Khalil Bryan of Caribbean Transit Solutions Inc. (CTS) emerged victorious at the Billion Dollar Dreams forum. Bryant’s pitch was judged the best by a panel of professionals comprising Dr. Nicholas Brathwaite, founding partner of an international private equity firm and speaker at the 40th Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture; Mr. John Williams, CEO of Cave Shepherd; Ms. Sara Odle, Public Relations Account Manager at Virgo Communications; Mr. Ian Knight, Business Consultant and tutor; and Mrs. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency.

Bryant emerged victorious over three other finalists: Delvin Howell (Beyond Publishing Caribbean), Ryan Brathwaite (GB Geo Engineering Inc.), and Gabriel Abed (BITT Inc.). As winner, Bryan received $10,000 compliments the Central Bank of Barbados, plus a scholarship for a Diploma in Management from BIMAP, (valued at $6,100). Second place went to Gabriel Abed, who received $5,000 compliments First Citizens Bank as well as a partial scholarship for $2,500 from the Cave Hill School of Business, while Ryan Brathwaite who finished third, received $,5000 cash, compliments Central Bank of Barbados. Fourth place went to Delvin Howell, who received $2,000 (compliments ICBL).

Billion Dollar Dreams was presented in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture as a forum that would expose budding entrepreneurs to Dr. Brathwaite as well as local experts. Entrants were scored using five criteria in the preliminary round: business potential, value proposition, opportunities for growth, financial performance and innovation. In the finals they were judged on four criteria:

• Innovation – originality/novelty, sustainability, competitiveness

• Marketability – market opportunity, attractiveness, relevance/futuristic value

• Ease of Implementation – practicability, reasonableness of costs

• Exportability