David’s dynamic leadership style builds bridges and creates partnerships to assist in mobilizing community action, advocating for social change, as well as entrepreneurship development throughout Port-au-Prince.
Kay Tita received a grant from the Techstars Foundation for 2020.
Kay Tita is a community resource organization dedicated to empowering the entrepreneurs of Port-au-Prince through skill training, cultivating critical partnerships, raising capital, and facilitating impact investing opportunities.
Kay Tita is rooted in creating an equitable entrepreneurial environment.
Core Equity Values:
We intend to use the grant to support the growth of our entrepreneurship development programs through the following six ways:
Our initiative deliberately focuses on developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem because small businesses are at the heart of our growing community. With a focus on formal business training and a supportive community, we believe this investment will lead to long-term economic growth, job creation, and a strong collaborative work environment.
The 2010 Earthquake was the catalyst that inspired me to be a part of the rebuilding efforts that were happening and needed in my mother’s community in the heart of Turgeau (Downtown Port-au-Prince).
My mother’s property was directly impacted during the 2010 earthquake. In the initial days after the earthquake we used my mother’s home as a resource space, providing supplies and medical assistance to the community.
This impromptu gathering space planted the idea in my mind to someday rebuild her home into a multifaceted community resource center to support the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. This marked the birth of Kay Tita as an organization.
I strongly believe that when members in my community have access to dynamic spaces that are locally rooted and globally connected, it promotes their ingenuity and helps them actualize their ideas with the greatest impact. For me, it is a great honor to assist my community in accomplishing their goals from a place of abundance.
Casteline Tilus is an entrepreneur who is one of the first fellows in our inaugural Entrepreneur Development Program, Zel.
Casteline entered our program with a vision of launching Haiti’s first (and currently only) Data Science Bootcamp Program.
Her company is called Ayiti Analytics, a data-centric lab committed to increasing analytical capacity in Haiti through data science education, consulting, and research.
Her determination to make this program work while holding a full-time job in DC was really amazing to witness. I observed her assemble a dynamic team remotely, and had the privilege of sitting in on a few meetings when she secured a partnership with DIGICEL (Haiti’s largest telecommunication company) and gained their commitment to hire students from the Ayiti Analytics first Bootcamp.
Despite Port-au-Prince’s political instability, I observed her leave her stable job, move to Port-au-Prince, and launch a program with an overwhelming desire from applicants throughout the city.
Casteline and the Ayiti Analytics team in less than 12 months has become the talk of the country by training 15 students, creating the Ayiti Analytics Health System Dashboard to monitor COVID-19 responses, and providing online corporate training to several companies in Port-au-Prince. Casteline Tilus’ entrepreneurial journey shows us that through a combination of her dedication, community support, and access to the right resources, everything is possible.
Impact Hub Port-Au-Prince takes an authentic approach to developing community, inspiring members through sustainable practices. Emphasizing progressive inclusivity and transparency, Impact Hub aims to preserve and expand Port-Au-Prince’s creative and thriving entrepreneurial culture. We hope to reach maximum effectiveness with the intentional practice of accountability. Guided by love, respect, honor, and trust, we always seek to refine, elevate, and restore the health of our community.
will direct a training and operations program within Impact Hub called GeoHaiti. GeoHaiti trains adults on geospatial information systems (GIS) that serve to improve community disaster resilience. Training topics include community communications, water and sanitation management, environmental preservation, public health measures, community disease surveillance, sustainable infrastructure, and hazard analysis.
Kay Tita will be the greenest commercial building in Haiti since it will be constructed according to The Living Building Challenge (LBC) standards, considered the most rigorous environmental performance standard. People from around the world use this regenerative design framework to create spaces that produce more energy than they utilize.
MUCE EDUCATES is an organization co-founded by Barthelemy Mervil, David Pierre-Louis’ brother, and utilizes arts promote intercultural exchange and to bring an end to cyclical poverty. MUCE is committed to teaching the visual arts to youth in urban areas so that they may compete in the global market. The organization provides educational workshops and opportunities for the emerging labor force with an emphasis on production in arts and culture.
Haiti Coffee Co. is a U.S. based company that imports Haitian Coffee while working towards infrastructure development that directly benefits the farmers from whom they source. The organization provides solutions that address deforestation, environmental sustainability, agriculture training, and infrastructure development.
Seattle‐based startup, Impact Bioenergy, manufactures and sells bioenergy systems that convert organic waste materials into renewable natural gas and fertilizer with zero waste.
Ambient Water (formerly AWG International) is Washington state based company that uses a patented technology that transforms humidity into an abundant source of safe, clean water.
Startup Week brings entrepreneurs, local leaders, and friends together over five days to build momentum for their vision for change.
The DoSchool develops experiential learning programs centered around innovation and facilitates opportunities for entrepreneurs to move from ideation to implementation.
Yes Baby I Like it Raw helps people tap into their raw potential and “process the unprocessed life” by developing health and wellness programming such as yoga meditation, and nutrition.
Days for Girls puts freedom and opportunity back into the hands of women and girls by providing sustainable hygiene solutions.
