Helping businesses raise capital

This is Part Two of our series in which the Caymanian Times speaks with The Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development Director Thais Ducent about a forum they held in June called Raising Capital. This initiative was geared towards micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Cayman to help them understand how to raise funding for their businesses.

Ms Ducent explained that a key feature of the Forum was the showcase of entrepreneurs from CICBD’s Capital Quest Programme, an investment-readiness programme that was launched last year. It’s designed to help business owners better understand funding options, strengthen business fundamentals, improve financial preparedness, and develop effective investor communication skills.

Participants completed structured training through CICBD’s newly launched E-Learning platform, and had pitch practice sessions before being assessed by external experts, with the five most investment-ready businesses selected to present at the Forum.

“Together, the Raising Capital Forum and the Capital Quest Programme help entrepreneurs move beyond simply seeking funding and focus instead on becoming funding-ready, improving their ability to access and effectively utilise capital to support sustainable business growth,” Thais Ducent explained.

CICBD there to help

CICBD assists entrepreneurs by helping them become funding-ready before they approach lenders or investors. Through one-on-one business advisory services, business planning support, financial literacy training, and investment-readiness programmes such as Capital Quest, CICBD works with business owners to strengthen the foundations of their businesses. The Centre also provides pitch development and presentation coaching, facilitates connections with financial institutions, investors, and ecosystem partners through events such as the Raising Capital Forum, and delivers workshops and training on business growth, strategy, and financial management.

“Our overall goal is to help entrepreneurs build stronger, more sustainable businesses and improve their ability to successfully access and utilise capital when growth opportunities arise,” Ms Ducent stated.

Access to funding is often one of the biggest barriers to business growth, she said. Many businesses have strong ideas, products, or services, but without sufficient capital they may struggle to invest in equipment, technology, inventory, staffing, marketing, or expansion opportunities. Access to the right type of capital at the right time can help businesses move from start-up to growth, improve their competitiveness, and position them for long-term sustainability.

“For businesses in the Cayman Islands, access to capital is particularly important as entrepreneurs seek to grow local enterprises, create jobs, increase productivity, and contribute to economic diversification. Capital not only supports individual business growth but also strengthens local commerce by enabling businesses to expand their operations, pursue new opportunities, and introduce innovative products and services to the market,” Ms Ducent added. “Strengthening access to capital helps empower entrepreneurship, supports the growth of Caymanian businesses, and contributes to a stronger, more resilient, and more diversified economy.”