The Caribbean, encompassing over 30 countries and territories with a combined population of more than 40 million, has a vast global diaspora, including over 8.5 million in the U.S. alone. Yet, despite this vast network, Founders of Caribbean descent
building for scale have remained significantly underrepresented and disconnected in the venture scene.
building for scale have remained significantly underrepresented and disconnected in the venture scene.
At the same time, the Caribbean region itself presents high-growth opportunities for founders of all nationalities and backgrounds developing solutions tied to the region’s future. The combination of untapped entrepreneurial talent and rising market potential offers a unique opportunity to unlock the full potential of Caribbean-founded innovation and the industries shaping the region’s future.
That changes with the recent launch of Caribbean Venture Collective (“CVC”)—a network and Founder fellowship program designed to amplify innovation with a connection to the Caribbean.
Launched March 2025, CVC serves two types of Founders in their fellowship program: (1) Founders of Caribbean descent across the global diaspora building startups for venture scale in any vertical, and (2) Founders of any nationality/heritage building startups for venture scale in one of eight impact verticals driving the prosperity of the Caribbean’s future.
Caribbean Venture Collective is founded by Techstars Alumni Daniel Smith of Keepingly, and Mita Carriman of Adventurely.
Smith, born in Trinidad, and Carriman, a first-gen Caribbean-American born in NYC with parents from Jamaica and Grenada, met this past fall at Techstars Detroit. During Techstars they spoke often about wanting to find a network supporting Founders like them with heritage from the Caribbean and building for venture scale. The more they talked about it, the more they realized an opportunity to create one that fully embodies their vision.
“For too long, Caribbean entrepreneurs with world-changing ideas have struggled to break through—not because they lacked vision, but because they lacked venture-backed support,” said Daniel Smith. “Caribbean Venture Collective is here to change that.”
“As a Caribbean-American Founder, I always felt there was an opportunity to leverage the collective power of the diaspora to fuel a new wave of innovation,” said Mita Carriman. “Caribbean Venture Collective hopes to unite our global strength into tangible opportunities for founders.”
8 Impact Verticals
CVC’s eight impact verticals are Travel/Hospitality tech, Logistics & supply chain, Proptech, Agritech, Climate tech, Fintech, Healthtech, & Edtech.
8 Impact Verticals
CVC’s eight impact verticals are Travel/Hospitality tech, Logistics & supply chain, Proptech, Agritech, Climate tech, Fintech, Healthtech, & Edtech.
Founder Fellowship & Demo Day
CVC is kicking off its programming with an equity-free Founder Fellowship designed to amplify the work of 12 visionary founders each year. Fellows gain access to strategic mentorship, industry networks, and the ability to present at the annual CVC Demo Day, amplifying their work to investors and allies in CVC’s network.
CVC is kicking off its programming with an equity-free Founder Fellowship designed to amplify the work of 12 visionary founders each year. Fellows gain access to strategic mentorship, industry networks, and the ability to present at the annual CVC Demo Day, amplifying their work to investors and allies in CVC’s network.
Eligible founders for the fellowship must either be of Caribbean descent (based directly in the Caribbean or based anywhere in the global diaspora), developing Pre-seed to Series A tech-enabled startups for venture scale in any vertical, or be of any nationality/heritage developing Pre-seed to Series A tech-enabled startups in one of CVC’s eight impact verticals.
Join the Collective
Applications for the Caribbean Venture Collective Founder Fellowship are open now and close June 16, 2025. CVC has also shared an open call for allies, mentors, and investors in support of their mission to join the collective and help shape the future of Caribbean innovation. Interested founders, investors, mentors and allies can learn more and submit interest at caribbeanventurecollective.
Applications for the Caribbean Venture Collective Founder Fellowship are open now and close June 16, 2025. CVC has also shared an open call for allies, mentors, and investors in support of their mission to join the collective and help shape the future of Caribbean innovation. Interested founders, investors, mentors and allies can learn more and submit interest at caribbeanventurecollective.
