AI, climate-tech and insurtech start-ups gain ground in Jamaica
Team Connective's AI platform, Data Bridge, won the 2026 Innovation Challenge in Jamaica, a competition hosted by Sagicor Group Jamaica and the University of Technology, Jamaica. The platform automates data entry from corporate workflows, reducing turnaround times and human error.
Student entrepreneurs in Jamaica are developing start-ups to address inefficiencies and risks in the economy. The 2026 Innovation Challenge, held on April 21 at the AC Hotel Kingston, showcased these technology ventures. Team Connective won $500,000 with its Data Bridge platform, which extracts, organizes, and transfers information across systems without manual input. Other winners included SurPath, which received $250,000 for a climate-risk intelligence platform, and Nexus Innovation, which claimed $100,000 for an AI-powered insurance claims processing tool. Sagicor has invested over $125 million in the Sagicor Innovation Lab at the University of Technology, Jamaica since 2019. The competition highlights the strength of student-led innovation in Jamaica, but turning prototypes into viable businesses remains a challenge due to long procurement cycles and competition from international providers.
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