What does the Tech Startup Scene Look Like in Jamaica

Well, let’s establish that first. We have one. It’s not Silicon Valley, no, but, as they say, all great things have small beginnings (or something to that effect). So, what does ours currently look like as of 2025? 

Well…not…bad, actually. For an island nation with roughly only 3 million people, let’s be fair, we are doing well. As a matter of fact, in an article from the BairesDev blog, titled “Jamaica Valley: The New Tech Hub of the Caribbean”, they claim that Jamaica is the top tech hub in the Caribbean, and has “jumped two spots, outperforming Morocco, a country of 37 million inhabitants.”

That’s not nothing. That is something to celebrate as a Jamaican, or for anyone pulling for Jamaica.

Okay, so we’re doing stuff. Great. What are we doing, and how well is it going? Let’s look at a few things.

What are our assets in this domain?

Here are a few things that give us a “not insignificant” boost to participate in the tech space. 

A relatively young and tech-savvy population
The median age in Jamaica is 32. That means that a significant portion of the population is young enough to participate in the industry, as consumers and producers, but particularly producers, which is where this discussion is concerned. 

High Internet and Smartphone Penetration
Despite most of the structural and technical issues Jamaicans face, connection to the internet and cellphone service are (relatively) strong and (usually) stable. Yes, dead spots abound, but Jamaica ranks well among Caribbean nations where this facility is concerned.

Supportive Diaspora
While the exact number of Jamaicans living abroad is a bit, shall we say, slippery, the estimate is around 2 million. That’s ⅔ of the population of Jamaica currently (again, estimated). These Jamaicans live all over the world but maintain ties with their home. This connection is maintained through travel, communication. and material support (remittances, gifts, direct transfers, perhaps even crypto).

Government Support
The Government of Jamaica is actively supporting new local ventures in the tech space with organisations like JAMPRO, a local government agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, and initiatives like Startup Jamaica, although, ironically, at the time of writing this article, their website is down. Meh. Ish happens. Moving on.

Cultural Creativity
Jamaica has many stars. Only a relative few are famous, but we have many not-so-famous ones. It is not uncommon to see someone walking down the street and singing, well and loudly. Sometimes it may even be a song that they wrote. That creative spirit is ubiquitous in Jamaica, and not just among the singers, deejays, and musicians. It’s across the board. This comes in handy where technical innovation is concerned. 

So, who’s out there and what are they making?

Here are a few startups that have made a bit of a dent in the world.

EduFocal
They built an online platform that gamifies education for CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) and PEP.(Primary Exit Profile) exams. 

Bluedot
They are a data analytics and research firm using AI and behavioural science to provide insights to businesses across the Caribbean.

Lynk
They produced a digital wallet and e-payments platform with NCB, the largest locally-owned bank in the country. Their wallet and platform facilitate peer-to-peer transfers, bill payments, and merchant transactions.

BookFusion
They developed a digital reading platform with global reach and are aiming to become the “Spotify for books.”

QuickCart
This logistics and delivery company connects restaurants, retailers, and customers across the island.

Now, these are only a small handful of the tech startups currently registered in Jamaica and working on the next top app/service. Many are still working on their MVPs (Minimal Viable Product), others are still in the early seed-funding stages, but there are others I have not listed that are also doing great work.

Opportunities on the Horizon

So far, things look good for the tech startup industry in Jamaica. The development pathways are laying themselves out and opportunities are presenting themselves.. Here’s a look at where we could go.

FinTech
The FinTech industry is the domain of digital banking, remittance services, and crypto tools for underserved communities. While the sector has been booming for some time, we haven’t missed the wave yet, especially where DeFi (Decentralised Finance) is concerned. Opportunities still abound.

AgriTech
There is a need for tools to modernise farming and food supply chains.

EdTech
Distance learning and upskilling platforms have become much more popular modes of learning, especially since the pandemic. This technology may hold particular promise for rural areas.

CreativeTech
Jamaica is a global cultural powerhouse. We punch WAAAAY above our weight class from a global-cultural perspective, relative to the size of our population and land mass. For an island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, we are popular. And Liked! (And yes, disliked in some aspects, but nobody’s perfect.) Between our music, our history, and our athletes, we have an outsized effect on world culture. It’s only natural that we have platforms that blend Jamaica’s global cultural output with technology.

So, how can I get A piece of the action?

If you’re interested in launching or investing in Jamaican startups, here are a few links you can check out:

• StartupBlink – Jamaica Ecosystem Overview
• Founder Institute – Jamaica Startup Resources
• OpenVC – Investors in Jamaica
• JAMPRO’s Accelerator Initiatives

What’s next?

Jamaica’s startup scene might still be in its early stages, but the energy, talent, and ideas are already here. As long as we continue to nurture and support it, the industry could provide

• foreign exchange revenue,
• Increased regional soft power, 
• greater opportunities for average Jamaicans, directly and indirectly, 
• and an improvement in overall living standards.

We are in a very dynamic world right now. Things are mixing up. Status quos are shifting. This is a time for caution AND taking initiative, so if we play it smart (not safe), we can participate in and reap the benefits of one of the greatest wealth-generating industries in history.