Gerard Thomas (@ysup) header
Gerard Thomas (@ysup) profile picture

Gerard Thomas

@ysup

Head of Innovation at Agostini's Limited. Founded @LaunchRockIt. Tech enthusiast. Corp Innovation Architect. Goal:Change the world through Caribbean innovation!

 Trinidad and Tobago
launchrockit.org
Joined July 2009
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Photo by Gerard Thomas (@ysup)Photo by Gerard Thomas (@ysup)Photo by Gerard Thomas (@ysup)Photo by Gerard Thomas (@ysup)Photo by Gerard Thomas (@ysup)Photo by Gerard Thomas (@ysup)Photo by Gerard Thomas (@ysup)
Yesterday I had a conversation about T&T’s entrep ecosystem with an foreigner, and it saddens me that I had a few positive things to say about it. Why is that, especially as I am an overly optimistic person? Will reflect on this and write my findings over the next few days.
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2) It's our culture to launch a competition for development initiatives. Entrepreneurs win lots of $ to grow but rarely do. Hundreds of MM are spent by government & dev agencies on pitch competitions w/ no growth. SOL:Reduce competitions, vest funds for those who prove growth.
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3) Funding 'is a bust'. Banks ignore new biz models, angels are risk averse, the gov VC division is defunct, mixed w/ growth capital to non-growth, low-tech bizs. SOL: Gov & agencies set $$ to benefit banks, bizs & angels who invest $ in tech-enabled startups in a 5-yr horizon.
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Hey, @monoliff - are bully's coming back or did they turn into apes? Like them both though.
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As an individual working to launch a venture capital fund, I support the Mensarius Oath for ethical standards in the finance industries. FI.co/insight/the-mensarius-…
Gerard Thomas retweeted
Dave McClure (@davemcclure) profile picture
Dave McClure
@davemcclure13 Oct 2018
Replying to @jeremysliew
good tips on VC differentiation; how to get access to best founders/startups @jeremysliew @lightspeedvp
Image from Dave McClure (@davemcclure)
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The best problems to solve are the emotional ones.
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“It’s about being hungry, not thirsty”... @ArlanWasHere
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Product Market Fit is when you feel like you do not have control of demand, and if you are asking if you have PMF, then you do not have it. Thanks for this @annimaniac
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Gerard Thomas retweeted
arvin (@vindaRd) profile picture
arvin@vindaRd8 Jan 2019
In short, stop placing so much value (or any value at all) on 'the idea'
John Backus (@backus) profile pictureJohn Backus
@backus8 Jan 2019
If you could implant the _exact same idea_ into multiple entrepreneurs' brains and wait 5 years, you'd likely still get wildly diff companies. More so if you also vary 1) founding year and 2) for-profit vs government service This is why "X. You invented X." sounds so silly to me
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The development of babies from a state of not knowing to a state of consciousness is amazing to see and could only be Godly.
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Cool video on Waiting in Line with Dr. Queue! - youtu.be/09zoiwoa9Z0 @launchrockit is working with a new startup on solving waiting times and long lines in Trini and, we are connecting them to a great corp to solve their line opportunities. #startuplife #ChangeIsComing

The Psychology of Waiting in Line

--Richard Larson, also known as "Dr. Queue" and Professor in the En...

youtube.com
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IDB Invest & OPIC created a gender focused fund for LatAm and Caribbean, and UAE & 12 Caribbean countries have a Renewable Energy Fund. I am not sure how effective these type of funds are for the Caribbean. I never see the results. Am I blind or not looking hard enough?
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Thanks Kerrie, Caribshare looks great. I know funds go to entrepreneurs and some of them are kickass while others have more challenges, But millions of dollars are spent & the ecosystem is not getting better. Some entreps win and others don't, but collectively we are not growing.
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The startup-life in the Caribbean is very different from the rest of the world. Though our startup communities are un(der)developed, we have some amazing founders with kickass ideas. I'm not much of a talker but taking @AKilaJosAnnE & @sama advice on being an Evangelical Founder.
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Excited to be at @techstars demo day!! @launchrockit
Image from Gerard Thomas (@ysup)
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Girlfriend just told me that she wants bitcoin for Christmas. The gift that keeps on giving! LOL.
Image from Gerard Thomas (@ysup)
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Sometimes I wish I could jump in my rockit and go back to where I belong. @AKilaJosAnnE
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Pulled an all nighter with Akila all in the name of Caribbean Entrepreneurship. Just got home to head back out. Worth it? Yes!!
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