JMMB Group Celebrates Regional Entrepreneurial Excellence at SME Accelerator Graduation

The JMMB Group, through its Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Resource Centre (SMERC), proudly celebrated the graduation of 18 entrepreneurs from the second cohort of its SME Accelerator Programme, at a graduation/closing ceremony held recently. The event also marked the announcement of the winner of the Programme’s highly anticipated Pitch Competition — Kemby Ross-Jones, CEO and Founder of Rentmytutor.com, a Trinidad and Tobago-based online education platform.

 

(L-R) Adrian Gregoire, Branch Operations Manager, JMMB Bank (Trinidad and Tobago), presents Kemby Ross-Jones, CEO and Founder of Rentmytutor.com, with her certificate after completing Cohort 2 of the SME Accelerator Programme and receiving the first-place prize of J$500,000 for the Pitch Competition. The presentation was held at the recently opened JMMB Bank branch in Tobago.

 

The regional Programme, which welcomed 22 SMEs from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in June 2024, is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the tools, training, and support needed to scale their businesses. The graduation ceremony was a culmination of a year of intensive coaching, workshops, and strategic business development activities.

Kemby Ross-Jones emerged as the top performer in the Pitch Competition, a key feature of the Programme, which allows participants to present their business growth plans to a panel of expert judges. Her win is especially significant as it highlights the regional impact of the Programme and the strength of entrepreneurship in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are incredibly proud of all our graduates, and especially thrilled to see a Trinbagonian entrepreneur take the top spot in this year’s Pitch Competition,” shared Shani Duncan-Falconer, Senior Corporate Manager, JMMB Group SME Resource Centre. “This Programme is about more than just business growth — it’s about transformation. We’ve seen our ‘Acceleratees’ grow in confidence, sharpen their strategies, and build stronger, more resilient businesses. At JMMB, we remain committed to walking alongside our SMEs with love, partnership, and purpose.”

The Pitch Competition, supported by the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, awarded a total of JMD $1 million in investment funding to the top three entrepreneurs. These funds are intended to support business expansion initiatives such as acquiring equipment, software, inventory, or professional services.

Throughout the yearlong Programme, participants engaged in one-on-one coaching, CEO roundtables, and workshops covering key areas such as financial management, marketing, operations, and governance. Each business also underwent a Growth Wheel assessment to identify strengths and areas for improvement, enabling the creation of tailored growth roadmaps.

The JMMB SME Accelerator Programme is delivered in partnership with the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) and Sister’s Ink, and reflects JMMB Group’s broader mission to support entrepreneurship and economic development across the Caribbean.

As the Programme continues to grow, JMMB Group reaffirms its commitment to nurturing the SME sector through innovative financial solutions, strategic partnerships, and a supportive ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs to thrive.