--- title: "The role of storytelling in propelling Jamaican entrepreneurs and their businesses" url: https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/role-storytelling-propelling-jamaican-entrepreneurs-and-their-businesses/ --- 1. [HOME](/) 2. [RESOURCES](/content-hub/) 3. [SEEDSTARS LIFE](/content-hub/life/) 4. THE ROLE OF STORYTELLING IN PROPELLING JAMAICAN ENTREPRENEURS AND THEIR BUSINESSES ![The role of storytelling in propelling Jamaican entrepreneurs and their businesses](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/The_Role_of_Storytelling_in_Prope.2c3fb247..max-1500x500.jpg) LATIN AMERICA • ENTERPRISE ## The role of storytelling in propelling Jamaican entrepreneurs and their businesses Melissa Von Frankenberg JAN. 18, 2018 _Many thanks to our collaborator_ [_Melissa von Frankenberg_](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melvonfrankenberg/) _in Jamaica for providing her expertise on storytelling._ The introverted tech entrepreneur standing against the wall is eyeing a bigwig telecommunications executive from across the room. He’s been trying to get his attention for months, and this may be his only chance to make an impression. With sweaty palms and an uncertain swagger, [Dwayne Samuels](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwaynemsamuels/) begins to mix and mingle. He may not be feeling totally at ease in the crowded room, but he’s confident about the business networking app he and his partner have created and he’s convinced it will improve lives and businesses. Dwayne had told people about this technology before and once participated in a pitch competition, but it was always tech-speak and data talk. Now, he was learning how to do things differently. He understood that to grab someone’s attention, he would have to tell a story – a story that would make people, even non-technical ones, want to hear more. That was three years ago. Since then, he’s been living between Silicon Valley and Jamaica – perfecting his business and telling his story. Most recently, Dwayne pitched his company at the Jamaican Tech Startup Competition where [Seedstars World](https://www.seedstarsworld.com/?__hstc=242025565.c9a372498fb707241a59bbc2e7a08046.1603964344551.1604565501299.1604574317121.13&__hssc=242025565.25.1604574317121&__hsfp=3043511956) collaborated with local partners to select the most innovative startup in Jamaica. His customer experience management platform, [Samelogic](https://www.samelogic.com/), won first place. ![meeting](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/meeting_2.width-800.width-800.jpg) Nowadays, entrepreneurs need to present a strong business case with solid data and statistics, but also know how to tell a good story. At Stanford Universty, they found that statistics combined with stories have a retention rate of 65–70%. Dwayne’s pitch is a great example of combining due diligence and storytelling. He shares important data and tech information, while still remaining human. Dwayne and other entrepreneurs in Jamaica are tuning in to the importance of storytelling as a tool in growing their businesses. **In the Caribbean, an entrepreneur’s track record, or proof of ability, is a key aspect of their value proposition.** They stand a greater chance of attracting capital when they can strike an emotional chord and demonstrate their credibility. By nailing the art of storytelling, they can convince influencers and investors to come on board, and in the end, raise more money for their businesses. [Lisandra Rickards](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisandrarickards/) was one of the competition’s judges and is also the CEO of the [Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean](http://bransoncentre.co/caribbean/), an accelerator based in Kingston. She and her team have seen first hand how an entrepreneur with a strong personal and business story can move their idea or operations to the next level. “The only way to get investment in the Caribbean is to tell a good story. Investors need to understand the vision behind the product.” ![speaker](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/MOMEC_Event.width-800.width-800.jpg) As a [Branson Centre Legacy Entrepreneur](http://bransoncentre.co/caribbean/), Dwayne participated in the accelerator’s business development training programme, including its high-impact pitch practice. There he learned that ‘making a pitch’ is essentially persuading someone to invest or partner in his business. It means grabbing their attention quickly and clearly demonstrating value. This involves highlighting a problem, or gap in the market, and showing how he is solving it for the customer. To effectively present his strong due diligence, market data and strategic foresight, he has learned to tell it like a story. “In the past, my pitch was techy and monotone. Branson opened up my mind on how to communicate the business and technology as something that would fit into people’s daily lives.” The Branson Centre itself uses storytelling to engage existing and potential donors. Fundraising is key to sustaining their operations so that they can continue to support entrepreneurs who are ready to scale up. They often have to take their own advice. When coaching entrepreneurs in how to give an effective pitch, Lisandra says the story structure matters. “You have to capture attention early and simplify your idea. Don’t leave the good stuff for last.” **Storytelling is also playing an important role in developing the entrepreneurial eco-system in Jamaica.** Accelerators, business development organizations and influencers are providing opportunities and funds to Jamaican entrepreneurs who know how to sway an audience, and more and more they are using real stories of entrepreneurs to convey ideas and successes. The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) supports events and panel discussions where start-ups and business enablers have a voice. They also provide funding and capacity building opportunities to entrepreneurs and business support institutions, and then use video and social media to highlight their success stories. Influencers — people who leverage their network, digital identity or expertise to propel businesses forward — are key to bolstering the startup scene. Individuals with solid reputations, like Zachary Harding, CEO of Hyperion Equity Inc., and Sandra Glasgow, Founder and Managing Director of BizTactics Ltd., are making introductions and endorsing entrepreneurs with strong business models who can captivate others. Places like [The Hub Coworking](https://www.hubcoworkingja.com/) are nurturing entrepreneurial communities and events like Ingrid Riley’s, Kingston Beta, are giving them a platform to shine. ![work](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Work1.width-800.width-800.png) It’s not only about entrepreneurs promoting their businesses. When they share their stories, they’re carving out a place for themselves in a competitive market. They’re connecting with audiences, building trust and spurring action. Their insights and lessons learned to go a long way in strengthening the entrepreneurial community because they inspire and encourage other entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs in their own journeys. This post was kindly written by Melissa von Frankenberg: [ _Melissa von Frankenberg_](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melvonfrankenberg/) _is a brand guardian and strategic communications architect. She is the founder of_ [_MasterWork_](http://masterwork.co/) _, a boutique communications firm with a focus on brand building, storytelling, content development and communications management. Prior to launching MasterWork, Melissa spent almost five years at one of the Caribbean’s leading business accelerators where she drove communications activities for the organization and coached entrepreneurs in marketing and storytelling strategy. She has over 15 years experience in business and economic development and has been a writer and storyteller all her life._ ARTICLE SEEDSTARS WORLD 2019/20 LATIN AMERICA PERU ENTERPRISE EVENTS TECH ## More like this [ ![Applications for Online Startup Competition](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Seedstars_Brings_Its_Startup_Competition_Onl.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Seedstars Brings Its Startup Competition Online: 2020 Applications Are Open We are happy to announce that Seedstars World Competition 2020/21 will be held exclusively online and the call for startups is open until July 31st. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-brings-its-startup-competition-online-2020-applications-are-open/) [ ![Running Events In The Times Of Coronavirus](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Running_Events.max-320x550.jpg) GLOBAL • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER Online Is The New Black: Running Events In The Times Of Coronavirus Event organizers are no strangers to crisis management. 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Six years, five countries (we’ve got two winners from the Philippines!), six solutions in education, finance, recruitment and agriculture – we decided to check on each of the winners and see how they are doing today. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/life/seedstars-global-winners-2014-2020-how-are-they-doing-today/) [ ![Sumitt](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-7_Early-Stage_startups_from_MENA_Won_Their.max-320x550.png) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER 7 Early-Stage startups from MENA Won Their Tickets to the global Seedstars Summit 2020 The Seedstars World Competition 2019 in MENA has come to an end during the latest edition of Seedstars Summit MENA 2019 in Morocco that took place from December 10 to 12. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/7-early-stage-startups-mena-won-their-tickets-global-seedstars-summit-2020/) [ ![Seedstars Summit 2020 in Switzerland](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-9_Startups_that_Will_Represent_Latam_at_th.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • TECH 9 Startups that Will Represent Latam at the Seedstars Summit 2020 in Switzerland On November 29th, the 7th edition of the Seedstars World tour in Latin America wrapped up with the Seedstars Summit Latam in Medellin, Colombia. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/9-startups-will-represent-latam-seedstars-summit-2020-switzerland/) [ ![What We Discovered at the 4th Seedstars Summit Asia](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_93.max-320x550.png) ASIA • ENTERPRISE From Colombo to Cambodia: What We Discovered at the 4th Seedstars Summit Asia Over 3 eventful days, if you had walked into The Factory at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, you’d have found it to be buzzing with excitement. For it was here that the 4th Seedstars Asia Summit took place. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/colombo-cambodia-what-we-discovered-4th-seedstars-summit-asia/) [ ![Seedstars Summit CEE](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-From_Latvia_to_Mongolia_Seedstars_Summit_C.max-320x550.png) CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • INVESTMENT From Latvia to Mongolia: Seedstars Summit CEE United 25 Countries in the Region What did the Seedstars Summit CEE 2019 in Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan bring to the community this year? __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/latvia-mongolia-seedstars-summit-cee-united-25-countries-region/) [ ![Seedstars Summit Africa 2019](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Seedstars_Summit_Africa_2019_What_to_Expec.max-320x550.png) AFRICA • EDUCATION & CONSULTING Seedstars Summit Africa 2019: What to Expect and Who Is Coming? In 2018, the Seedstars World Competition got a winner from Ghana — Agrocenta, and recently, great startups such as Schoolap, Iyezahealth, Medsaf, MyFoodness, Benefactors Ltd, CowTribe, and many more have joined our network. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-africa-2019-what-expect-and-who-coming/) [ ![Seedstars Summit Asia](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Seedstars_Summit_Asia_2019_A_Closer_Look.max-320x550.png) ASIA • EDUCATION & CONSULTING Seedstars Summit Asia 2019: A Closer Look In 2019, the Seedstars Word Competition will wrap up with the regional Seedstars Summit Asia in Cambodia __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-asia-2019-closer-look/) [ ![Seedstars World Latam](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/latam_comeback.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER Seedstars World Is Coming Back to Latam for Its 7th Edition with 18 Cities on the Map The 7th edition of the Seedstars World Tour , the largest early-stage startup competition for emerging markets, will be launched on the 27th of June in Lima, Peru. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-world-coming-back-latam-its-7th-edition-18-cities-map/) [ ![Seedstars World finalists](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_85.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • TECH Meet our 2017 Seedstars World finalists A huge congratulations to all of our startups for their amazing pitches today! __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/meet-our-2017-seedstars-world-finalists/) [ ![Summit2019](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/summit_19.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER The Seedstars Summit 2019: What's On? To do so, for the 2019 edition of the Seedstars Summit, we’ve based the event on two pillars: Networking and Content. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-2019/) [ ![Seedstars Latam Summit](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Seedstars_Latam_Summit_2018_Sum_Up_of_What.max-320x550.png) LATIN AMERICA • INVESTMENT Seedstars Latam Summit 2018: Sum Up of What You've Missed 3 days, 350 attendees, 34 investors, 20 startups from 12countries; 200 1:1 meetings between investors and entrepreneurs; plus thousands of interactions and new connections! __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-latam-summit-2018-sum-what-youve-missed/) [ ![Seedstars MENA Summit](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_81.max-320x550.png) MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA • INVESTMENT Highlights of Seedstars MENA Summit 2018 3 days, 351 attendees, 45 investors, 119 startup founders, 21 countries represented, 303 one-on-one meetings, thousands of ground-breaking ideas — the Seedstars MENA Summit numbers are impressive, but it goes beyond the numbers. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/highlights-seedstars-mena-summit-2018/) [ ![Asian Early-Stage Startups](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Meet_the_13_Asian_Early-Stage_Startups_Joi.max-320x550.png) ASIA • EDUCATION & CONSULTING Meet the 13 Asian Early-Stage Startups Joining Seedstars Asia Summit 2018 In 2018, the Seedstars team traveled to 14 Asian countries including Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, and Vietnam to uncover Asia’s untapped potential and spot the brightest early-stage companies in the region. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/meet-13-asian-early-stage-startups-joining-seedstars-asia-summit-2018/) [ ![Startups from CEE and Central Asia](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Meet_the_Top_22_Startups_from_CEE_and_Cent.max-320x550.png) ASIA • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER Meet the Top 22 Startups from CEE and Central Asia The 2018 Seedstars tour across more than ten countries in the region has come to an end. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/meet-top-22-startups-cee-and-central-asia/) [ ![African Startups](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/africa_startups.max-320x550.png) AFRICA • TECHNOLOGY Discover the Most Promising African Startups in 2018 With the population of 1.2 B people, Africa is the second fastest-developing market in the world. The region growth rate is expected to increase from 3.6 percent in 2017 to 4.1 percent in 2018 and 2019. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/discover-most-promising-africa-startups-2018/) [ ![Seedstars Summit](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_91.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • OTHER Seedstars Summit Is Coming to Your Region! The events aim at bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, top corporates, government institutions, and media to promote entrepreneurship and technology in emerging markets. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-coming-your-region/) [ ![Seedstars Summit 2018](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/C-Seedstars_Summit_2018_what_youve_missed.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • EDUCATION & CONSULTING Seedstars Summit 2018: what you've missed The Seedstars Summit Pitch Corner brought together 24 entrepreneurs from 14 different countries spanning 5 continents to pitch their startups to a panel of international investors and executive summit attendees. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-2018-what-youve-missed/) [ ![Seedstars Summit 2018](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_89.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • INVESTMENT Seedstars Summit 2018: Investor Forum Recap The Investor Day is the only occasion for entrepreneurs to get connected with investors from their region and their industry and the one place to be for investors who are interested in impact investing. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-2018-investor-forum-recap/) [ ![Startup Bootcamp](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/startuos.max-320x550.png) GLOBAL • ECOSYSTEM ENABLER Seedstars Summit 2018: Inside Look At Startup Bootcamp Months of heavy work finally paid off this Monday for the Seedstars team as they officially kicked off the first phase of this year’s summit with the bootcamp sessions. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-summit-2018-inside-look-startup-bootcamp/) [ ![Entrepreneurship in Maputo](https://seedstars-com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Untitled_design_96.max-320x550.png) AFRICA • ENTERPRISE Seedstars Africa Summit 2017: a celebration of technology and entrepreneurship in Maputo, Mozambique The Africa Regional Summit lasted for 3 days and brought together over 500 attendees commencing with a bootcamp for the participating startups. __ ](https://www.seedstars.com/content-hub/newsroom/seedstars-africa-summit-2017-celebration-technology-and-entrepreneurship-maputo-mozambique/) --- ## Sitemap - [Sitemap](https://www.seedstars.com/sitemap.md): every public page on this site - [llms.txt](https://www.seedstars.com/llms.txt): what Seedstars does and where to start