Michelle Samuel’s upcoming BizConnect Caribbean programme is gearing up to make a meaningful impact and it’s happening right here in Saint Lucia.
Samuel, founder and CEO of SLUDTERA as well as the programme lead for BizConnect, recently secured what is the largest Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) grant ever awarded to a Saint Lucian entrepreneur. The project, aimed at equipping small business owners and early-stage entrepreneurs with digital and business development skills, is expected to officially launch later this year.
The AEIF grant is administered by the US Department of State and supports innovative projects led by alumni of its exchange programmes. Samuel became eligible to apply after participating in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in 2017.
“It’s an extremely competitive process,” Samuel told St. Lucia Times. “You have alumni from the entire Latin America region, the Caribbean, and Canada applying for the same pot of funds.”
When asked why she chose this moment to finally apply for the AEIF grant, she reflected on timing and readiness.
“I’ve known about the AEIF grant for years, but I waited. I didn’t just want to apply with any idea. When the concept for BizConnect came together, it felt right. This is the project I’ve been preparing to launch for a long time.”
BizConnect, she says, was born out of years of observing the recurring struggles faced by entrepreneurs in the region. “We are really strong at the idea stage. We’re creative, we’re passionate. But we sometimes lack the resources, strategy, and systems needed to grow sustainably. BizConnect is designed to bridge that gap.”
The programme will consist of interactive workshops, mentorship opportunities, and digital literacy training with a focus on helping entrepreneurs expand into new markets and future-proof their businesses. It will first roll out in Saint Lucia, with the long-term vision being expansion across the OECS.
The pilot phase of BizConnect Caribbean will be implemented in a hybrid format aimed at training 65 individuals and targeting an additional 300 persons in the communities of Dennery, Laborie, Micoud, Castries, and Soufriere, bringing the training to them.
“Saint Lucia is the pilot. We want to make sure it’s impactful here first,” Samuel said. “We’ll be engaging not just with entrepreneurs, but with ecosystem stakeholders, educators, and local institutions. The aim is to create a full-circle support system.”
With the groundwork now laid, planning and stakeholder engagement have already begun. Samuel hopes the programme will not only strengthen the business landscape but also inspire a shift in how entrepreneurship is supported across the region.
“This isn’t just about business. It’s about economic inclusion, education, and empowerment. It’s about showing Saint Lucians — and Caribbean people by extension — that we can build global solutions right from home.”
Looking ahead, Samuel says her goal is not to frame BizConnect as a project with a single, defined endpoint but rather as a programme with the potential to grow and evolve.
“I don’t want to say the end goal is just training,” she explained. “I see this becoming a sort of franchise — something we can take into other communities, even other countries, and adapt to suit their unique needs.”
