(CNS): Aspiring entrepreneur Damoya Fearon won CI$2,500 in the Youth Pitch Competition at the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development’s (CICBD) 2026 Small Business Expo for her business idea to turn sargassum into fuel.
Fearon is a Year 13 student at Cayman Prep and the founder of SargaPower, a venture focused on converting sargassum from Cayman’s beaches and nearshore waters into biogas and fertiliser.
In a press release officials said she is hoping to contribute to making Cayman cleaner while transforming an environmental challenge into a useful resource. However, the release did not give any details about her idea or about SargaPower.
Geslie Range from the University College of the Cayman Islands placed second in the competition, receiving $1,500, while the team of Kylen McLean and Nyla Christian from John Gray High School secured third place and a prize of $1,000, the release said, without divulging anything at all about their entries. The top three winners will all receive business advisory support from CICBD.
Held under the theme “Island Innovation: Powered by Possibility”, the Expo provided a platform for 40 exhibitors and approximately 400 attendees to connect with resources, network, explore opportunities and showcase ideas with the potential to contribute to the Cayman Islands’ economic future.
Premier and Commerce Minister André Ebanks delivered the keynote address at the event, in which he stressed the realities of entrepreneurship and the importance of access to advice, capital and mentorship in helping business owners navigate challenges and succeed. He also encouraged investors to help build micro and small businesses.
“I don’t want you to underestimate how valuable you are to businesses and how you could change their lives,” he said. “Not just by funding them but by connecting with the owners on a visceral level to understand their goals and establish true partnerships that help them to grow their businesses.”
The Expo, now in its fourth year, aims to support micro and small businesses, and recognise their contribution to economic resilience, innovation and opportunities for Caymanians. Through its programmes and services, CICBD provides business counselling, coaching, training and other support to help entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey, the release said.