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The EU-LAC Social Accelerator seeks to consolidate social innovation ecosystems across Latin America and the Caribbean by supporting initiatives that promote social inclusion, digital transition, and environmental sustainability. Through local capacity building, the strengthening of EU-LAC networks, and the mobilization of resources for high-impact initiatives, the project aims to generate lasting changes in how social and environmental challenges are addressed throughout the region.
The project contributes to the European Union's broader commitment to fostering sustainable development and inclusive economic growth through strengthened partnerships between Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, in line with the objectives of the EU Global Gateway strategy. Within this framework, supporting innovative and investment-ready social enterprises is recognized as a key mechanism for accelerating sustainable solutions, fostering entrepreneurship, and strengthening regional innovation ecosystems.
While the Caribbean has a growing community of social entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to address local challenges, many early-stage startups continue to face barriers in accessing investment, strategic partnerships, and opportunities to increase their regional visibility. Creating platforms that connect these enterprises with investors and ecosystem actors is therefore essential to strengthening both individual startups and the broader social innovation ecosystem.
In response to this opportunity, the EU-LAC Social Accelerator it is organizing the EU-LAC Social Accelerator Caribbean Pitch Competition, targeting social startups from Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The competition is designed not only to identify promising social startups, but also to prepare and connect them with regional investment and partnership opportunities, positioning them for sustainable growth and greater impact.
It is envisioned that the winning startup from each participating country will be awarded the opportunity to participate in the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2026 in Barbados on October 5-7, 2026 – inclusive of all travel, lodging and participation costs. As the Caribbean's flagship investment event, CIF 2026 will provide the selected entrepreneurs with an opportunity to present their startups to investors, development partners, financial institutions, and business support organizations while expanding their regional networks and exploring opportunities for financing and collaboration.
By linking high-potential social startups with investment opportunities and regional innovation networks, the competition contributes to the project's broader objective of strengthening social innovation ecosystems and advancing inclusive and sustainable development across the Caribbean.
The project contributes to the European Union's broader commitment to fostering sustainable development and inclusive economic growth through strengthened partnerships between Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, in line with the objectives of the EU Global Gateway strategy. Within this framework, supporting innovative and investment-ready social enterprises is recognized as a key mechanism for accelerating sustainable solutions, fostering entrepreneurship, and strengthening regional innovation ecosystems.
While the Caribbean has a growing community of social entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to address local challenges, many early-stage startups continue to face barriers in accessing investment, strategic partnerships, and opportunities to increase their regional visibility. Creating platforms that connect these enterprises with investors and ecosystem actors is therefore essential to strengthening both individual startups and the broader social innovation ecosystem.
In response to this opportunity, the EU-LAC Social Accelerator it is organizing the EU-LAC Social Accelerator Caribbean Pitch Competition, targeting social startups from Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The competition is designed not only to identify promising social startups, but also to prepare and connect them with regional investment and partnership opportunities, positioning them for sustainable growth and greater impact.
It is envisioned that the winning startup from each participating country will be awarded the opportunity to participate in the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2026 in Barbados on October 5-7, 2026 – inclusive of all travel, lodging and participation costs. As the Caribbean's flagship investment event, CIF 2026 will provide the selected entrepreneurs with an opportunity to present their startups to investors, development partners, financial institutions, and business support organizations while expanding their regional networks and exploring opportunities for financing and collaboration.
By linking high-potential social startups with investment opportunities and regional innovation networks, the competition contributes to the project's broader objective of strengthening social innovation ecosystems and advancing inclusive and sustainable development across the Caribbean.
Competition Overview and Strategic Approach
The EU-LAC Social Accelerator Caribbean Pitch Competition is a regional initiative designed to identify, support, and promote high-potential social startups from Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Through a transparent and competitive selection process, the initiative seeks to strengthen entrepreneurs' investment readiness while facilitating meaningful connections with investors, strategic partners, and regional innovation ecosystems.
As a key activity of the EU-LAC Social Accelerator in the Caribbean, the competition contributes to the project's objective of strengthening social innovation ecosystems, providing promising startups with increased visibility, tailored capacity-building opportunities, and access to regional investment networks. In doing so, the competition also supports the objectives of the EU-LAC GGIA by fostering innovative, impact-driven enterprises that contribute to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development across the Caribbean.
The competition will culminate in the selection of four winning startups, one from each participating country, which will represent the programme at CIF 2026, where they will showcase their startups to investors, financial institutions, development partners, and key stakeholders from across the Caribbean and beyond.
As a key activity of the EU-LAC Social Accelerator in the Caribbean, the competition contributes to the project's objective of strengthening social innovation ecosystems, providing promising startups with increased visibility, tailored capacity-building opportunities, and access to regional investment networks. In doing so, the competition also supports the objectives of the EU-LAC GGIA by fostering innovative, impact-driven enterprises that contribute to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development across the Caribbean.
The competition will culminate in the selection of four winning startups, one from each participating country, which will represent the programme at CIF 2026, where they will showcase their startups to investors, financial institutions, development partners, and key stakeholders from across the Caribbean and beyond.
Target Participants
The competition is open to social startups and early-stage social enterprises duly registered in: Barbados, Dominican Republic , Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago.
The competition is particularly aimed at entrepreneurs with solutions that demonstrate: A clear social and/or environmental mission, an innovative product, service, or business model, potential for growth and scalability, readiness to engage with investors and regional ecosystem partners, commitment to expanding their impact within the Caribbean and impact on reducing social inequalities
The competition is particularly aimed at entrepreneurs with solutions that demonstrate: A clear social and/or environmental mission, an innovative product, service, or business model, potential for growth and scalability, readiness to engage with investors and regional ecosystem partners, commitment to expanding their impact within the Caribbean and impact on reducing social inequalities