Ignite Concludes Entrepreneurial Programme
Ignite Bermuda concluded its fourth Young Adult Entrepreneurial Internship programme, which saw 15 young adults take part.
A spokesperson said, “Ignite Bermuda has successfully completed its fourth Young Adult Entrepreneurial Internship programme, which ran from July 9 to August 27, 2024. Thanks to HSBC Bank Bermuda, Ignite enabled 15 local young adults, ages 18-25, to develop their passions for entrepreneurship through workshops and part-time internships within some of Bermuda’s top startups, all of which are part of the Ignite community.
“Workshops consisted of Mindset & Behaviours, Customer Discovery, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Sustainability in Business, Opportunity Recognition & AI, and more, all presented by industry experts, the Ignite team, and alumni. The interns shared that some of their biggest takeaways were ‘gained confidence in myself and my passions’ and that ‘it provided me with a better idea about the trajectory of my business concept.’ Another added ‘I feel less worried about the future as I have learnt how to pivot and become more adaptive to the situations and goals around me.’
“Within their internships, the young adults gained first-hand experience working alongside a local entrepreneur on an independent project, such as marketing plans, customer discovery outreach, investor relations, business rebranding, event coordination, and more.
“When asked what they valued most from the programme, they stated, ‘I have developed a new attitude towards meeting the goals I set and knowing that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to and put in the work for.’ Another mentioned that the ‘increased knowledge on entrepreneurship has inspired me even more. It was amazing being alongside other entrepreneurial minds. I have learned so many new skills that I can apply to my everyday life as well as business.’ As a result of this programme, they now ‘plan to start formatting business plans and customer discovery templates and to actively begin my business process.’
“Out of the 15 participants, over 20% had already started their own business prior to the programme, with 93% of respondents sharing that this programme helped them gain a better understanding of entrepreneurship. When asked to describe the programme, the top words used by the interns were ‘inspiring,’ ‘informative,’ ‘encouraging,’ and ‘insightful.’
“Upon completion of the programme, interns each delivered a five minute presentation on their experience, what they learned, and how they would apply it moving forward. Three finalists were selected to present at the closing ceremony and compete for a bonus cash prize: Imogen Peckett, Simone Vaughn, and Tea-Tephi Pringle.”
Simone Vaughn said, “I truly enjoyed my experience at Ignite. Through the workshops and being partnered with PALS Cancer Care, I learned valuable lessons not only to help me in my entrepreneurial journey but my overall life journey. Gaining knowledge about how to invest and manage money, marketing, mental health, and how to pitch are just a few key takeaways that I will forever carry with me.
“In particular, public speaking and pitching stood out to me. Learning how to speak and promote not only my business but myself as the person behind it will be key to my success. And seeing as I made the top presenter at the end of the program, I am confident Ignite has given me the tools and encouragement to do just that.”
Tanya Bule, HSBC Executive Committee member, said, “We are honoured to sponsor Ignite for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing our commitment to supporting the Young Adult Entrepreneurial Internship Programme. We believe in the power of nurturing our future leaders and entrepreneurs by helping to equip them with essential skills and knowledge.
“The dedication and passion demonstrated by the interns are truly inspiring, and we are excited to witness their continued growth as they embark on their projects and future endeavours. The future of Bermuda’s business is bright.”
The spokesperson said, “Please join us in celebrating and congratulating all of the young adults who successfully applied for this initiative. Each one of them has shown considerable growth over the last few months, a direct result of their commitment to the programme. We look forward to seeing where they go next.
“More information about the Ignite Young Adult Entrepreneurial Internship Programme can be found online.”
Interns writing pitches of their favourite things during orientation:
Interns and guest panelists: Alexis Bean, Zayne Sinclair, Alexandra Mosher, Tanya Bule and TJ Clarke, share their stories and experiences with the interns on the entrepreneurial journey:
Interns doing SWOT analysis in small groups in the Ignite Hub:
Interns in the Ignite Hub during a workshop session:
Kaiyah Daniels giving his 2024 final project presentation to interns, hosts, and the Ignite team:
