So you think Politics has nothing to do with Tech and Business Right ? Lol. Ok.

Hey there Insiders, 

Welcome to the 6th issue of Silicon Caribe Insider where you get Caribbean Tech and Business Insights You’ll Find Nowhere else. 

IN THIS WEEK’S SCI

• The Lead: So you think Politics has nothing to do with Tech and Business? Ok 😂. Let’s Show You Some Things

• Caribbean Tech News Shorts:

• Global Tech Trends

• Startups in the Spotlight 

•  Flashback: A Moment in Caribbean Tech History

• Caribbean Tech Jobs Listings

• Caribbean Tech Events Listings

THE LEAD

So you think Politics has nothing to do with Tech and Business? Ok. 😂.

Countries representing half of the global population are poised for what has been heralded as the most monumental election year in history. Over 60 nations, encompassing approximately 4 billion individuals, are gearing up to select their regional, legislative, and national leaders over the next 12 months. The discerning eyes of the Caribbean and Global tech industry and business leaders should be fixed on all of this, as elections can shift Macroeconomic policies that influence the Tech industry - entrepreneurship, investments, and consumer rights. 

Plus amid all this politicking, the tech sector confronts fresh challenges, notably the pivotal role of AI in moderating content and countering AI-generated misinformation, transcending international boundaries. The intricate dance between politics and technology holds the promise of profoundly shaping the future of tech and business.

Here are some examples of noteworthy elections on the global stage that illuminate why we can’t ignore the Tech Industry and Politics Connections.

Taiwan: They have already selected its next leader, a man China dislikes it seems according to media reports. That may be a good thing for the Western Nations as China is still vying for control of the island and the United States especially does not want that to happen.

Added to that Taiwan's significance to the tech industry lies in its leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, innovation, electronics manufacturing, supply chain integration, skilled workforce, intellectual property protection, strategic location, and political stability. These factors make Taiwan a critical player in the global tech ecosystem…affect tech investments and trade agreements in the region.

United States Presidential Elections: The outcome of the U.S. presidential elections can have a profound effect on tech policy. I don’t know where you stand, but for me, The US, the Caribbean, and the World cannot live through another Trump Presidency. 

That said, let’s remember for instance, during the 2020 elections, Joe Biden's victory signaled potential changes in how the U.S. government approaches issues like net neutrality, data privacy, and antitrust regulation. His administration has shown an interest in stricter tech regulations, which could impact the operations and growth of tech giants could say, but just last week, the Biden Administration’s SEC made Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies legit and mainstream, signally an openness to innovation and democratisation of investments in my opinion. 

Africa: Fifteen African nations heading to the polls this year, with elections in Senegal, South Africa, Mali, and Chad especially having the potential to shape the trajectory of multilateral institutions across the continent. In South Africa,  for example, there is a referendum on the African National Congress, the party of Nelson Mandela. However, the ANC's standing seemed to have waned over the years among South Africans due to issues like inequality, unemployment, crime, power outages, and government corruption. Did you know that around 70% of South African land is still owned by Whites? Yeah.

Let’s also remember Africa's importance to the global tech industry lies in its emerging markets, growing consumer base, mobile and internet penetration, fintech innovation, agritech potential, infrastructure needs, innovation hubs, talent pool, connectivity initiatives, and opportunities for social impact. Africa equals global tech industry growth.

A continent where Caribbean nations have been looking more recently to create greater trade relationships with Caribbean tech Startups being encouraged to seek growth in African markets more.

India: The world's largest democracy and the fifth-largest economy will decide the fate of its current prime minister, Narendra Modi, in the April and May elections, potentially marking his third term in office.

India as you know is a growing tech hub, and its general elections can impact various aspects of the tech industry. For example, the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and 2019 was seen as favorable for tech entrepreneurship and investment due to his emphasis on the "Digital India" initiative, promoting digital technology adoption across the country. So the results of general elections in India can seriously shape the regulatory, economic, and social landscape in ways that directly impact the tech industry.

European Union Elections: Elections for the European Parliament can influence tech policies in the EU. The EU has been actively working on regulations related to data protection (GDPR), antitrust (e.g., fines against tech companies), and digital taxation. The composition of the European Parliament can determine the direction and speed of these policies.  The EU plays a significant role in shaping global tech regulations. It has implemented and proposed several key regulations related to data privacy (e.g., GDPR), digital taxation, antitrust, content moderation, and digital taxation. The outcomes of EU elections can influence the direction and enforcement of these regulations, which can have a direct impact on how tech companies operate within the EU and beyond.

The Caribbean is no different

Don’t believe Politics can affect Your Tech and Business, let’s give you a Jamaica example. The Jamaican Tech and Financial Industry has been waiting with bated breath for the Ministerial sign-off and the regulatory framework to bring into full effect r The newly enacted Partnership (Limited) Act, 2017. 

Whenever this is done, it will usher in some of the “key necessities and intricacies of the modern commercial landscape which includes several novel forms of limited partnerships as well as a more defined set of rules which govern their formation and operation. Many of these rules facilitate the effective utilization of the limited partnership as an investment vehicle.”

In short, Angel and Venture Funds could be registered and formed in Jamaica easily without the legal gymnastics, allowing for a freer, legal, and more abundant flow of Investment Capital for Tech Startups and Digital SMEs. Additionally, Tech Startups especially would not have to register in the United States to get US investor angel and venture funds to launch and grow their digital businesses. When will the status of this change? No-one knows. 

Conclusion

So yeah, 2024 will be an election year like no other and could bring unprecedented shifts and challenges to the Caribbean and Global Tech Industry and the Future of Business. 

While it’s going to be a challenge to stay aware in a sea of misinformation and not feel moved to mute everything, the Future of Tech and Business hangs in the balance around the World and here in the Caribbean.

Stay Aware and Connect the Dots.

CARIBBEAN TECH NEWS

[ F.O.C.M.N.Y ] Future of Caribbean Money

Crypto, Blockchain, Digital Payments, Digital Insurance

CaribCoin on a pitchfest to drum up early adopter support for its Carib$

CaribCoin a Barbados-based FinTech company designing Carib$, a stable and asset-backed Caribbean Complementary Currency that uses Distributed Ledger Technology/Blockchain is on the move to drum up early adopter registration and support. 

CaribCoin wants to “Revolutionising Trade and Cross-Border Transactions in the Caribbean and has positioned itself as a complementary currency, operating alongside Caribbean national currencies to bridge the region’s economies and create new markets for your business, making Carib$ a fast track towards CSME,” their pitch email said.

The company said that their Carib$ will be ready for use as early as Q2 this year and offers “near-instant, low-cost and seamless payments for businesses across the Caribbean.”

And you know who is involved, HSE Gabriel Abed, a Caribbean Tech Pioneer who founded BITT, a digital asset exchange, remittance channel, and merchant-processing gateway based in Barbados in 2013.

This is what happens when a Caribbean nation creates a legal framework that allows innovation. Jamaica take note nah.

[ Climate Tech]

Kolektivo and Zed Labs Join Unicef Venture Fund Climate Cohort To Build Climate Action Platform

Kolektivo based in Curacao and Zed Labs based in Trinidad and Tobago were one of the eight teams out of 400 start-ups globally, to build open-source technology for climate action.

In 2024, Kolektivo aims to release the first version of its local-impact economy platform based on the developments and learnings from the Unicef Venture Fund mentorship and pilots. Following the successful release, we would open up for ecosystem builders in other regions, focusing on the Latin American and Caribbean regions. Having already established content with teams in Colombia, Suriname, and Barbados, 

GLOBAL TECH SNIPPETS

Trend Alert: We’re Mixing Business and Pleasure More Openly Now!

LinkedIn seemed to have evolved into an unconventional but increasingly popular avenue for dating in this era of remote work. Despite LinkedIn's official policies discouraging such practices, it's undeniable that any platform with direct messaging capabilities is susceptible to being repurposed for romantic connections.

The appeal of LinkedIn for dating enthusiasts lies in its unique features:

• LinkedIn encourages users to connect to their current and past employers' profiles, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the interactions.

• It has also become a tool for vetting potential romantic interests discovered through traditional dating apps or real-life encounters.

• For those missing the workplace camaraderie, now diminished due to remote and hybrid work, LinkedIn offers a chance to recreate the water-cooler experience online.

However, it's essential to tread carefully when mixing business with pleasure. While the internet has blurred the boundaries between personal and professional lives for years, crossing the lines on LinkedIn can jeopardize one's professional relationships and reputation. Just like office flirting, it can lead to either a spark of connection or, unfortunately, unemployment.

In January 2022, LinkedIn boasted over 774 million registered users worldwide. Seven years ago there were 2.7 million Caribbean-based people on the platform, now there are

🚀 STARTUP SPOTLIGHT

English, Spanish, French, and Dutch Caribbean tech-driven startups around the world and how they are changing the way we live, work, and play. They are closing early customers, raising their first rounds, and hard at work building products.

[ Fund Raising ]

Island Legal Wills

Brief: Estate planning is inaccessible to many Caribbean people, misunderstood by most, and overlooked as a financial wellness benefit for employees. We created Island Legal wills to provide Caribbeans with an affordable way to write their wills. Instead of spending thousands of dollars and hours with a lawyer, our digital platform offers a simple, affordable, and user-friendly way to create your Caribbean legal will while giving you the flexibility to make unlimited updates for as long as you are a member.

• Founder: Kemar  Lawrence

• Founded: 2022

• Industry: Online Wills

• HQ: Canada

FLASHBACK

A Moment in Caribbean Tech History

Yeah an iPhone fell From the Sky and Survived, But 11 years ago Blackberry was King in the Caribbean

By now you must have heard about…The recent Alaska Airlines incident, where a door plug detached from a Boeing 737 Max 9 at 16,000 feet, highlighted the potential consequences of small errors. Fortunately, the window seat was unoccupied where the door blew out. Surprisingly, an iPhone found on a Portland road survived the fall without a scratch and displayed an unlocked Alaska Airlines baggage claim email. It survived the fall thanks to it being encased in Spigen’s Cryo Armo Case.

Unfortunately, the Blackberry the former mobile phone love of our lives in the Caribbean, didn’t survive the Aggressive Mobile Phone Competition. But this is a flashback to when we only had eyes for Blackberry 10 when it came out 11 years ago- re-designed, re-engineered, and re-invented simultaneously in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Dubai, and Johannesburg.

Ahhh the good ole days. These days the Caribbean runs on Android.

CARIBBEAN TECH EVENTS LISTING

Oasis Onchain Summit

• What: A 3-day summit focused on consumer crypto for global markets

• Date: January 22nd-24th, 2024

• Location: Crypto Isle | Nassau Bahamas 

• Format: Panels, FIresside Chats Plus a Hackathon 

• Website: https://www.oasisonchain.xyz/

Beyond the Beach

• What: An invite-only Tech Investor Summit of Super Successful and highly activated US, Caribbean Diaspora, and Caribbean Angel Investors and Tech Entrepreneurs excited about investing in early-stage Caribbean Startups.

• Date: March 21-23, 2024

• Location: Jamaica

• Format: Unconference Style of Fireside Chats, Lunches, Dinners, and Interactive Activities.

• An Entrepreneurs Across Borders and SiliconCaribe Community Event

 List Your Caribbean Tech Event here: email:[email protected]m for ad rates.

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CARIBBEAN TECH JOBS LISTING

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