Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre

Background

The Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre (MECC), formerly known as the Mona Business Support Services (MBSS) was an under-capitalized start-up and business incubator on the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI). A full service entity that provided Space, Support and Business Advisory Services. MBSS's core mandate had been the development of local and student entrepreneurship. It focused on the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and supported the ICT needs of the large Call Centre, with which they were co-located.

After a period of inactivity. a rebranded Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre (MECC) emerged as a Social Enterprise with a focus on serving the vulnerable community and a mandate for commercialization and Technology Transfer. This mandate is consistent with the economic push from the Government of Jamaica as well as many development agencies in the region. MECC remains a University owned mixed use incubator offering flexible arrangements for entrepreneurs.

Despite our many challenges, in our almost seven years of existence, we (as MBSS and as MECC) have serviced 81 clients (rental, short term as well as incubatees/entreps) with a cumulative 613 jobs created and 4016 entrep contacts. Our clients and alum have recieved over US$1.5 million in awards, grants & investments. Among our portfolio we have award winning entreps including two who have won awards for innovation, one for resilience at StartUp Chile Demo Week, another for social enterprise, three Young Leaders of the Americas Fellows (YLAI) and numerous competition winners and finalists on campus, in National, Regional as well as International Business Model Competitions etc . Our clients have new opportunities because of inhouse legal support to facilitate Intellectual Property Strategy Development and Internationalization.

Vision & Mission

Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre (MECC) will be the leader in the region for incubation and commercialization services through unparalleled support from our team and our network of partners. Our clients will be best in class and optimize the competitiveness of the region. We will significantly empower vulnerable populations and practically impact poverty, economic development, equity and equality in Jamaica and the region.

MECC transforms ideas into products and businesses to facilitate sustainable growth; providing critical support throughout the entire incubation process. We provide the highest quality service to transform new enterprises into profitable businesses while maintaining our own sustainability. We will meet the needs of the UWI population and wider community with special attention to vulnerable populations, especially women-led and youth-led enterprises and the differently abled led enterprises.

Governance and Management

Advisory Board

MECC has a functional Advisory Board drawn from UWI as well as other stakeholders from the ecosystem. The MECC Advisory Board has been set up to provide strategic advice and critical support with the aim of amplifying impact and ensuring sustainability.

Chair: Stacey-Ann Wilson, PhD
UWI, Department of Government, knowledge transfer specialist and serial entrepreneur, investor, recently included among SiliconCaribe’s Top 50 Caribbean Women in Tech
Chair: Stacey-Ann Wilson, PhD
UWI, Department of Government, knowledge transfer specialist and serial entrepreneur, investor, recently included among SiliconCaribe's Top 50 Caribbean Women in Tech
Ramon McLaren, MIS
PhD Candidate, Vincent HoSang Programme, Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) lecturer, and serial entrepreneur
K'adamawe K'Nife, PhD
MSBM lecturer, Centre for Entrepreneurship Thinking and Practice (CETP), social and serial entrepreneur
Lilyclaire Bellamy, LLB
Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) Executive Director
Gail Abrahams, MBA
Chief Marketing Officer, Hardware and Lumber Ltd and PR entrepreneur
Wayne Sutherland, MBA
Angel Investor and Joan Duncan Foundation

Team

Director: Sharon Smith, PhD
MECC's Director has considerable private sector experience in Global Fortune 500, Micro Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) consultancy, innovation and technology transfer experience. She is actively engaged in Entrep Development, she guides and challenges MECC entrepreneurs to reach their business objectives.
Director: Sharon Smith, PhD
MECC's Director has considerable private sector experience in Global Fortune 500, Micro Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) consultancy, innovation and technology transfer experience. She is actively engaged in Entrep Development, she guides and challenges MECC entrepreneurs to reach their business objectives.
Colin Fuller-Bennett
Senior Entrep-in-residence, Digital Strategist and Admin Assistant,
Robert Williams
Entrep-in-residence, Management Trainee