Women Empowerment & Commercialization

MECC–WENC Project

Empowering Women-Led Enterprises to Lead Globally

Capacity Building & Commercialization

Shifting the Narrative for Caribbean Women in Business

The MECC–WENC Project for Women-Led Enterprises is a bold capacity-building collaboration between the Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialisation Centre (MECC) and the Women Entrepreneurs Network of the Caribbean (WENC), bringing together female founders from Jamaica and the diaspora.

Powered by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) with in-kind support from The University of the West Indies, Mona, the initiative equips participants with tools, AI integration, branding, and pitch preparation to scale into international markets.

Project Partners

MECC (UWI Mona)

Provides social enterprise incubation, business structuring, AI training, and commercialization guidance.

WENC Caribbean

Regional network connecting women founders across Jamaica and the Caribbean diaspora.

Development Bank of Jamaica

Institutional sponsor powering capacity-building grants and financial readiness support.

Core Programme Pillars

Business Model & AI Integration

Equipping women entrepreneurs with modern AI tools, automated workflows, and digital business canvas design.

Financial Management & Capital Readiness

Training in accounting, investor pitch preparation, cash flow optimization, and grant application readiness.

Market Access & Internationalization

Connecting regional female founders to global trade distribution channels, export networks, and buyer networks.

Legal, IP & Brand Strategy

In-house advisory for intellectual property protection, trademarks, branding, and commercial contract negotiations.

Words from Leadership

“This collaboration represents more than a programme, it is a platform for transformation. We are intentionally building capacity, confidence, and global readiness in women entrepreneurs so they can lead, innovate, and compete beyond borders.”

Dr. Sharon M. Smith
Director, MECC

“This initiative is about shifting the narrative for women in business across the Caribbean. It is about ensuring that women are not only participating in the economy, but are leading, scaling, and competing globally.”

Ethnie Miller Simpson
President, WENC