[Port Au Prince, Haiti- June 13, 2019] The U.S. Embassy is a proud sponsor of the Haiti Tech Summit and is pleased to announce that Jon Piechowski, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy in the Department of State’s  Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, will speak at this year’s Haiti Tech Summit. 

As sponsors, the U.S. Embassy is supporting the participation of 15 Young Leaders of the Americas (YLAI) Caribbean entrepreneurs and 15 local entrepreneurs in the Summit, and they will join creators and innovators from throughout the Caribbean. Increased economic prosperity in the United States and the Caribbean depends on innovation and entrepreneurship and we hope this Tech Summit will foster ideas and build relationships. The United States values the Caribbean as a strategic priority and long-standing partners. As the Caribbean’s largest trading partner, millions of citizens visit and study in the Caribbean and in the U.S. annually. We recognize the importance of the Caribbean to the success of this hemisphere and believe that a region united in our shared values and shared interests will result in a more prosperous neighborhood.

Participants will meet more than one hundred speakers from Google, Airbnb, LinkedIn, Uber, and other innovative businesses.  Haiti Tech Summit, a 13-year initiative of Global Startup Ecosystem that brings hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors, digital marketers and creatives to Haiti to accelerate tech, innovation, and economic development within the country, has just opened applications for the event’s second annual Startup Lab – a 1:1 mentorship opportunity with global experts.

Calling all entrepreneurs,

In the spirit of entrepreneurship, Forbes8 as part of their partnership with the Haiti Tech Summit, is proud to announce the inaugural Forbes8 Perfect Pitch Competition, beginning with Haiti!

The Forbes8 mission is to help entrepreneurs worldwide be more successful. We know that the number one challenge facing entrepreneurs today is access to Capital, and the Forbes8 team are committed to giving back to entrepreneurs and helping in practical, and creative ways. Just for Haiti Tech Summit attendees, Forbes8 will be gifting over $5K in the next 12 months and will also choose a Perfect Pitcher at the summit – who will receive an on-the-spot $1.5K cash prize.

We’re also going to be awarding select entrepreneurs the valuable opportunity to be year-round storytellers – as part of our “Forbes8 Savvy Storyteller” program, providing direct access to surface their stories & advice through the Forbes8 platform.

What: A world-class elevator pitch competition highlighting your company, story and how you intend to make an impact in the next 12 months.

Who: Early stage entrepreneurs with disruptive and scalable ideas to change their community and the world for the better. Entrepreneurs need to be attending the Haiti Tech Summit to be considered.   

How to apply:

Please register your interest here:  APP LINK ONLY PROVIDED to REGISTERED GUESTS

Deadline for Submissions: Noon EST, 17^th June.

Candidates will be shortlisted & notified by Noon EST, 19^th June.

Shortlisted entrepreneurs will be filmed delivering their 30-second elevator pitch at the summit (on Day 1 of the Summit, June 21^st, between 3:30-4:30pm).

In preparing for your elevator pitch, please keep in mind the following:

• Mission and vision of your company
• How do you / your company plan on making an impact?
• What do you need most to do more?
• How specifically do you intend to put the $1K prize money to best use?
• *If your company is based in Haiti, we’d love to hear about your commitment to and plans on helping Haiti become a tech hub by the year 2030

Prizes:  

1 – Forbes8 Perfect Pitcher – An immediate $1.5K cash prize will be gifted to a worthy entrepreneur. In addition, you will receive an hour of mentorship, social promotion, an exclusive Forbes8 digital badge, and a feature in the Forbes8 app.

2 – Forbes8 Rising Star – Four $1K prizes will be given to entrepreneurs over the course of the next 12 months. Each honoree receives mentorship, social promotion, an exclusive Forbes8 digital badge

3 – Forbes8 Savvy Storyteller – You’ll be awarded a physical “Storytelling Kit”, enabling you to be year-round storytellers for Forbes8. Your video content will live in Forbes8 with incredible exposure to a global audience while growing your personal brand.

We wish all of you the best of luck and are eagerly awaiting your submissions. Look forward to seeing you in person at the summit!

Best,

Haiti Tech Summit and The Forbes8 Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Conversations on the Future of Work, Industry Development, and Future Tech kick off in Port Au Prince with Launch of second annual Haiti Tech Week

June 1, 2019- [Port – au Prince, Haiti]  Annual tech week initiatives have quickly become a reputable process for centralizing stakeholders in an ecosystem and showcasing top programs, initiatives, and influencers that are driving tech development within a region. Following the success of major tech week initiatives such as London Tech Week or  Nairobi Tech Week- Haiti now joins the global trend. On the week of the 17th June 2019, Haiti  like other tech hubs, will launch its official tech week series. Launched last year to train and develop the tech ecosystem of Haiti – this year the program has expanded in scope. Haiti Tech Week returns for 2019 in partnership with Mastercard.

“At GSE, we work with over 140 global partners to accelerate tech ecosystems via digital accelerators and summits and have the platform to encourage more events that bring the ecosystem together more frequently” said Christine  Ntim, founder of Haiti Tech Summit.

RSVP for Haiti Tech Week here: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-haiti-tech-week-tickets-62907958397

The 2019 Haiti Tech Week Core lineup features:

Tuesday (ALL)

• FREE 2nd Annual Women’s Pioneers Summit: A summit to identify key female leaders and influencers who are driving business, tech and policy within  their respective industries or communities. The summit will be an evening workshop event showcasing top women tech groups around the world that local Haitian women can initiate in Haiti as well as a crash personal branding course to teach audience members how to build and scale their personal brands as pioneers. The workshop is one of the most popular sessions in Africa and will be featured for the first time in Haiti for tech week. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-haiti-tech-week-tickets-62907958397
• FREE 1st Annual Human Resources & Future of Work Summit: Haiti’s First Major training sessions on resume building, job skills training, soft skills and development, and application hunting. Also includes a recruitment session for job seekers. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-haiti-tech-week-tickets-62907958397

• FREE 3rd Annual Smart City Future Tech Summit:  This historic evening event will be Haiti’s first deep dive workshop on all of the exponential technologies in one place. This intense event will go over the following below. The workshop training is first come, first served. Limited seating available. An overview of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Drones, Nano technology, Virtual Reality Space, Internet of Things and Robotics. Why do these technologies exist and how can you train yourself to become an expert in 3- months for free. An overview on how to apply exponential technology to problems in Haiti and become a global case study for economic tech development. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-haiti-tech-week-tickets-62907958397

Wednesday

• Haiti Tech: Ecosystem tour with invited guests

The 2019 Ecosystem Haiti Tech Week Line up Features: Activations across the Ecosystem

Monday

• YMCA How to Find Resources for Building Your Company Online- Speaker Christine Ntim 
• Banj Digital Marketing skills and Productivity tools from Google!‬ ‪In partnership with Google Launchpad, Monday June 17th from 10-12! FREE for entrepreneurs only!‬ ‪ RSVP at https://lnkd.in/ez2njqk

Tuesday

• Banj: – 9-3pm – Rebrand Haiti with Hajj Flemmings RSVP via https://www.banjht.com/event/rebrand-haiti-construction-de-site-web-et-branding-pour-entreprise_5ce747b9184fb

Wednesday

• Google Developers Launchpad: 8:00am – 8pm at Banj RSVP via https://wocotribe.com/events/2019/6/19/google-developers-launchpad-founderslab
• Startup Grind: 6 – 8pm featuring Johnson Napoleon https://www.startupgrind.com/port-au-prince/

Thursday

• Haiti Tech Festival (Grassroots Movement) 

Friday

• Haiti Tech Summit (Production by FORBES) DAY 1 with headline keynote
• VIP dinner: 6 – 9pm
• Summiteers dinner:
• Cultural celebration and party

Saturday

• Haiti Tech Summit (PRODUCTION BY FORBES) DAY 2 with headline keynote
• Fashion celebration
• CLOSING BEACH PARTY

Location to be announced to RSVPs for each event only. To submit your event to the tech week series, email the team directly at info@haititechsummit.com.  It will go live within 3 hours.

About Haiti Tech Week An annual ecosystem gathering of multiple events and programs to highlight topics that can accelerate the country’s ecosystem as well as highlight the region’s top tech initiatives.

About Global Startup Ecosystem (GSE): is a central hub designed to educate, inspire and prepare tech  communities for the digital age. GSE summits are annual conferences held around the world to connect, inform, and inspire stakeholders within an ecosystem to leverage technology that ensures impact. Summits are a major focal point for bringing together government officials, business leaders, startup innovators, celebrities and key influencers in one place.

About Haiti Tech Summit: Haiti Tech Summit brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, digital marketers and creatives under one roof together to address humanity’s greatest challenges via entrepreneurship. It is a part of a 13-year initiative of GSE, which aims to bring centralize top local and global influencers in Haiti on an annual basis to accelerate industry development and ecosystem scaling in Haiti.Tickets to attend the summit, which takes place June 21-23 at the Royal Decameron, are available at www.Haititechsummit.com.

Haiti Tech Summit is pleased to announce that the 3rd Annual Summit will be in partnership with Forbes8 and the US Embassy of Haiti. The agenda will be the first crowdsourced agenda – Roadmap to 2030– bringing decision makers together to transform Haiti’s 10 major industry sectors via technology. Over 100 global speakers will convene to launch partnerships to accelerate: Tourism, Education, Agriculture, Finance, Media, Energy, Health, Fashion, Real Estate, and Music.  RSVP to join us on June 20-22, 2019.

Haiti Tech Summit will offer the largest series of training workshops on personal branding, business financing, and digital marketing in Haiti’s history. Workshop sessions will cover 3 tracks:

• Individual track- Learn how to build and monetize your personal brand in the digital age.
• Business track- Learn how to build startups that leverage future technologies or learn how to optimize your current business with the best digital tools available today.
• Ecosystem track- Learn how to start and scale a movement. From training on how to launch an incubator to how to launch tech events- we reveal the top strategies influencers can leverage to scale Haiti’s tech ecosystem.

AGENDA DETAIL: 

DAY 1 FRIDAY

Haiti at 215 years: Resilience of a People & Foundations of a Future Tech Hub

• Moderator Cassandre Charles VP Essence Magazine
• Speaker Hajj Fleming CEO/Founder Rebrand Cities
• Speaker Gianluca Galletto Partner Global Futures Group
• Speaker Alice Bonhomme-Biais Disaster Relief Former Google Employee

KEYNOTE Carlos Sanvee   Secretary General YMCA – Geneva

Haiti in Year 2234- The Pearl of the Caribbean Rises from the Ashes

• Moderator Vania Andre Editor in chief Haitian Times
• Speaker Patrick Attie Founder School/ ESIH
• Speaker Rock Andre President Cedel Haiti
• Speaker Max Larson Henry President Ahtic

KEYNOTE  Skyler Badenoch CEO Hope for Haiti Presentation

From Mother Earth to the Motherboard- A Women’s Role in building tech ecosystems of the future

• Moderator Christine S. Ntim Founder Haiti Tech Summit
• Speaker TBA TBA TBA
• Speaker Maryse Kennett- Pedar Founder at Prodev Education
• Speaker Dieudonne Luma Etienne Senator Senator

Headline Keynote TBA TBA TBA TBA

The Influence of Diaspora

• Moderator Sandy Laborde TV Host IMAJ TV
• Speaker Johanna Leblanc US Embassy of Haiti
• Speaker Christine Coupet Founder & CEO of Dagmar Marketing Agency
• Speaker Bie Aweh Co-Founder HBCUtoStartup

Haiti Industry Influencers

• Moderator Sandra Florvella Founder Haitian-Businesses.com
• Speaker Joel Widmaier Owner Fondation Haiti Jazz
• Speaker Magalie Dresse Founder Caribbean Craft
• Speaker Stephane Elias Founder E-novative health
• Speaker F. Carl Braun Chairman and CEO Unibank

KEYNOTE Reynold Hyppolite Youth program manager CRS

Future of Government (Policy) Keynote Features

• Speaker Guy Francois Minister of Haitians Living Abroad Ministry of Citizenship
• Speaker TBA Ministry of Finance
• Speaker TBA Ministry of Tourism
• Speaker Bocchit Edmond Minister Ministry of Foreign Affairs

KEYNOTE Jon Piechowski Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

Haiti’s #ChangeTheNarrative Movement: Media Influencers Provide The Hope & Reality (Creole)

• Moderator Johnson Napolean Media Influencer
• Speaker Carel Padre Media Influencer Chokarella
• Speaker Wendell Media Influencer Metropole
• Speaker Frantz Duval Media Influencer Ticket Magazine/Le Nouveliste
• Speaker Liliane Pierre Paul Media Influencer Kiskeya
• Speaker Patrick Moussignac Media Influencer Radio tele Caraibes

DAY 1 Side stage

• STARTUP LAB
• RYAN PITCH WORKSHOP

DAY 2 SATURDAY

Future of Health Innovation- Sponsored by the United Nations Foundation

• Moderator     Rose Desauguste Director Haiti Tech Health
• Speaker        Paul Auxilla Senior consultant        United Nations Foundation
• Speaker        Dave Fils-Aime       Haiti Project manager Clean cookstoves
• Speaker        Sabine Bernard, MPH        Senior Associate, Malaria      United Nations Foundation

KEYNOTE: Ty Heath Global Lead for Agency and Partner Education Linkedin

Possibilities: How do You Accelerate a Startup Ecosystem- Marketing & Communications

• Moderator        Philip Delvecchio        Head of Ambassador Program        Global Startup Ecosystem
• Speaker        Hollie Haggans       Global Partnerships Digital Ocean
• Speaker        Brandon Greer      Hubspot Ventures Lead        Hubspot

KEYNOTE:  Daraiha Greene, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships, Community Inclusion  Google

Forbes 30 Under 30 Panel

• Moderator        Christine Ntim  Founder- Haiti Tech Summit  Forbes 30 Under 30
• Speaker        Alexandria Co-Founder        New Story
• Speaker        Greg Constantine        Founder and CEO Air Co.
• Speaker        Janna Landon HBCU Outreach Specialist at Google, Inc

Headline Keynote Speaker        Tom Davis Chief Marketing Officer        Forbes

Possibilities: Accelerate a Startup Ecosystems- Insights from Accelerators and Incubators

• Moderator        Marc Alain Founder Banj
• Speaker        Cody Simms   Partner Tech Stars
• Speaker        Clifford Regional        Lead Alpha Haiti
• Speaker   Milan Koch Partner Alpha Block Investments        Blockchain
• Speaker        Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan        Executive Director Venture Cafe

KEYNOTE: Inspiration  Ryan Foland Founder Influencer Tree

US Embassy Pitch Competition

• Pitch Off Moderator Jeanne- Clarke Public Affairs Officer US Embassy of Port au Prince
• Pitchers Top Entrepreneurs Sponsored US Embassy of Port au Prince

KEYNOTE: US Ambassador Speaker Michelle Sisson   US Ambassador US Embassy of Port au Prince

Day 2 Side stage Workshops

• Dell
• Linkedin
• Hubspot
• Github

[June 10, 2019- Port au Prince, Haiti]  As we continue to provide exciting updates to the 3rd annual edition of Haiti Tech Summit, we are pleased to share an opportunity for 2019 guests.

Due to global news announcements regarding renewed confidence in Haiti with the decreased travel warning to the country- we received a surge in bookings and flight detail submissions. We are humbled by the continued support, trust and confidence that you have in our 13 year commitment and mission for the betterment of Haiti.

Thanks to this commitment, we have the capacity to provide helicopter transport directly from Port Au Prince airport to Decameron Beach Resort to expedite arrival experience. We have completed helicopter transport for headline speakers and their guests every year and are pleased to leverage this annual partnership provided to us for more guests this year. With the high number of arrivals- we have this partnership offer to make sure arrival and departure day runs efficiently and smoothly for you.

Please note, that we are still providing our enhanced group shuttle transportation with security escort service to divert and speed through traffic on June 20th for arrival day and on June 23rd for departure day.

This year’s helicopter transport will be offered to Haiti Tech Summit hotel package guests which includes Speakers, VIPs, Sponsors, Exhibitors, Sponsored entrepreneurs of the US Embassy, Gold and Bronze package participants. These ticket holders will receive information on the airport lobby pick up, boarding, luggage detail and security procedure for helicopter transport this week. Standard day pass ticket holders are welcome to use shuttle transport or upgrade their ticket by emailing the team at info@haititechsummit.com. All others who prefer ground transport- may board at the airport entrance where you will be greeted by 30+  Haiti Tech Summit Ambassadors.

Attached is our info pack which outlines the entire experience of security, transport and experience.

Thank you for your continued confidence and support.

We are committed to this 13 year initiative to Haiti and hope you can join us to experience it for yourself.

Attached is our info pack which outlines the entire experience of security, transport and experience.  HTS FAQ 2019. RSVP to join us on June 20-22, 2019.

About Haiti Tech Summit:Haiti Tech Summit brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, celebrities and creatives under one roof together to address humanity’s greatest challenges via tech and entrepreneurship. It is a part of a 13-year initiative to turn Haiti into an international tech hub by 2030. www.Haititechsummit.com

info@haititechsummit.com

[June 10, 2019- Port au Prince, Haiti]  We thank all the partners, sponsors, speakers and ticket holders who have overwhelmed us with emails, calls, and messages today to notify us of their commitment to participate in Haiti Tech Summit 2019. It is an honor to have their trust and support.  We now turn to the Haiti Tech Community with an important Public Service Announcement.

We are here to humbly re-affirm our 13 year commitment to Haiti. 

We are aware of the protests that took place on Sunday June 9th- across different parts of the country. Similar protests have also occurred this very weekend in Venezuela, Hong Kong and other countries.  We respect the mission of the people to make their voices heard and commend their efforts to galvanize together for Haiti’s future with their democratic right to protest.

Thus, we will now clearly state the mission and capacity of Haiti Tech Summit during this important turning point in Haiti’s history. This message is meant to be made as a point of transparency not a point of concern to all of the stakeholders who love, respect and believe in our mission.

1. We have International Security Protocols. We have a different logistical support network for Haiti Tech Summit because we are the largest tech conference not only in Haiti but the entire Caribbean. Thus we have both public and private security for transport, pick up, onsite management, and airport drop-off for both local and international participants. You will not be alone at any point of the experience. We usually have 140+ group pick ups every hour at the airport; starting at 7am until late night on arrival day June 20th. As a reminder- each transport is led and followed by armed police and security to divert and speed through traffic.
2. We have International Sponsored Participants.  There has been several mentions regarding the US State Department’s travel warning. We have the highest amount of international participants flying in from 80+ countries.  Furthermore, the US Embassy of Port Au Prince is a Platinum Partner of the summit annually and this year sponsored flights, hotels, and summit tickets for 30 entrepreneurs from across the Caribbean. There are 8 other partner organizations who have sponsored entrepreneurs in a similar capacity.
3. We have Consistency and Credibility. Due to our credibility in hosting the biggest events in Haiti for the past 3 Years , we have back-up protocols for security which includes helicopter transportation that we have used for celebrity arrivals- like Jack Dorsey (Founder of Twitter), Ben Horowitz (Billionaire Investor) etc. We have this readily available for all participants this year when necessary. Please note that protests happen often in Haiti as they do other parts of the world and do not target internationals.

We’ve had these security measures every year as our 1500+ alumni, can testify to as featured in their testimonials and reviews. Due to the increased participation for this 3rd annual summit we’ve increased our security protocol for the management of 1000 participants throughout the entire experience. RSVPs will close this Friday.

May 15, 2019 [Port au Prince, Haiti]  Haiti Tech Summit is pleased to announce that the 3rd Annual Summit will be in partnership with Forbes8 and the US Embassy of Haiti. The agenda will be the first crowdsourced agenda – Roadmap to 2030– bringing decision makers together to transform Haiti’s 10 major industry sectors via technology. Discussions and outcomes of round table meetings will be officially published to Haiti Tech Summit’s global media partners of over 46 magazines, newspapers and social networks. Over 100 global speakers will convene to launch partnerships to accelerate: Tourism, Education, Agriculture, Finance, Media, Energy, Health, Fashion, Real Estate, and Music.  RSVP to join us on June 20-22, 2019.

Deemed the “Davos of the Caribbean” Haiti Tech Summit brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, pioneers, and creatives under one roof to address humanity’s greatest challenges via technology. With previous headliners such as Jack Dorsey (Founder of Twitter), Ben Horowitz (Investor Twitter, Facebook), Tim Draper (Investor in Skype, Hotmail etc), the President of Haiti Jovenel Moise, Vicky Jeudy from Netflix Orange is the New Black,  and VP+CEOs from Google, Facebook, Airbnb, Uber and more- the summit will return with 3 major developments for 2019:

1. Haiti Tech Summit will partner with Forbes Magazine to live stream the event and feature stories of speakers and attendees on their website and community app.
2. Haiti Tech Summit will feature major experts and speakers to train, discuss and partner with local stakeholders on projects covering 10+ major industry sectors: Tourism, Education, Agriculture, Finance, Media, Energy, Health, Fashion, Real Estate, and Music.  Round table meetings will be facilitated with stand by moderators to issue policy reports post the summit. The goal is to position Haiti to leverage the 4th Industrial Revolution and accelerate Haiti into the Digital Age. Thus partnerships with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals will be in effect.
3. Haiti Tech Summit will offer the largest series of training workshops on personal branding, business financing, and digital marketing in Haiti’s history. Workshop sessions will cover 3 tracks:
   • Individual track- Learn how to build and monetize your personal brand in the digital age.
   • Business track- Learn how to build startups that leverage future technologies or learn how to optimize your current business with the best digital tools available today.
   • Ecosystem track- Learn how to start and scale a movement. From training on how to launch an incubator to how to launch tech events- we reveal the top strategies influencers can leverage to scale Haiti’s tech ecosystem.

In addition to galvanizing stakeholders at the largest summit in the country, Haiti Tech Summit has grown its ambassador network to facilitate travelers coming to Haiti despite the annual travel warning placed on the country. With sponsorships from the US Embassy flying in 25 entrepreneurs from across the Caribbean, to features with airline partners to support the 1000 participants flying into Haiti for the event- Haiti Tech Summit aims to break its previous record of 123 million social media views to #ChangetheNarrative about #Haiti to revitalize the tourism sector.  RSVP to join us on June 20-22, 2019.

About Haiti Tech Summit: Founded by Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur, Christine Souffrant Ntim, Haiti Tech Summit brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, celebrities and creatives under one roof together to address humanity’s greatest challenges via tech and entrepreneurship. It is a part of a 13-year initiative to turn Haiti into an international tech hub by 2030. Deemed the “Davos of the Caribbean”, Haiti Tech Summit has welcomed keynote speakers such as Jack Dorsey-founder of Twitter, President of Haiti- Jovenel Moise, Ben Horowitz- Investor in Facebook, etc.