.png)
My recent month-long odyssey across three continents—from the bustling souks of Marrakech for GITEX Africa, to the futuristic cityscape of Singapore for GITEX Asia, culminating in the vibrant energy of Jamaica for CEI—offered a profound and multifaceted perspective on the global innovation landscape. Covering 15 flights and immersing myself in three distinct tech ecosystems between April 14th and May 10th, the journey underscored a fundamental truth: the future of technology is not confined by borders but rather thrives in the unique confluence of regional strengths and global ambition.
GITEX Africa: A Continent on the Cusp
My journey began in Marrakech, Morocco, for GITEX Africa, held from April 14th to 16th. The vibrant energy pulsed through the halls, a powerful testament to the continent's burgeoning digital revolution. The palpable optimism was infectious, highlighting a continent on the cusp of a digital renaissance, and the event served as a dynamic nexus, connecting visionary founders, astute investors, and forward-thinking policymakers, all united by the ambition to unlock Africa's immense technological potential.
Amidst this electrifying atmosphere, one startup truly stood out, embodying the spirit of innovation and the promise of a connected future: StraitPay. Their victory with a pan-African fintech solution perfectly encapsulated this energy. StraitPay emerged as a clear winner, not just for its innovative approach to fintech but for its profound understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the African financial landscape. In a continent where mobile money has already revolutionized transactions, StraitPay is building the next layer—a seamless, interoperable platform designed to bridge the fragmented payment ecosystems across Africa. Their focus on interoperability and financial inclusion addresses a core need in a rapidly digitizing Africa, poised for significant economic growth driven by its young, tech-savvy population.
Beyond the conference, the Firehood angels—including myself—embraced the warmth of Marrakech after a cold winter. We explored the city's unique offerings, from camel rides to the distinctive flavors of underground-cooked food and the lively night markets. These shared experiences, along with stays in elegant riad-style hotels, weren't just leisure; they were integral to bonding the group and enriching our understanding of the African context.
The conference itself was a whirlwind of activity for The Firehood. Claudette McGowan's Protexxa booth stood prominently alongside global competitors, signaling a strong Canadian presence with a distinct edge. This visibility was further amplified by a productive Middle East tour for Protexxa's fundraise, demonstrating the tangible business outcomes stemming from the GITEX connections. We also actively shaped the intellectual discourse, taking to the GITEX stage to moderate and participate in crucial discussions. I had the privilege of moderating "The Quest for Impact: Balancing Profit and Purpose in African VC."
The culmination of The Firehood's time at GITEX Africa was our $50,000 angel investment in a promising women-led venture during the final pitch competition. This direct investment was a powerful statement, reinforcing growing investor confidence in African fintech and acknowledging the significant gaps that still exist for women in tech across the continent. This wasn't merely a win for one startup, but a tangible expression of The Firehood's mission to empower women entrepreneurs and drive financial inclusion on a global scale. The energy surrounding The Firehood at GITEX Africa was palpable, demonstrating a genuine commitment to fostering innovation and unlocking Africa's immense technological potential, paving the way for continued collaboration and growth.
GITEX Asia: Deep Tech and Global Scale
Just a week later, the technological spotlight shifted to Singapore for GITEX Asia, which took place from April 23rd to 25th. This dynamic showcase revealed a more mature and deeply entrenched tech ecosystem, highlighting Asia's pivotal role as a global innovation hub where cutting-edge technologies are not just conceived but rapidly scaled and adopted, particularly in areas like AI, digital health, and cybersecurity.
KeyReply’s win, with their AI-powered customer engagement platform, showcased the region’s capacity to develop and scale sophisticated AI solutions for vast and diverse markets. KeyReply impressed attendees and judges alike with its sophisticated application of artificial intelligence to revolutionize customer engagement. Their platform leverages advanced natural language processing and machine learning to provide businesses with intelligent automation solutions for customer support, sales, and marketing. What sets KeyReply apart is its ability to understand nuanced customer inquiries, provide personalized responses, and seamlessly integrate across various communication channels, from messaging apps to email and social media. Singapore’s robust infrastructure and strong talent pool provide a fertile ground for such innovations to flourish. The win at GITEX Asia underscores the region's leadership in enterprise AI adoption.
The event’s focus on AI Everything Asia highlighted the transformative potential of generative AI and automation across industries. KeyReply’s success is a testament to Singapore’s robust infrastructure, deep talent pool, and thriving startup culture, which provides a fertile ground for companies to develop and scale impactful AI-driven solutions. My stopover in Hong Kong also left a significant impression, as this city continues to be a vibrant hub with unique advantages for businesses. The exciting news that LEAP is expanding there further solidifies Hong Kong's role as a strategic location for tech and innovation, offering another powerful entry point into the region. For any founder considering expansion into Asia, my journey offers clear takeaways: Singapore and Hong Kong serve as essential entry points, offering the infrastructure, talent, and connectivity needed to navigate the broader Asian market. Asia's diverse and vast consumer markets demand solutions that can scale quickly and efficiently.
Founders should prioritize platforms and business models that are inherently scalable, and while underlying technologies may be universal, success in Asia often hinges on the ability to cater to the specific demands and nuances of individual markets within the region.
CEI Jamaica: Agility and a North American Testbed
The final leg of my whirlwind journey brought me to the vibrant island of Jamaica for CEI (Catalyst for Entrepreneurship & Innovation), a rapidly ascending force in the Caribbean tech ecosystem. Held from May 9th to 10th, CEI offered a glimpse into the unique dynamics of the Caribbean tech ecosystem, showcasing the region's blend of agility, proactive government support, and deep integration with North American markets, making it an ideal testbed for groundbreaking technologies.
In this dynamic environment, Flix FX captured attention and emerged as a winner with their innovative approach to drone technology. Flix FX is literally taking innovation to new heights in the Caribbean with their captivating use of drones for advertising and entertainment. Their headline-grabbing drone and firework shows have already transformed the Jamaican skyline into a dynamic canvas for brands. Partnering with a global leader in drone manufacturing, Flix FX is not just delivering visually stunning displays; they are pioneering a new marketing channel with the potential for interactive sky advertisements, including live QR codes and real-time displays. Beyond the dazzling aerial displays, Flix FX also recognizes the practical applications of drone technology in the region, exploring and implementing drone solutions for agricultural monitoring, a critical area for food security and sustainability in the Caribbean. This dual focus on both creative and practical applications highlights the versatility and potential impact of their technology.
They are a shining example of how Jamaica is not just keeping pace but setting its own trends in the global innovation ecosystem.
Arriving in Jamaica fulfilled a long-held dream of supporting women entrepreneurs, a vision sparked by my early work in Ethiopian microfinance. My involvement began almost a year ago, connecting with a Nobellum Accelerator winner, Cynthia Ene of Corol, who later won our Elevate competition..
My time in Kingston delivering entrepreneurship sessions revealed the tenacity and spirit of Jamaican women entrepreneurs. Despite persistent challenges, their drive to overcome obstacles and redefine business is remarkable. I witnessed firsthand a lack of access to fundamental scaling strategies and alternative funding information. My masterclass focused on shifting their mindset towards growth, celebrating milestones, and understanding the value of risk-sharing networks. The group's quick internalization of these concepts, evident in their enthusiastic engagement and reframed pitches, was inspiring. A similar experience in Toronto shortly after further reinforced this positive momentum.
My firsthand observations from Jamaica offer invaluable outcomes and insights for any founder considering expansion across the Caribbean. Firstly, the pace of networking is incredibly rapid, and it’s genuinely possible to get direct access to top decision-makers to move major projects forward. Unlike larger, more saturated markets, the Caribbean often offers a more streamlined path to engaging with key stakeholders, significantly accelerating the process of securing pilots, forming partnerships, and achieving market entry. Secondly, the region demonstrates an enthusiastic readiness to adopt and support new technologies, translating into a welcoming environment where early adopters are eager to embrace innovative solutions that address local challenges or enhance existing experiences. This creates a vibrant space for innovation to quickly find its footing.
Furthermore, this experience revealed that the Caribbean provides an ideal testbed environment for founders to pilot and refine their technologies before broader expansion. The unique combination of agility and government support fosters a dynamic sandbox where ideas can be tested, iterated, and proven effective in a real-world context with immediate feedback. Lastly, the deep integration of Caribbean economies with North American markets offers clear and accessible pathways for growth and investment beyond the immediate region. This connection serves as a crucial bridge for scaling solutions and accessing broader capital. The dedicated focus of CEI Jamaica on supporting women-led businesses sends a powerful signal to women founders globally: this is a market actively seeking to support their growth, providing tailored resources and a supportive ecosystem to strengthen Jamaica and the entire Caribbean as a hub for entrepreneurial excellence.
Common Threads and Future Horizons
Across these three distinct regions, several common threads emerged. The unwavering sense of community among founders, and a sweet, palpable appreciation for The Firehood's work for women-led innovation were two of my favorite vibrational takeaways. While the challenges faced by women in tech are universal, so too is their ambition and capacity to lead, a sentiment echoed in the focus on empowering women founders in our initiatives.
Organizations like ventureLAB, whose mission is powering hardtech founders to build and scale globally competitive ventures that advance Canada’s knowledge-based economy, play a crucial role in fostering these kinds of ecosystems. By providing access to mentorship, resources, and networks, ventureLAB helps founders navigate challenges and scale their impact globally. The work being done by ventureLAB and similar organizations around the world underscores the importance of localized support combined with global connectivity to drive innovation forward.
Africa, with its massive untapped potential and accelerating digital transformation, stands out as a market ripe for disruption and innovation. Asia’s deep tech capabilities and global connectivity position it as a key driver of future technological advancements. The Caribbean, with its agility and strategic location, offers a unique advantage for startups looking to pilot and scale solutions.
The most exciting innovations and the most significant impact will likely emerge from the cross-pollination of ideas and the recognition of the unique strengths that each region brings to the global tech table. The future of tech is indeed borderless, and my journey through Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean has only reinforced this powerful conviction.
No matter the continent, the ambition is the same: to build a better, more connected future.
