Turning just $20 into thriving business ventures, some of Barbados’ brightest young minds lit up the stage at the Sagicor School of Business and Management on Saturday night during the grand finale of the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation’s (BEF) $20 Challenge.
The ceremony at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies was a celebration of innovation, resilience and youthful ambition, showcasing a new generation determined to redefine entrepreneurship on the island.
With parents, educators and sponsors cheering them on, students from across the island proved that with creativity and courage, even the smallest seed capital can blossom into something extraordinary.
The evening’s most stirring moments came during the feature address by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith, who reminded the audience that young people must be seen not just as future leaders, but as entrepreneurs in their own right today.
“It really is a pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate my young people,” he said. “I interacted with some of them and was totally impressed with the passion, the effort and the creativity they poured into their ventures. Some of them are already talking about expanding into the region. That tells me we’ve done something good.” The challenge, now in its 12th year, invited secondary school students to build a business with just $20 in start-up funds.
What emerged were original, well-executed ventures that impressed both judges and supporters. Among the evening’s standout awardees was BlueIsle Organic, which took home the top honour of Micro Enterprise Of The Year, along with the Wellness Trailblazer title for its innovative approach to natural, healthconscious products.
Equally celebrated was Island Blendz, whose combination of strong branding and social mission won the Profit With Purpose Award as well as the coveted People’s Choice Award.
Meanwhile, The Lucky Dip Lady stood out for both business acumen and innovation, earning the Business BluePrint Champion title and winning Best Written Report.
Expanding reach
Griffith highlighted the work of the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES), which is expanding its reach through
communitybased business labs, a dedicated summer camp and new training certifications through the University of the West Indies. He called on corporate Barbados to support these efforts through mentoring, sponsorship and partnership. “Young people will stumble, but what matters most is getting back up with fire,” he said. “Business is not easy, but if you sell service first, then your product, customers will come again and again.
That’s how you grow, that’s how you succeed.” The awards also recognised Allie’s Crochet Craze, which was a crowd favourite and won both the Golden Hook Humanitarian Award and Best Oral Report, while Bodacious By Ray earned praise for business strategy, taking home the Insight To Strategy Award and The Market Day Champion title.
FruitiYum Delights was honoured with the Farm To Freezer: Visionary Award for its healthy, locallysourced treats, and Blissful Scoops received the Illuminator Award for imaginative brand presentation.
Frame Workz was recognised for environmental consciousness through the Eco-Innovation Award, while Lee’s Haircare emerged as a
StorySell Champion
for its compelling product narrative.
T& H Creations took home the Phoenix Founder Award,
which celebrates resilience and personal transformation.
Griffith urged the BEF to further expand the programme, particularly to include students who may be overlooked due to socio-economic barriers.
“We talk about seeing light at the end of the tunnel but I’m saying, take the light into the tunnel. That’s how you help young people reach the other side.” (CLM)
