THREE technology start-ups have completed the first phase of a new incubation programme backed by the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) and the Amber Group, as both partners position entrepreneurship and applied technology as part of Jamaica’s post-hurricane recovery and longer-term growth strategy.

The companies — Amber Pegway, JELPO and Senior Partners — wrapped up Phase One of the Amber UTech Launchpad programme last week, following six months of intensive development, funding support, and market testing. The programme is designed to help start-ups move from concept to market without the delays and dilution that often come with multiple funding rounds.

Launched in March 2024, the initiative provides end-to-end backing, including product development funding, office space, business coaching and marketing support. It drew hundreds of applications nationally, from which 20 teams were shortlisted for a pitch boot camp. Six finalists advanced to the investment stage, with three ultimately selected for full onboarding into the launchpad in April 2025.

The three graduating start-ups reflect a focus on practical, service-oriented solutions. Amber Pegway connects users with verified tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers and builders; JELPO uses technology to deliver eco-friendly cleaning services; while Senior Partners is an AI-enabled legal access platform designed to streamline work for Jamaican attorneys.

UTech President Kevin Brown said the partnership reflects a deliberate push to link academic capacity with commercial execution, arguing that technology-driven entrepreneurship has become central to economic resilience. He noted that the programme prioritises ventures that treat technology not just as a revenue tool, but as a way to solve real-world problems — an emphasis that has gained urgency following the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa.

From Amber Group’s perspective, the programme is also a response to persistent talent leakage. Floyd Garrett, head of execution and strategy, said the company is focused on creating pathways that allow skilled Jamaicans to build sustainable businesses locally, rather than seeking opportunity abroad. The goal, he said, is to support ventures that can scale while helping participants, “digitally navigate society”, and create long-term value at home.

The training phase was led by Prince Graham-Haynes, business development consultant and former head of UTech’s Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship. Participants worked through business model refinement, product prototyping, financial modelling, legal compliance, and investor-ready pitching — supported by mentors from both the university’s Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) and Amber Group.

Also addressing the ceremony, Gregory Moore, chief executive of PlayJamaica and a TIC-incubated entrepreneur, urged founders to stay anchored on value creation rather than novelty. Drawing on his own experience building a gaming company throughout the COVID-19 disruption, Moore said crises often force businesses to sharpen their models and innovate faster — an approach he believes is critical as Jamaica rebuilds after Melissa.

With phase one complete, attention now turns to how quickly the start-ups can commercialise and scale, outcomes both UTech and Amber Group see as tests of whether locally backed incubators can meaningfully accelerate Jamaica’s technology ecosystem.