REV Up Caribbean has officially launched REV Up Community, a digital ecosystem designed to help entrepreneurs across the region connect with investors, mentors, and peers while gaining access to global resources. The launch comes as a move to scale support that was previously offered individually by industry leaders.

“Over these many years, yours truly has been coaching businesses to pitch. How many of you have sat in my office and received pitch coaching?” Sandra Glasgow, managing director of FirstAngels Caribbean, asked audience members. “Did you ever consider the value of that?”

The platform expands on REV Up’s existing accelerator programme, offering continued support to entrepreneurs beyond traditional training cycles. It was developed in response to challenges faced across previous cohorts, particularly the need for a more structured, centralised space for sharing information and resources that moves away from WhatsApp-based interactions. Through the platform, members can easily access resources, register for international events, and participate in collaborative learning and financing opportunities designed to create scalable impact across the region. Integrated into the community are several online courses, including Going Digital with AI, a programme that gives entrepreneurs access to AI-powered tools to help them operate more efficiently. Members can audit courses directly within the platform and gain 24/7 access to a private, vetted network of peers, mentors, and collaborators. The digital hub also features resources such as customisable HR manuals, business plans and pitch templates, and exclusive invitations to community meet-ups. Additionally, REV Up has partnered with international organisations, including innovation labs in Portugal, to launch a no-code training programme that teaches entrepreneurs to build apps and websites, using AI, in just four sessions.

“We are making connections all over the globe to bring you cutting edge information and how you can grow and scale your business, and so you will get invitations to these buyable sessions,” Glasgow noted.

To cater to entrepreneurs at different stages the REV Up Community offers a four-tiered membership structure: a free tier providing core features, followed by Start-up, Scale, and Rev Up Elite subscriptions, each offering progressively more resources and support. The Start-up tier, priced at US$190 per month, targets businesses looking to grow and includes five hours of professional pitch coaching and a guaranteed slot to present to First Angels Caribbean investors — a service valued at US$550 outside the community. The Scale tier, at US$380 per month, adds more governance hours and mentorship; while Rev Up Elite, at US$445 per month, is aimed at investment-ready companies, offering 10 hours of governance support and priority access to speaking opportunities. Members can also save with annual subscriptions.

The initiative has also received backing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), which approved a technical assistance grant to support the sixth cohort of the REV Up programme, helping founders become investment-ready and better positioned to attract investors. Access to finance remains one of the greatest barriers for Caribbean entrepreneurs, and traditional banking models often struggle to evaluate early stage ventures; risk capital is scarce; and ecosystems that connect entrepreneurs to investors, mentors, and markets are still developing. Recognising these challenges, the CDB is using development finance to de-risk investments, attract private capital, and build practical systems that support entrepreneurs at all stages of business growth.

“We’re exploring financial instruments that match the diverse needs of enterprises across their life cycle,” revealed Lisa Harding, division chief of the private sector division at the CDB. “From seed capital and early stage grants to patient equity and mezzanine financing, our goal is to ensure entrepreneurs secure the right support at the right time, reducing the risk of premature failure and enhancing long-term growth potential.”

Through recent initiatives such as trade finance guarantees and blended financing vehicles the bank aims to give investors confidence in backing high-potential firms, particularly in priority sectors such as renewable energy, digital transformation, the blue and orange economies, and women-led enterprises. In 2024 the bank’s private sector division pre-approved US$50 million to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in areas such as infrastructure and energy transition. Beyond financing, the CDB is supporting practical infrastructure to strengthen the Caribbean’s start-up ecosystem. This includes enabling faster, cheaper, and more reliable transactions through systems like the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s national currency transfer system which allows real-time transfers across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, reducing transaction costs and accelerating payments for MSMEs. Similarly, Barbados plans to launch an instant payment system in early 2026 that will allow individuals, businesses, and government entities to send and receive payments within 10 seconds, 24/7, year-round, even without a bank account.

“While these systems do not provide funding directly, they are critical enablers for entrepreneurship. Faster, cheaper, and more reliable transactions strengthen the ecosystem, allowing enterprises to scale efficiently, manage cash flow, and access regional markets,” Harding shared.

GLASGOW…we are making connections all over the globe to bring you cutting edge information and how you can grow and scale your business, and so you will get invitations to these buyable sessions.

The REV Up Community landing page showcases its four membership tiers, offering entrepreneurs access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities across the Caribbean.