Jamaican startups: Wah Gwan?
The burgeoning Jamaican startup scene wants to become to the Caribbean what Singapore is to Asia.
Lifting more than its weight
Few countries have as big of a “population to significance” ratio as Jamaica does. The Caribbean island nation, housing just under 3 million people, has had an outsized impact on international culture. Jamaica has a smaller population than Mongolia, Lithuania, or Mauritania. Yet, its light shines brighter than all of those countries combined.
Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom, which had replaced Spanish colonists, in 1962. Like neighboring Barbados, Jamaica is now considering plans to become a republic, fully severing its ties with the Commonwealth.
In those 60 years of independence, Jamaica blessed the world with creative and sporting talent. Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, and the Rastafari movement are all iconic landmarks originating from there. In recent years, Jamaica’s international cultural relevance has remained steadfast, through the emergence of new local superstars such as Koffee, or the shooting of Netflix show Top Boy on its shores.