering.

Mr Burt said: “BEDC continues to answer the call on behalf of local entrepreneurs. We recognise that the work that the organisation has been doing for the last 30 years has been a catalyst for other organisations to develop similar programmes with the shared goal of developing a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“As an entrepreneur at heart, I understand the need for this type of support and congratulate BEDC for taking the lead in developing the Enterprise Bermuda Incubator programme.

“This Government supports local entrepreneurship and recognises that programmes like the Enterprise Bermuda Incubator are an example of our commitment to support the development of local entrepreneurs and an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem.”