Successful Kick-Off for Entrepreneurship Center ‘The Next Step’
The Bonaire Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically launched the new program of the Entrepreneurship Center (CvO) – ‘The Next Step’ – last night. The kick-off event, held at Hotel Plaza Bonaire, attracted a full house of ambitious and (semi) experienced entrepreneurs from the island. The evening was entirely dedicated to growth, knowledge sharing, and inspiration.
Collaboration and Vision
The evening was opened by the Chamber’s Chairman, Jeaniro Balentien, and Director, Phar Martha, who emphasized the importance of the CvO program for the further economic development of Bonaire. This was followed by a video message from Hamza Kacha, Program Manager & Liaison for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, with whom the Bonaire Chamber of Commerce closely collaborates on the CvO program. He expressed his appreciation for the commitment of the entrepreneurs and emphasized the importance of collaboration to achieve sustainable economic growth on the island.
From Starters to Growth Entrepreneurs
Chamber Business Advisor Pierre Perigault Monte then presented the background and objectives of the program. He addressed the challenges that starting entrepreneurs on Bonaire face and the successes already achieved through the CvO program.
Next, Chamber Business Advisor Jían Magdalena introduced the new track ‘The Next Step’, shifting the focus from solely supporting starters to also supporting (semi) experienced entrepreneurs who are already active and want to grow in areas such as revenue, customer base, and staff. The program offers practical support through training, mentoring, and coaching. Through intake interviews and one-on-one guidance, a business analysis is conducted using analysis tools tailored to the Bonairean market. This results in customized growth objectives for each business, which are then developed according to the SMART methodology.
Inform, Inspire, and Motivate
The second part of the evening focused on knowledge and inspiration. Eric Blijenberg kicked things off with his presentation ‘The Impact of AI & Robotics on the Essentials of Product-Market Development’. Attendees were informed about the current and future impact of technology on entrepreneurship. Growth tips were also shared based on marketing models combined with AI.
After a short break, Miles Mercera inspired the audience with his presentation ‘Next-Level Growth: From Passion to Purpose to Profit’. He highlighted the importance of discovering the unique value of a product or service and how the courageous application of marketing models combined with AI can lead to sustainable growth in the Bonairean market.
Networking and Looking Ahead
The evening concluded with a networking reception, where entrepreneurs could exchange ideas and explore new collaborations in an informal setting. The Bonaire Chamber of Commerce thanks speakers Eric Blijenberg and Miles Mercera for their valuable contributions and calls on all (semi) experienced entrepreneurs with growth ambitions to register for the CvO program ‘The Next Step’. We are ready to assist you!
More Information and Registration
Are you a (semi) experienced entrepreneur with the ambition to grow your business? Register now for ‘The Next Step’ program via the Bonaire Chamber of Commerce by emailing bis@kvkbonaire.com or by visiting our office at Kaya Amsterdam 23.
