30 Jan 2024: A Year of Growth & Entrepreneurial Excellence
As Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago (YBTT) gears up to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025, 2024 stood out as a year of remarkable transformation, resilience, and renewed commitment to building a sustainable future through entrepreneurship.
We must firstly, acknowledge that Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago (YBTT) was honored with the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) Award for Outstanding Youth Organisation of 2024. This award is a testament to the power of youth entrepreneurship and the unwavering belief that our young people can truly transform our society when given the right support and opportunities.
Expanding Our Reach
In 2024, YBTT directly impacted over 1,970 individuals through school outreach, community sessions, and entrepreneurship awareness activities. Our Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) saw unprecedented engagement, with 3,227 participants across multiple events — a 4% increase from 2023.
From SchoolSPARK to Atlantic Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (AYEP), students across 12 secondary schools were inspired to dream bigger and think like entrepreneurs. Our webinars and general outreach sessions engaged over 1,280 individuals, amplifying our message of empowerment through entrepreneurship.
This programme has inspired so many of our students past, present, and future to believe in themselves. – Teacher, AYEP Programme
Nurturing Early-Stage Entrepreneurs
2024 saw 43 entrepreneurs graduate from the JumpSTART Incubator, with a strong 72% female participation rate. Another 23 graduates emerged from the Migrant and Refugee Support Programme, making the experience one of our most inclusive yet.
Participants praised the clarity, confidence, and practical skills they gained, as well as the tailored support provided by mentors throughout their journeys.
My experience in JumpSTART was a great breakthrough… I now feel 200% sure I’ll have a fully functioning local and international business. – JumpSTART Graduate
Growth-Focused Support
Our focus on scaling and growing businesses was evident through 3 targeted workshops on Branding, Digitalization, and Exporting, which drew 417 attendees with a satisfaction rating of 4.8/5.
Additionally, 12 new mentors were trained, bolstering our advisory network and providing long-term support to 80 entrepreneurs throughout the year.
Strengthening the Ecosystem
YBTT continued to foster strong relationships within the local and regional ecosystem. We partnered with over 20 organizations, including CARIRI, Ministry of Digital Transformation, NEDCO, and UTC ScaleUp. Our presence in global networks such as Youth Business International (YBI), Youth Business Caribbean (YBC), and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) helped us amplify our reach and influence.
Highlights included:
– YBTT CEO MC’ing at the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Summit (GYES).
– A YBTT entrepreneur, Dareem Jeffery, winning the Sustainability Entrepreneurship Award 2024, at the GYES.
– The formal agreement signing of the Youth Business Caribbean.
– Team participation in impactful learning programs, including webinars on AI and Decent Work.
Insights from Our Impact Survey
Our annual impact survey, with a 78% completion rate, revealed:
– 64% female participation, with an average entrepreneur age of 31.
– 59% of businesses supported are actively trading.
– Average business age: 4 years.
– Top challenges included funding access, marketing visibility, and time management.
Importantly, 82% of supported businesses identified as having a social or green (S&G) purpose, showing a growing trend toward sustainability in entrepreneurship.
