A Jamaican Serial Entrepreneur & Investor's Perspective on Building the Caribbean Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Alongside applicable lessons for Bangladeshi ecosystem-builders
Javette Nixon is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and investor. In addition to being the founder of Seaforth Holdings Limited, a boutique investment and holding firm specializing in impact investing and the nurturing of emerging businesses and social enterprises, Javette has three other companies under his business portfolio which include Point Global Marketing Limited, Esther Ventures Limited, and Esther Finance Limited. Moreover, he serves as a director at Vein Centers of Jamaica Ltd and the Social & Economic Alliance for Development.
With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in diverse industries across the United States and Jamaica, Javette demonstrates a fervent commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy, coupled with expertise in areas such as web development and design, economics, commerce, media, e-commerce, banking, and Internet marketing.
In this session, Javette shared:
His background and the path that led him to become a serial entrepreneur, investor, and speaker, alongside insights into his experiences in the United States and Jamaica
His vision and strategies regarding Seaforth Holdings Limited's focus on impact investing and nurturing emerging businesses and social enterprises
The companies in his diverse portfolio
His multifaceted interests and expertise
🎙️ Listen to the episode on Spotify
If you only have a few minutes to spare, here's a summary of our key takeaways and highlights:
I grew up in a rural area just outside of Kingston, Jamaica, called Seaforth, which is why I named my investment firm after it. Entrepreneurship was a concept that never existed during my childhood; people around me were either farmers, teachers, policemen, or lawyers. As a kid, I spent my days catching fish, swimming in rivers, and staying close to my family. During my time in high school, I considered becoming a lawyer. I ended up pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science, but eventually, I chose not to follow that path. At the age of 17, I landed a junior internship at an investment bank while being a full-time university student. My experience on the trading floor sparked my interest in the business world.
I returned to Jamaica because I felt an obligation to contribute to the community and the development of the next generation of leaders in the country. My marketing firm, Point Global, which I founded 14 years ago, was guided by the principle of making a global impact from my home country.
During my fellowship at the Young Leader of the Americas program, I had the opportunity to meet Brian Poell from Match Fire. I collaborated with him on two projects for American Airlines and Adobe, and I ended up developing a close friendship with him. Some years later, Brian introduced the idea of Purpose Works—a global collective of purpose-driven agencies aiming to create a positive impact in the world. I decided to join him in this endeavor as I was intrigued by the concept.
For our investment strategy, we decided to emphasize on startups that leveraged innovative technologies and had clear business models. However, we recognized that some startups in the Caribbean region not only required funding but also guidance. Due to our small fund size of $150,000, limiting us from high-capital investments, we opted for a distinctive method. Our funding for a company consisted of 50% cash, and the remaining 50% was allocated towards technical services. These services ranged from training, network access, marketing, accounting, and management advisory services aimed at supporting the business.
Over the past 10 years, we have supported hundreds of businesses annually through direct funding and training programs, and invest in 2 to 3 startups annually in the Caribbeans. Some of our companies include Moon Based Organics, a small-scale bee farming venture that promotes proper eating habits, and also a cosmetic company, which was later sold. Also, after COVID hit, where I had lost 50% of my customers, I decided to work on Esther Finance, which revolves around a peer-to-peer lending model. At Esther, the gap between those needing capital and those willing to lend is bridged, which helps to create a community-driven financial ecosystem. However, later on, we partnered with LASCO Financial Services to create a platform focusing on community-centric financial services, including remittances. We aim to invest in other regions which follow a similar remittance dynamic as Jamaica.
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